Milton, IN opposes controversial rail line

MILTON—Milton has joined the growing number of Rock County municipalities that oppose a proposed rail line that would stretch from Milton to Indiana, running south around Chicago.

Milton City Council members Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Great Lakes Basin Rail Line project, which would cut through hundreds of acres of land, most of it farmland, in Rock County alone.

Most of the county's 20 towns have passed resolutions opposing the rail line.

“It is a serious issue,” Mayor Anissa Welch said. “It affects a lot of farmland. It affects a lot of our families that live nearby us.”

At best, city council members expressed neutrality on the railroad concept.

Whether it's highways packed with trucks, the sky filled with planes or a rail line that cuts across the Midwest, products need some way to get from place to place, councilwoman Lynda Clark said.

“Commerce needs transportation, and I'm not saying I'm for this or I'm opposed to this, but it is something we the people have to think about,” she said.

Another railroad could harm the Milton House, a nationally recognized historic site, she said.

Councilman Ryan Holbrook also was on the fence on the issue. He pointed out the benefits a rail line could offer businesses and different markets, but he acknowledged the rail line wouldn't do much—if any—good for Milton.

The railroad could significantly decrease the time it takes trains to reach the East Coast. It would cost $6 billion to $8 billion and would be funded by private investors.

Councilwoman Nancy Lader wondered why the rail line would end up in developer Bill Watson's “driveway.”

“I find that very uncomfortable,” she said.

Residents have expressed concerns that Watson, who owns plenty of land near Milton, might develop gravel pits if he had a convenient way to transport the gravel.

Council members agreed there were plenty of unanswered questions and a short window of time to get them answered. The federal Surface Transportation Board is taking comments to determine municipalities' views on the rail line, but only until mid-June.

Councilman Dave Adams asked if the rail line would increase the amount of hazardous materials traveling through Milton.

It could, Fire Chief Loren Lippincott said, but he doesn't know what would be transported. Other fire departments in Illinois and Indiana have the same concerns.

“There's never been any formal plan presented to anybody in Wisconsin,” Lippincott said.

Milton already has a railroad, and no rail line official has presented a study about why another railroad is necessary, Welch said.

“I wanted Milton to have an opportunity to weigh in on this because … it could have a major impact,” she said. “There's too many questions, in my mind.”

Above is from:  http://www.gazettextra.com/20160608/milton_opposes_controversial_rail_line

Ex-Gov. Edgar: Civility, compromise, compassion keys to fix mess

 

Chicago 06/07/2016, 01:55pm

Ex-Gov. Edgar: Civility, compromise, compassion keys to fix mess

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar speaks Tuesday during a luncheon hosted by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform at the Standard Club of Chicago. | Lou Foglia/Sun-Times

 

Former Gov. Jim Edgar — one of the state’s most popular Republican governors — said Tuesday that Illinois is in its worst shape in 50 years, and warned that Gov. Bruce Rauner must tone down his “rhetoric” and abandon his “Turnaround Agenda” to get a complete budget done.

“There’s nothing worse than an old governor telling a new governor what to do,” Edgar joked at the Standard Club in Chicago after offering Rauner a couple of lessons on governing.

Rauner has for months blamed the state’s fiscal mismanagement on the “cronyism” and “corruption” of the Democratic leaders, particularly Speaker Mike Madigan.

During a Governor’s Day celebration at the Illinois State Fair last year, the governor celebrated the state electing its first Republican governor in 12 years: “They created a mess from one party rule, from King Madigan and the Chicago political machine,” Rauner said.

But at the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform luncheon Tuesday, Edgar spoke of the need for civility, compromise and compassion in today’s hostile state government. And he stressed that the governor’s No. 1 goal should be managing the state via a budget.

“What I had to learn is that I had my point of view. They had their point of view. And I should treat them with civility. Just because they didn’t agree with me, didn’t mean they were ignorant, didn’t mean they were a crook. It just meant we disagreed,” Edgar said. “And it’s critical that in the public arena that we treat our adversaries with civility because one of the things I also learned [is] today’s adversary is tomorrow’s ally, because issues change. But if you just call someone stupid or a crook, it’s going to be a little harder the next day when you need them as allies, to get them as allies.”

