09 Nov 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 11/06/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has appointed an Inspector General of the Illinois Tollway, and made judicial appointments to the Illinois Court of Claims and the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

 

Name: TJ Hengesbach

Position: Inspector General - Illinois Toll Highway

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed TJ Hengesbach as Inspector General of the Illinois Tollway. He has nearly 15 years of experience from the Illinois and City of Chicago's Inspector General offices and has been a practicing attorney since 1991.

Most recently, Hengesbach was the Deputy Inspector General in Chicago's Office of Inspector General. He was part of the team that provided legal support and solutions to all sections of the oversight agency. He also provided legal counsel and policy guidance on internal personnel decisions, and external investigative, audit and compliance activity. He worked for the City of Chicago from October 2005 to April 2015. Prior to this, he was the general counsel for Illinois' Office of Executive Inspector General. In this role he developed investigative protocols and participated in investigations of allegations of fraud, waste and misconduct.

Hengesbach is a Certified Inspector General from the Association of Inspector Generals and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional from the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.

Hengesbach earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from Indiana University-Bloomington. He lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Peter G. Karahalios

Positions: Judge - Illinois Court of Claims

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Peter G. Karahalios to the Illinois Court of Claims. Karahalios brings 40 years of experience as an attorney in both the private and public sectors to the bench.

Currently, Karahalios is the Chief Legal Counsel and Sworn Deputy Treasurer in the Cook County Treasurer's Office. He oversees the compliance of state statutes and county ordinances on real estate tax collection and coordinates litigation with the Cook County State's Attorney and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He has held this position since 2007. It's a return to the Cook County Treasurer's Office because he previously worked there from 1998-2003 as the Chief of Staff and Sworn Chief Deputy Treasurer. Karahalios has worked in private practice, as well.

Karahalios earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law. He was also a member of the Illinois National Guard from 1970-1976. He lives in South Barrington.

 

Name: Robert Steffen
Position: Judge - Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Robert Steffen to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. He brings over 23 years of legal experience to the board.

Steffen currently serves as Court of Claims Judge for the State of Illinois. He was appointed to the post in 2004. He is also the owner of Steffen Law, P.C., a law firm in Elgin which he started in 2000.  Prior to his own law firm and time on the bench, Steffen served as an assistant state's attorney in the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. Over the course of his eight years with Kane County, he prosecuted countless crimes and petty offenses.

Steffen earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and a law degree from John Marshall Law School. He lives in South Barrington.

###
06 Nov 2015

Governor Bruce Rauner Issues Amendatory Veto

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner issued an amendatory veto today of House Bill 2482.

Similar to Senate Bill 570, the proposed legislation concerning the Child Care Assistance Program, HB 2482 would have unintended consequences that would negatively impact the state's long-term ability to serve individuals in need.

"These bills may be well-intentioned, but they are ultimately harmful to the programs they are trying to help," Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said. "The governor understands and shares the frustration of members who want to fund these programs, but the appropriate way to do so is in the context of a truly balanced budget. As drafted, both pieces of legislation would create serious problems that jeopardize the future of the Child Care Assistance Program as well as services for the elderly."

House Bill 2482 would lock into statute that an individual who qualifies for assistance is entitled to institutional care. Additionally, the approach contemplated by this legislation puts the state's compliance with Medicaid waiver regulations and ability to maximize federal match funds at serious risk.

As noted in the governor's veto message House Bill 2482 "takes a step in the wrong direction... For too long, Illinois has over-prescribed institutional care to lower-need individuals when less expensive and more appropriate care options are available. In order to provide the best particular care for each individual, to ensure that our support services remain affordable, and to maximize the number of individuals served, we must rebalance the services being provided with greater precision. Prescribing institutional care for individuals who do not need it is wrong for the individual and wrong for taxpayers. Moreover, over-prescribing institutional care is inconsistent with the direction being taken across the country."

Bill No.: HB 2482

An Act Concerning Public Aid

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto Message Below

 

 

Veto Message

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I return House Bill 2482 with specific recommendations for change.

The State of Illinois provides important support services to elderly and disabled individuals through the Community Care Program, the Home Services Program, and State-funded nursing care. At a time when the State is struggling to afford its past promises, we have an obligation to make the economic and government reforms needed to continue providing these services to the neediest among us.

Unfortunately, while well-intentioned, House Bill 2482 takes a step in the wrong direction. The bill would lock into statute that an individual with a particular threshold score on the Determination of Need (DON) assessment tool would be eligible for both institutional and home and community-based long term care services. Instead, an individual with the threshold score should be entitled to institutional or home and community-based care. Retaining flexibility to determine whether an individual is eligible for institutional or home and community-based care - as opposed to both - will ensure that the State is compliant with Medicaid waiver regulations and protocols and maximize federal matching funds.

For too long, Illinois has over-prescribed institutional care to lower-need individuals when less expensive and more appropriate care options are available. In order to provide the best particular care for each individual, to ensure that our support services remain affordable, and to maximize the number of individuals served, we must rebalance the services being provided with greater precision. Prescribing institutional care for individuals who do not need it is wrong for the individual and wrong for taxpayers. Moreover, over-prescribing institutional care is inconsistent with the direction being taken across the country.

