White House to Seek Emergency Order to Let Immigration Plan Proceed - NYTimes.com

 

…lawyers at the Justice Department would seek an emergency order from an appeals court to allow the federal government to issue work permits and provide legal protections to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants while it appeals a judge's ruling halting the programs.

The move came in response to a ruling issued by a federal judge on Monday night indefinitely postponing President Obama’s sweeping executive actions on immigration.

Read more by clicking on the the following:  White House to Seek Emergency Order to Let Immigration Plan Proceed - NYTimes.com

BCJ Editorial on Boone County “ad hoc” subcommittee

An easier to read copy is shown after the photocopy.

 

When a “Duck” Is a “Duck”

Since the Illinois Department of Agriculture examined the Boone County animal shelter a few years ago, the
place has been an embarrassment. Members of the Boone County Board, residents of the county and some from
adjoining counties are outraged that county government would treat feral animals in such a way. The same people
are also angered at the inability of county government to define or to outlaw “puppy mills.”

In response to this failure, members of county government created an “Ad-Hoc Committee for Boarding and
Breeding Facilities.” This path is dangerous because the group is closely allied with county government, the group
wants to amend county code sheltered from public “interference” and they are near to violating the Illinois Open
Meetings Act.

Creation of the Committee occurred when the chairman of the County Board appointed people to serve without
County Board approval. To her credit, the county state’s attorney advised the founders of the Committee to abide
by the open meetings act and to provide public notice of their meetings. However, material obtained by The
Journal suggests that open meetings and public disclosure was not their intention.

The document obtained arose over the name, Denny Ellingson, a District #1 legislator on the Boone County
Board. The date of this document is January 7, 2015.

In the second paragraph, the author wrote:
“Please remember, this is an advisory ad-hoc committee which means we do not have to post public agendas or
open our meetings for the public to attend. Please do not tell others about where or when these meetings are set
forth so that we can meet without interference. When we get our work done the public will get a chance to review
our thoughts and decisions as our proposed ordinances will back through the ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals) and
the PZB (Planning, Zoning and Building committee of the Boone County Board) before the County Board gets as
chance to adopt them.”

These are stunning admissions. The number of questionable and potentially illegal admissions noted here
reaches double digits.

The author said the group was advisory but without guidelines to govern the group it is questionable just what
the Committee is, other than an extension of county government. The conclusion that the group does not need to
conform to provide notice of their meetings is contrary to an opinion offered by the state’s attorney. This advice in
the letter violates the “spirit” of the law but we have often noted, ethics are for losers. If the Committee does not
need to provide formal notice of their meetings they then might conclude that they need not conform to the Open
Meetings Act. This could be problematic because the County Board chairman appointed the members to serve and
also because of the Committee’s tight connection to county government.

Further, the author asked that members, “Please do not tell others where or when these meetings are set.”
Really? It is an arguable point but, is not this a request of the members to violate Illinois law? This language
appearing over the signature of an elected official is a damaging admission that requires explanation.

There’s more. The author continues claiming, because of this conclusion, the Committee can avoid the
“interference” that the public might create. It is presumed the author would include the press as an objectionable
“interference.” Asking members not to tell anyone of future meetings to avoid “interference” is an insult.

The author assumes that any activity to emerge from their meetings will be blindly approved by the ZBA and
the PZB as a prelude to being lamely enacted by the County Board. This level of confidence is enhanced by moves
made by County Board leadership to pack the panel with those that are like-minded. The hubris of this policy is
beyond belief and should be of concern to all who voted for these “alleged” legislators.

It is uncertain if any members of the Committee voiced concern over what was written and it would be
disappointing if no one questioned the policy. But, perhaps this egotism is to be expected when people are
appointed to serve the needs of the community without needing any further approval.

This activity confirms a position voiced in a previous Editorial presented here. Some elected officials believe
that their view and views of their friends are the only views that need to be heard. Some leaders appoint friends to
do their bidding and to run a government to please a singular view while ignoring anyone with a different point-of-
view.

It appears the current leader sees the Board as an extension of himself and he has appointed those to committees
that compliment his singular view.

The effort of this ad-hoc committee is not designed to resolve a problem in county government through greater
openness, the stated goal is to keep their activity out of public sight. It is apparent that an open vision of public
policy is sorely lacking in Boone County government. But for a couple members, the current County Board is
populated by “yes-men” who are willing to do the bidding of the leader.

Another example of the impact of this closed policy was found in a recent change in position expressed by the
Boone County regional planning commission regarding a proposed text amendment. This change did not occur
because of amended language or altered intent, the change occurred because of a change in membership on the
commission. Is anyone truly surprised?

The Boone County Journal is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-02-20-15.pdf#page=1

 

To read the email quoted in the editorial, go to the bottom of the following Boone County Watchdog posting:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2015/02/did-boone-countys-ad-hoc-committee.html

GOP leader cautious on Rauner budget plan : Politics

 

In a sign that a final state budget plan will look significantly different than what Gov. Bruce Rauner outlined Wednesday, the man expected to deliver Republican votes in the House predicted tough but "delicate" negotiations lie ahead.

In an interview Thursday with the Lee Enterprises Springfield bureau, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, downplayed concerns that Rauner proposed a budget that is not balanced because it relies on $2.2 billion in savings from an overhaul of state employee pensions.

"Everything in that speech is subject to negotiation," Durkin said as the House adjourned for the week.

Critics say balancing the budget on a proposal that likely will be challenged in court is dishonest and "reckless."