Edgar said budgets were accomplished in the ‘90s, despite many hardships, “because we compromised.” He called negotiations with Madigan during his tenure as governor during a budget impasse tense, but civil in the end because “we both tried to watch our rhetoric.”

“We might have thought about the other guy, but we didn’t go out and say it,” Edgar said.

Edgar, who served two terms as governor after a stint as secretary of state, has been critical of Rauner before. He has taken issue with his fellow Republican’s governing style in media interviews, but Tuesday’s speech was perhaps his most detailed critique.

“You can’t get things done if you’re not willing to meet your adversary halfway, and again we’ve gotten away from that,” Edgar said, noting the state must try something different.

“It’s obvious what we’ve done the last year hasn’t worked,” Edgar said.

Edgar noted Madigan ate lunch with him every day during their impasses — joking Madigan only ate an apple — until they came up with an agreement about a temporary tax increase.

Edgar suggested Rauner do the same with the Democratic leaders, to end a budget impasse that is hurting the state. And he pointed the finger at Rauner’s “Turnaround Agenda” for slowing down a much-needed budget.

“I do think the Turnaround Agenda part is the biggest obstacle they have to deal with,” Edgar said, noting he still speaks to Madigan, and has spoken to Rauner within the past year.

He also criticized Rauner’s push for term limits, saying the governor is pushing the reform to target Madigan.

“I’m not big on term limits. … I don’t think we need term limits. Let’s face it. This whole discussion about term limits is not about the members. It’s about the Speaker and that doesn’t solve it,” Edgar said. “Term limits, if you pass that amendment, Mike Madigan can still be speaker for 10 years. I know Mike Madigan. He’ll do that just to spite everyone.”

Also on Tuesday, Madigan aide Tim Mapes announced to legislators that a scheduled Illinois House session on Wednesday had been canceled, citing continued talks with the working groups, Republican leaders and the governor’s office.

“The Speaker is hopeful that progress will continue, as it has over the past few weeks. Given this progress and the need for these discussions among the working groups on the budget and other issues to continue without interruption, the House will not be in session on Wednesday, June 8,” Mapes wrote in a memo.

Rauner spent some of his Tuesday in Bloomington, where he continued to push for a Republican-sponsored education bill to ensure schools open this fall, while also accusing Democrats of “slow-rolling” the budget process to create a schools crisis.

“They want a crisis in the government to leverage a Chicago bailout and leverage a big tax hike without any reforms,” Rauner said.”

And the governor defended his highly controversial description of some CPS schools as “crumbling prisons.”

“In too many of them, I cry. Tears come into my eyes. No student, no child of Illinois should have to go to school in some of those facilities. They have metal on the windows. They’re dark. They’re depressing. They’re crumbling,” Rauner said, further likening the schools to prisons. “They have metal detectors at every door and they have police officers and security officers everywhere. Our children deserve better than

Above is from:  http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/edgar-illinois-worst-shape-50-years/

Republican U.S. Senator Kirk withdraws support for Donald Trump

Republican U.S. Senator Kirk withdraws support for Donald Trump

 

 

Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, who had previously vowed to support Donald Trump, says he has decided not to do so in light of the businessman's "un-American" statements about the judge handling the Trump University case. James Valles reporting (BNO News)

Mayor Mike Chamberlain: Belvidere has become the place to be

By Susan Vela
Staff writer

Posted Jun. 6, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Updated Jun 6, 2016 at 10:38 PM

BELVIDERE — Mayor Mike Chamberlain said tonight that good things are coming to the city, especially in light of the recent announcement that Belvidere's Fiat Chrysler Automobiles assembly plant has landed the top-selling Jeep Cherokee line.

“Belvidere has become the place to be,” he said during tonight's State of the City address. “Financially, the city is secure.”

The mayor is campaigning for re-election against challenger Ric Brereton, city treasurer and son of former mayor Fred Brereton, who led the city for 16 years.

