Cullerton repeats demand that Rauner will decide tax hike

 

 

Cullerton repeats demand that Rauner will decide tax hike

Friday, Jul 29, 2016

* This is by no means the first time Senate President John Cullerton has said this about a potential tax hike, but it’s still worth noting…

In June, Illinois legislators approved a stopgap budget that will get the state through the November election and into the lame duck fall session.

Cullerton said he’s willing to work with the governor on a budget “as long as he doesn’t have radical ideas.”

“We look forward to finishing up our budget negotiations, getting a grand bargain and any kind of an agreement has to be with Gov. Rauner’s blessings. We’re not going to have any tax increase unless Gov. Rauner wants it,” Cullerton said.

“And if he wants a tax increase, he’ll determine how much that tax increase will be. But we’ll work with him. But it’s not going to happen unilaterally. It has to be two parties sitting down and willing to compromise and that’s certainly where I am.”

Above is from: http://capitolfax.com/2016/07/29/cullerton-repeats-demand-that-rauner-will-decide-tax-hike/

Boone County Health Department aims to charge nonprofits for food service permits

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Jul. 29, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Updated Jul 29, 2016 at 12:50 PM

BELVIDERE — Boone County Health Department is pushing for a change to county code that will force nonprofit organizations to pay food service permit fees.

Organizations and some residents contend it would be unfair for nonprofits to shell out money for the permits amid a rocky state budget.

Establishments that serve food to the public — be it a chain restaurant like McDonald's, or a local nonprofit's monthly breakfast or weekend cookout — must first obtain a food service permit through the Health Department. However, the county code states nonprofits are exempt from paying permit fees. The fee reimburses the Health Department for time and resources spent issuing the permit, as well as education, tracking, evaluating and inspecting.

Annual permit fees cost $470, the most expensive of the food service permits; short-term permits and lower-risk entities cost less.

Last year, distributing permits to the nearly 30 nonprofits in Boone County would have generated $22,000 for the Health Department. That money had to be made up by the taxpayers, Administrator Cindy Frank said.

"It's going to kill us," she said. "Most not-for-profit events are on weekends, so I have to staff my people to meet that requirement and it takes them out of (weekday) hours."

Frank said the current code may result in some organizations not applying for the permit, which could mean improperly handling food.

"When they're told they don't have to pay for the permit, they don't come in to get the permit, so (we) don't know how they're serving (the food)," Frank added.

The Health Department went before the Health and Human Services Committee earlier this month to recommend the change to the county code. The committee said the Health Department needed to prove the current code is causing a financial hardship. There was no vote.

The Health Department will meet on Monday then return before the health committee on Thursday.

County Board and Health and Human Services Committee member Cathy Ward said she's opposed to nonprofits paying the permit fee.

"I know how hard our not-for-profits work to make every penny," she said.

There are more than 300 fees in the county code including liquor licenses and building permits, but the food permit fee is the only one nonprofits get exemption for.

"This is a bottomless hole," said Bill Hatfield, director of environmental health. "We want everyone who applies for ... a function that requires local government oversight and causes expenses to pay for those expenses."

VFW Post 1461 in Belvidere, 1310 W. Lincoln Ave., has been at odds with the Health Department regarding food service fees for years. The VFW hosts breakfast 10 months out of the year and sells soda and candy bars.

The Health Department charged the VFW $2,485 in permit fees since 2008, until the organization fought and won a refund earlier this year because of its nonprofit status.

They don’t really understand what a nonprofit is,” said Greg Kelm, post commander. “They said we make money but the IRS letter says we are a nonprofit. If the IRS says we are a nonprofit, we are a nonprofit.”

In neighboring Winnebago County, the Health Department charges all nonprofits for food permit fees, except food pantries, Lisa Sprecher, public facilities supervisor, said. Fees in Winnebago County range from $40 for a temporary permit, to $640 for a long-term permit for establishments that seat 200 or more.

Nonprofits across the state faced a difficult time amid the budget impasse, forcing some to close down, or layoff workers and clients to keep services going. Charging the VFW and other Boone County nonprofits the permit fees would be bad timing, Kelm said.

"We are on a tight ship," he said. "If the whole county ran themselves like the VFW runs itself, they wouldn't have financial problems."