But, said Durkin, "We just need to hold on and let's talk, let's work with the (governor) to make some sense out of these things and mitigate some of concerns that people have."

The GOP leader's comments echo the concerns voiced by rank-and-file lawmakers who said Rauner's blueprint for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is just a starting point and could change as lawmakers weigh in on some of the changes.

Chief among the sticking points is Rauner's plan to move state workers, university employees and teachers hired after Jan. 1, 2011 into a less-generous pension system. Rauner also wants to give workers the option of cashing out their pensions and investing that money in a self-managed retirement account.

Teachers' unions, which contribute campaign dollars to downstate Republicans, said the plan is "obviously unconstitutional."

"The good news about today's speech is that Governor Rauner cannot autocratically impose his dark vision for Illinois," said Cinda Klickna, president of the Illinois Education Association.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said it was "reckless" for Rauner to build a budget using revenue that might never be collected.

Durkin said his goal in the coming weeks will be to find ways to cut state spending within the parameters laid out by Rauner. But he did not commit to following the exact template proposed by the rookie chief executive.

"The governor has indicated he wants to live within a certain revenue number and how we get there, he'll be very open to how we do that," Durkin said. "It's going to be really delicate, but I think it's going to be a very good negotiating year for the caucuses."

GOP leader cautious on Rauner budget plan : Politics

2016 Primary—just about a year away

The primary for the 2016 election is just a year from now.  Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Governor Walker have all threw their hats in the ring for President.

As far as local elected office, “big offices” in Boone County will undoubtedly be determined by the Republican Primary.  The biggest is County States Attorney.  Other than circuit court judges it garners the highest salary—$166,508 plus $16,114 in paid health insurance.  See  page 2 of: http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/images/employee%20compensation%20FY%202014(2).pdf

Here is some campaign literature from 2008 from the current states attorney.  As of yet, no word on whom are running in the primary.  Perhaps a third term for Mrs. Courier?

Boone County commission supports zoning amendment that would limit wind turbines - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

…..According to Gina DelRose, associate planner for the Boone County Planning Department, if the amendment is passed by the County Board, "It will make it significantly more difficult" for the Ireland-based renewable energy company Mainstream Renewable Power to put turbines in Manchester and LeRoy townships, where it has expressed interest in building a $300 to $400 million wind farm with as many as 100 turbines on 12,000 acres.

With the amendment's new distance requirements in place, "without a waiver there’s not a single property (in the county) that could have a wind farm," DelRose said.

Cleverdon and Kenney's amendment would allow landowners to waive the distance requirements as long as they obtained permission from neighbors with whom they share a property line. Last month, the two proposed a different version of the amendment that did not mention waivers. That version was denied.

Cleverdon said that he supports alternative energy and described himself as a "believer in wind power," but "right now the assumption is that you should basically be able to build wind turbines anywhere, regardless, and … the issues of health and safety and property rights are not being adequately heard or addressed"

He said that the amendment is not an attempt to stymie Mainstream's turbine plans.

“We hope that ultimately that the text amendment gets adopted and that the people in the county are safer,” Cleverdon said.

Attempts to reach representatives at Mainstream Renewable Power for comment were unsuccessful.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Boone County commission supports zoning amendment that would limit wind turbines - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Scott Walker dismisses 'elitist' criticism that he dropped out of college - Yahoo News

 

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is dismissing "elitist" critics who say his lack of a college degree could work against him should he run for president.

Last week, former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean brought up Walker's lack of education, saying, “The issue is, how well educated is this guy?”

"I worry about people being president of the United States not knowing much about the world and not knowing much about science," Dean said on MSNBC. "I worry about that."

"That's the kind of elitist, government-knows-best, top-down approach we've had for years," Walker told Fox News' Megyn Kelly Tuesday.

The Republican governor and possible presidential hopeful turned the criticism into a zinger against President Barack Obama, who earned his bachelor's degree from Columbia and a law degree at Harvard.

"We've had an Ivy-trained lawyer in the White House for six years who's pretty good at reading off the teleprompter, but has done a pretty lousy job leading this country," Walker said. "I'd rather have a fighter who's proven he can take on the big government special interests and win."

Walker dropped out of Marquette in 1990 during his senior year to take a full-time job at the American Red Cross and focus on politics.

"We have people who helped found Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, plenty of other successful businesses and enterprises across this country who did the exact same sort of thing I did," Walker said. "I've got two sons in college. I hope they finish, I expect that. ... We value college for those who want to pursue a career, but in the end you don't have to have that."

Walker, who made headlines during a tour of London last week when he declined to answer an interviewer's question about evolution, addressed that controversy, too.

"I think God created the earth," he told Kelly, but added: "I think science and my faith aren't incompatible."

Scott Walker dismisses 'elitist' criticism that he dropped out of college - Yahoo News

Wal-Mart will give half-million employees pay raises - Yahoo Finance

 

The move ensures hourly associates earn at least $1.75 above today's federal minimum wage, or $9 per hour, in April. By Feb. 1, 2016, current associates will earn at least $10 per hour. Some states already have a minimum wage at or above $9 per hour, including California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Rhode Island.

"I think it actually is good news," Paul Trussell, Deutsche Bank analyst said about the wage move. "Frankly part of Wal-Mart's problem has been concerns around inventories being out of stock, been about bad customer service, long lines at the checkout counters. There's been a lot of disgruntled workers, and frankly this does sound like the new CEO both of the U.S. Wal-Mart team and Doug McMillon at the helm taking a step to perhaps correct those past evils

Read the entire article:  Wal-Mart will give half-million employees pay raises - Yahoo Finance