Chamberlain highlighted several happenings of the past year during his annual address, which came about two months after aldermen approved an annual spending plan of $18 million.

Accomplishments, he said, include U.S. 20 ramp improvements for Genoa and Irene roads, State Street improvements, remodeling of St. James Church, the relocation of Manley Motors to 1800 N. State St., and a $60 million General Mills Inc. expansion at its Belvidere plant.

There’s also the possibility of four Swedish companies partnering with local companies.

“Together we have accomplished much and the future is bright.” Chamberlain said. “Our recent recognition as No. 6 on the list of the 25 best small cities in Illinois to start a small business was a welcome accolade for all of our hard work.

“Let’s keep the ball rolling.”

Aldermen declined to comment after the council session, during which they approved a resolution stating opposition to the proposed $8 billion, 275-mile Great Lakes Basin Railroad that would would transport cargo through the county as part of a bypass around the Chicago area.

“I was a little disappointed that he didn’t mention anything about the school district,” Belvidere resident Patty Bowley said. “The school system is a big part of the city.”

— Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela

Above is from: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20160606/NEWS/160609648

Trump's latest property tax bill, out June 3, shows he once again received a middle-class tax break

 

 

 

The self-proclaimed billionaire gets a tax break for New Yorkers whose incomes are $500,000 a year or less

By Aaron Elstein

 

Photo: Associated Press

Donald Trump just keeps on getting a tax break for the middle class.

Donald Trump's New York City property tax bill, published June 3, shows he once again received a tax break aimed at middle-class New Yorkers.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s latest property tax bill shows he was awarded a credit under the STAR program, or the New York State School Tax Relief Program. To be eligible for STAR, a married couple must have annual income of $500,000 or less. You wouldn’t think a guy as rich as Trump claims to be would qualify, but he has received the credit for several years and records filed over the weekend with the city’s Department of Finance show he received a $304 STAR tax break for his Trump Tower penthouse.

While the amount of the credit is trivial for a high-roller, the fact that Trump gets it calls into question his claims that he's "really rich" with a fortune worth in excess of $10 billion. Trump's tax bill comes to around $96,611 after receiving a condo abatement worth $20,493.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said the city made an error in providing the tax credit and a correction "is in process." When Crain’s first reported on the STAR credit in March, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office agreed an error had been made, though she wouldn’t explain how it happened. On Monday, however, a  city spokeswoman told CNN that it was "reviewing Mr. Trump's exemption status," which suggests the city isn't so sure it made a mistake.

The city’s Department of Finance has said it checks with New York state tax authorities every year to make sure applicants for the STAR benefit have income under $500,000. The state receives a list of STAR recipients every year and notifies the city of who is eligible. The state defines income for STAR purposes as federal adjusted gross income minus the taxable amount of total distributions from annuities or individual retirement accounts.

To try to sort it out, in March Crain’s asked for copies of Trump’s STAR applications under New York’s Freedom of Information Law. But after a two-month search, the Department of Finance said that no documents could be found. So the mystery of the billionaire and his middle-class tax break continues.

Because Trump has refused to release his income tax returns, for now his property-tax bills are about the only available window into his finances that doesn’t come from him. It’s conceivable that Trump is in fact very wealthy, thanks to his property holdings and licensing agreements, and manages to lower his annual income to under $500,000 by taking advantage of loopholes in the tax code that give real estate professionals many ways to minimize income.

Such maneuvers may comply with tax law, but could be difficult to explain to voters. Or his fortune may simply be much smaller than he's claimed.

For what it's worth, Trump's accountant appears to be an expert in the STAR program. The accountant, Donald Bender of the firm WeiserMazars, in 2013 posted an article on his LinkedIn page explaining some changes in STAR that required eligible recipients to re-register.

Above is from:  http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160606/BLOGS02/160609931/trumps-persistent-mystery-once-again-the-billionaire-gets-a-middle-class-tax-break

Democrat for District 3 seat replacement

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 8:58 PM

BELVIDERE — The Boone County Board is accepting candidacies to fill the seat left vacant by District 3 Democrat Craig Schultz following his unexpected death last month.