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160729/boone-county-health-department-aims-to-charge-nonprofits-for-food-service-permits

Rockefeller Foundation invests in Mainstream project

July 28, 2016 3:14 am

 

Rockefeller fund backs Africa renewables

Andrew Ward, Energy Editor

The family foundation built on the riches of John D Rockefeller’s Standard Oil has backed a $177.5m wind and solar power programme in Africa, marking its biggest move into green energy since announcing plans to stop investing in fossil fuels.

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is part of a consortium of investors supporting a scheme led by Mainstream Renewable Power of Ireland to build 1.3 gigawatts of carbon-free generating capacity in Africa by 2018.

The agreement is the clearest sign yet of the fund making good on its 2014 promise to withdraw from fossil fuel investments and reallocate resources to green energy because of concern about climate change.

That decision drew criticism at the time from some in the oil sector who saw it as a betrayal of an industry that formed the basis of Rockefeller wealth. But Stephen Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, said this week that the switch to renewable energy was in keeping with the family spirit.

He said: “John D Rockefeller was a great visionary who saw in petroleum a product that was going to change the world. If he were alive today he would see that the future is going to be in green power.”

About 3.3 per cent of the $816m fund is still invested in fossil fuel assets — mostly oil and gas companies — but this is down from 7 per cent two years ago and Mr Heintz said these would continue to be sold.

The fund, founded by the sons of Mr Rockefeller in 1940 to promote “a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world”, has committed $10m to the African renewables scheme.

The money will help finance Lekela Power, a joint-venture between Mainstream and Actis, a private equity fund spun out of the UK government in 2004 to invest in the developing world. Lekela is planning wind and solar projects in South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and Senegal.

Mr Heintz said that while there would be environmental and humanitarian benefits from the investment, his fund’s main objective was to make money.

“This is a continent with a huge energy deficit,” he said. “So there is a social impulse [to invest] but it is also an extraordinary opportunity for Africa to leapfrog the old energy systems of the past to the new green energy systems of the future.”

The Rockefeller-backed consortium will contribute $117.5m to the fundraising, with a further $60m coming from Mainstream. Other investors include the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private lending arm.

If [Rockefeller] were alive today he would see that the future is going to be in green power

- Stephen Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Mainstream has been operating in Africa since 2009 and says it is playing an important role in the delivery of US President Barack Obama’s “Power Africa” plan to add 30,000 megawatts of electricity capacity to the continent by 2030.

Eddie O’Connor, the co-founder and chief executive of Mainstream, said the falling cost of wind and solar power meant these were increasingly the most affordable options for expanding access to electricity in Africa.

“Wind power is about 50 per cent cheaper than new coal capacity in South Africa,” he said. “It’s not only the righteous thing to do from an environmental standpoint but it’s also sensible economically.”

According to the International Energy Agency, 635m people in Africa — more than half the population — did not have access to electricity in 2013.

Gov. Rauner calls for term limits for state legislators

By WIFR Newsroom | 

Posted: Tue 5:51 PM, Jul 26, 2016

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) – Governor Bruce Rauner calls for reform of what he says is a rigged system in Springfield by putting term limits on state legislators.

The governor points out some state politicians have held office for two, three, or even four decades. Only one third of candidates will face an opponent in the upcoming general election and only 12% had an opponent in the primaries. Rauner is encouraging the Illinois General Assembly to vote for a term limits constitutional amendment during the veto session this fall.

"You know when George Washington founded America he could have been president for life. he said no, 8 years and left. We need that mindset. I want a term limit myself, at the max 8 years. I think everybody should leave office after a few years, go back to the real world and let new ideas, fresh faces come into government,” says Governor Bruce Rauner (R) Illinois.

Rauner says term limits won’t fix every problem with state government, but will shift politicians’ focus from power to public service.

Above is from:  http://www.wifr.com/content/news/Gov-Rauner-calls-for-term-limits-for-state-legislators-388319212.html

Fiat Chrysler ending car production in the US

 

Fiat Chrysler ending car production in the US

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Brent Snavely 3 hrs ago

 

The company may be called Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, but by early next year, it won't be making cars in the U.S.

Instead, Fiat Chrysler's U.S. plants will be focusing entirely on pickups and SUVs for the Ram and Jeep brands.

Fiat Chrysler is winding down production of the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart and will primarily produce Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups in the U.S. The company's remaining car models will be made in Mexico or Canada.

Ending passenger car production in the U.S. is part of CEO Sergio Marchionne's multibillion-dollar plan to increase profit margins to match competitors. It's a bet that recognizes the growing popularity of SUVs in America, low gas prices and lower cost of producing vehicles  in Mexico.

"By the time we finish with this, hopefully, all of our production assets in the United States — if you exclude Canada and Mexico from the fold — all those U.S. plants will be producing either Jeeps or Ram," Marchionne said Wednesday during a conference call with Wall Street analysts after the automaker reported second-quarter earnings.

The Jeep and Ram brands have been driving sales gains recently,  with the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200, highly touted when they were launched, have been disappointments.

"There will be no passenger cars that will be produced in the U.S., and therefore, our expectation is that concentration will give us the possibility to get very close" to the 12.1% profit margin that General Motors reported as part of its second-quarter earnings last week.

Marchionne has been trying for years to increase its North American profit margins and match crosstown rivals Ford and General Motors. His realignment will help the automaker finally reach that goal. That plan also includes moving production of the replacement for the Jeep Compass and Patriot to Mexico.

"I think our biggest task now is to close the operating margin gap with our competitors. That remains a permanent fixation that we have inside the house," Marchionne said. "I think we will be de-carred in the U.S. by  (the first quarter) of 2017."

A major piece of the puzzle is shelving the Chrysler 200 in Sterling Heights. The automaker said earlier this week production will end there in December.

On Tuesday, FCA announced that it plans to spend $1.49 billion to retool its Sterling Heights, Mich., Assembly Plant to make the Ram 1500, which will move from its current plant in Warren when production begins in 2018.

Another piece of the plan is to move production of the Jeep Cherokee from Toledo, Ohio, to Belvidere, Ill., so it can expand production of the Wrangler in Toledo. FCA said last month it plans to spend $1 billion to retool its plants in Toledo, Ohio, and Belvidere, Ill., and create 1,000 new jobs.

UAW President Dennis Williams — who has frequently criticized automakers for moving production to Mexico — said Tuesday that FCA's recent investments were discussed last year as part of the union's contract negotiations.

The Sterling Heights investment "is great for all of our members and all of the employees at FCA and for the local communities," he said.

In negotiations with the Detroit Three last fall, the UAW won raises for entry-level members hired after 2007, moving most to about $29 per hour from $19.28 over the next eight years.

That agreement, combined with other benefits, erodes the ability of the Detroit Three to make a profit off lower-priced small cars in the U.S.

"When you look at the economics of car manufacturing ...the margins that we were getting from our experience of both the Dart and the Chrysler 200 ...yielded returns that would not, on a competitive basis, match even anything close or remotely close to what we could derive from utilization of those assets in the Jeep or Ram world. So we have made that shift," Marchionne said.

Despite FCA's plans to stop producing the Dart and Chrysler 200, Marchionne continues to say he is looking for a partner willing to make those cars for the automaker.

“I think we have made progress. We’re not in a position to announce anything," Marchionne said.

NWI Times’ Editorial on GLB RR

 

 

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL: Where's support for rail?

• The Times Editorial Board

  The Times Editorial Board

• Updated Jul 22, 2016

 

 

After months of public comment on the proposed $8 billion railroad that would ring the Chicago metro area, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board has its work cut out for it.

There were more than 3,000 comments from property owners, railroads, elected officials, schools, advocacy groups, opposition groups and communities through which the 278-mile Great Lakes Basin Transportation rail line would run.

Frank Patton, chairman of GLBT, has promised sweeteners to the public, including free electricity to homes along the route and a promise to pick up farmers’ rail cars of grain, if the farmers build a rail spur. That doesn’t seem to have resonated with the public.

Nor has the acknowledgement that with the volume of freight increasing, and the Borman Expressway unable to be expanded, there must be another way to keep that freight moving through the Chicago freight bottleneck.

We have seen before the recalcitrance of major railroads in accepting new routes, including the free tracks skirting the newly expanded Gary/Chicago International Airport runway. Getting that new route to be accepted, at no cost to the railroads, took nearly a decade. And unlike the runway project, Patton’s GLBT would change the competitive landscape by, in effect, building a toll road for trains.

To many, this project brings to mind the idea of a third airport for the Chicago area. That concept, put forth by the Federal Aviation Administration, has been talked about for years, with airport plans put forward in Peotone, Gary and elsewhere, but airlines haven’t committed to serving a third airport.

Which railroads want this new rail line built? Which shippers want it?

And what long-term benefits, after the initial construction, would this railroad bring to Northwest Indiana and the rest of the route?