The candidate must be a registered Democrat and live in District 3. Those interested should send a letter or a resume expressing their interest and qualifications to Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg at 1212 Logan Ave., Belvidere, 61008. The deadline is June 24.

The position’s term expires in November, when the seat will be up for re-election.

“I’m very much of the persuasion that we work together to fill both (terms with the same candidate) and have a little more continuity,” Walberg said.

The Boone County Democratic Central Committee is going through the vetting process to find the best candidate that they will recommend to the County Board, committee Chairman John Gedney said. He wants the appointee to run for re-election in November.

"We don't want any kind of disruption," Gedney said. "We want to make sure the person who fills the vacant seat is willing to run in November."

Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160601/boone-county-board-seeking-democrat-for-district-3-seat-replacement

Hey, Rauner and Madigan: Do your job and not the other guy's

 

 

Photo by Bloomberg News

As a Republican legislator told me the other day, the chief cause of this long state government impasse is that we have a House speaker who also wants to be the governor and a governor who also wants to be the speaker.

This isn't a new phenomenon.

As far back as the 1980s, House Speaker Michael Madigan tried to get legislators a role in state union contract negotiations. He didn't trust Gov. Jim Thompson to negotiate affordable contracts, so he wanted a way to reject the deals or at least influence them.

Way back in 1991, rookie Republican Gov. Jim Edgar wouldn't agree to renewing a tax hike and passing a state budget until Madigan agreed to a statewide cap on property tax increases. Governors have no formal authority to introduce and pass bills. That power belongs exclusively to the General Assembly. But within weeks Madigan and Edgar agreed on a collar county-only tax cap and they moved ahead.

The lengths to which each side has gone this time around most certainly are new, however.

Just look at what's commonly known around the Statehouse as the “AFSCME bill.” The legislation would force the state union contract talks into binding arbitration to avoid a public employee strike. Madigan says Gov. Bruce Rauner can't be trusted to negotiate in good faith with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, but the bill amounts to overturning decades of legal precedent and vastly reducing the governor's powers during the negotiating process—which Madigan thought was too union-friendly decades ago.

Like Edgar before him, Rauner refuses to support a tax hike and a state budget until he gets some economic reforms. For example, he wants to reduce workers' compensation benefits and rein in union rights to help local governments and school districts deal with his proposed property tax freeze.

But unlike Edgar, Rauner hasn't been able to impose his will on the legislative branch, even after more than a year of trying. His repeated demands that House Democrats rise up against their leader and side with him have been waved off as pipe dreams. Aside from maybe Donald Trump, Rauner is the least popular Republican in this state among Democratic voters. No way are those legislators going to jump in bed with him.

Meanwhile, without a budget, vital groups like Lutheran Social Services of Illinois have closed down huge numbers of invaluable programs, such as drug treatment centers. Sexually abused children can't get help, and neither can runaway teens. More and more students are choosing out-of-state universities for fear that Illinois colleges will close.

What we need here is a timeout. Everybody needs to go back to their own corners—and their own constitutionally mandated roles—for a while.

A few days before the spring session's official conclusion, Senate President John Cullerton told the governor that the two sides just weren't close enough to a deal. Cullerton proposed a temporary budget to get the state past the November elections, when Democrats might feel more free to negotiate items that unions would oppose.

Rauner flatly rejected that, believing they were closer to an agreement on nonbudget items than Cullerton admitted. On the very last day of session, though, the governor flip-flopped and demanded his own temporary budget. The General Assembly adjourned without taking action, partly because Madigan refused to allow the governor to dictate another legislative action.

A temporary budget is not a solution. It's not even all that responsible. And a brutal, divisive election may very well make it much more difficult to work out a compromise.

But it's the only way to prevent a complete governmental collapse. If they can't at least do this, we're doomed.

A contributing columnist to Crain's, Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.

Above is from:  http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160604/ISSUE11/306049990/hey-rauner-and-madigan-do-your-job-and-not-the-other-guys