We have heard of alternate routes, including one that would avoid Porter County with the addition of new track near Wanatah and using existing rail routes south of the county.

What we haven’t heard much of is support for the rail project.

Above is from:  http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-where-s-support-for-rail/article_99cf06f0-e1e8-55fb-809c-abef02316d45.html

Commander Kelm speaks out in Boone County Journal regarding Health Department, its governing board and the County Board

Boone County Health Department: The self feeding government entity in Boone County concerned with self preservation who out of a 1.1 million dollar budget spends 88% for wages and benefits for their 18 employees. (Their 2015 annual report taken offline).

Now the Boone County Health Department is stamping their feet at both boards ( Boone County Board & health department boards that is) trying to ride the backs of the not for profits for more fees.

There are some great people in the health department in Boone County, there are maybe 4 or 5 on their health department board that can think on their own and make rational decisions on their own in my opinion. The rest are lemming followers, who will “sing back” to the health department what ever the health department wants them to sing back. I have personally observed this in the very few meetings I attended. In my opinion, if you want to watch a very weak board in action, go to a health board meeting and watch the board dance to the tune of the ones they are supposed to manage.

Now on the Boone County Board Health and Human Service committee: Jeff Carlisle (chairman) and Cathy Ward (member) will not be “lead around by the nose” by the health department. Thank heavens we have 4 on the county board with some backbone.

Ms. Frank wants us to believe that we are all in extreme danger with food-borne illness, that is about all I have ever observed her chant. The fact is when I sent in a freedom of information act request, asking for the last 5 of food-borne outbreaks occurring in Boone County, the health department replied there may have been one. They could did not give me a date, people involved, cost to inspect or correct. Until I see some ink on the paper how do we even know one incidence happened? Is it worth $5.5 million over a 5 year period? I truly do not think so. Yesterday I told the 1 incident had nothing to do with a restaurant or church. It was a private event.

Lets look at fees for food permits.

Since 2006, our food permit fees at the VFW have increased more than 522 percent. The VFW paid $450 for a food permit in 2015; McDonald's & Burger King paid $205 per year; Belvidere Ace, $120; Subway Gateway, $205; The Brick, $240; Buchanan Street Pub, $140; Buchanan Street Bar and Grill, $450; Tropical Oasis, $260; Pizza Hut, $240; Maria's Pizza, $450; Arby's, $450; and Starbucks, $240. Moose Lodge (tax except by stature) $450. The fees are all over the place with no rhyme or reason.

When I asked the Health Department why there was a more than 100 percent difference in fees between the VFW and McDonald's, I was told that the VFW was considered “high risk.” Again, I would like to point out that the McDonald's fee is $205 and Belvidere Ace is $120. One sells food 24/7 (McDonald's), the other sells soda and candy bars and gives away popped popcorn (Ace Hardware).

Now, the Health Department wants all nonprofits to pay fees. The sky is falling and the Health Department says, "We are in the red. We need more money. We need more fees, now!"

My concern is, if you have budget problems, why, in 2013, did you, the Health Department, give your staff $56,000 in wage increases? In three years, that raise has grown to more than $168,000. It is reported that Cindy Frank gave herself a 55 percent pay increase. I am curious if this was really true? I know we all dream of a “cushy” lifetime, an 8-to-5 government job with most weekends and all major holidays off, and raises to our own pay whenever we can. But in the real world outside of government that does not happen.

The Health Department now proposes hiring an administrator for $90,675 in 2017. Boone County Health Department, hello, have you ever heard of truly working to have a balanced budget in place? Maybe you need to combine some jobs or have some layoffs so you can then be in the black. All of your money comes from local, state or federal taxes, (grants) our money.

Do we really need a health department? Not really. Many feel, myself included, they are just one huge duplication of many services we already have. Many “fees” could be paid right at the circuit clerks office. For 1.1million dollars I think you could pay for a few more staff at the clerks office. The Crusader Clinic is just down the street for medical services. The health department is not there nights and weekends. There must be no danger on weekends or evenings of food-borne illness. Maybe they have an answering machine and can get back the next day or Monday?

•Put this money to the Sheriffs Department and Fire Protection. Now there is where the men and women are out there 24/7 looking out for us, truly keeping us safe. Lets trim all the expensive “fat hanging on the bone” in the health department.

•This is the opinion of Greg Kelm Commander VFW Post 1461 since 2006, President of Boone County Veteran's Club since 2006. Please email comments to gkelm@vfw1461.com.