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 2482, entitled "AN ACT concerning public aid", with the following specific recommendations for change:

On page 10, line 17, by replacing "institutional and" with "institutional or"; and

On page 21, line 5, by replacing "institutional and" with "institutional or"; and

On page 50, line 21, by replacing "institutional and" with "institutional or"; and

On page 55, line 17, by replacing "institutional and" with "institutional or".

With these changes, House Bill 2482 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR
06 Nov 2015

Governor Rauner Announces Top Students to be Honored by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

By Catherine Kelly

Ceremony at Old State Capitol Recognizes the Top Students from Each College and University in Illinois

 

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner today announced this year's outstanding college students who will be honored by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The Academy will recognize the following students during the annual Student Laureate Convocation at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 7 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

"Civic engagement, as exemplified by President Lincoln, is crucial to our democracy and the process of our government," said Governor Rauner. "The young men and women receiving this recognition today embody the spirit of President Lincoln through their hard work and dedication to their schools and communities."

The Lincoln Academy's Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors from each of the state's four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois.  At the Student Laureate Convocation, each student will receive a Student Laureate Medallion, along with a $1,000 educational grant and a certificate of achievement. This is the 41st year Lincoln Academy has celebrated students' excellence in Illinois.

Student Laureate Cynthia J. Avila of the University of Chicago will speak on behalf of all the Laureates.  The invocation will be delivered by Dr. Stanley R. Liberty, Interim President of Bradley University, and the benediction will be delivered by Eureka College President J. David Arnold.  The Sangamon Woodwind Consort will provide music, and a luncheon at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel will follow the Student Laureate Convocation.

The Lincoln Academy, unique among the 50 states, was established more than 50 years ago to honor distinguished citizens with the state's highest award, the Order of Lincoln.  The 52nd Annual Convocation and Investiture of Laureates of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois will take place Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the historic Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel in Peoria.

STUDENT LAUREATES

 

School                         Student                                Home Town 

Augustana College                                Aubrey Waddick                        Algonquin, IL

Aurora University                                Sherry A. Maschmeyer                                 Frankfort, IL

Benedictine University                     Dana V. Cairns                                Lombard, IL

Blackburn College                                Sarah Collman                                 New Douglas, IL

Bradley University                                Kristin Kreher                                Smithton, IL

Columbia College - Chicago                           Lance T. Cox                                 Rockford, IL

Concordia University Chicago                     Kayla E. Lohman                                Kirkwood, MO

DePaul University                                Nicole May                                Lemont, IL

Dominican University                                Cutberto Aguayo                                Chicago, IL

Eastern Illinois University                          Shirmeen Ahmad                                 Romeoville, IL

East-West University                                Ghada M. Morrar                                Chicago, IL

Elmhurst College                                Angil J. Tate                                Atlanta, GA

Eureka College                        Michael A. Sain, II                                Reynoldsburg, OH

Governors State University                            Jerry Davis el                                Richton Park, IL

Greenville College                                Nathan Kriebel                                Brookston, IN

Illinois College                                Kavita K. Patel                                Princeton, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology                     Pooja Agarwal                        Chicago, IL

Illinois State University                         Maureen R. Christensen                                Normal, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University                    Nicole M. Jovicevice                                Des Plaines, IL

Judson University                                Ethan R. Adams                                 Springfield, IL

Knox College                                Sophia D. Croll                                Cambridge, MA

Lake Forest College                                Benjamin Labaschin                      Northbrook, IL

Lewis University                     Jessica L. Tennant                        Burr Ridge, IL

Lincoln College                        Cody R. Garretson                      New Holland, IL

Loyola University Chicago                        Ashley Rogers                         Evergreen Park, IL

MacMurray College                        Shannon M. Young                          Carmel, IN

McKendree University                     Kenneth O'Dell Jr.                            Carlyle, IL

Millikin University                     Alexander H. Koulos                         Naperville, IL

Monmouth College                        Drake A. Decker                         Davenport, IA

National Louis University                     Jeanette Kyle                           Chicago, IL

North Central College                        Jack A. Ryan                           Oswego, IL

North Park University                     Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez              Hanford, CA

Northeastern Illinois University               Emily Fioramonti                     Chicago, IL

Northern Illinois University                     Kiranjit Gill                           Palatine, IL

Olivet Nazarene University                     Chelsea Risinger                       Tremont, IL

Principia College                        Shontee M. Pant                           Coppell, TX

Quincy University                     Catherine Richards                       Quincy, IL

Rock Valley College                        Matilyn N. Bindl                          Belvidere, IL

Rockford University                     Angela Martinez                       Rockford, IL

Roosevelt University                     Lacy N. Reyna                          Winterest, IA

St. Xavier University                     Anna E. Goldman                        Eagan, MN

School of the Art Institute of Chicago         Florian Palluci                        Berwyn, IL

Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale        Savannah L. McCord                         St. Louis, MO

Southern Illinois Univ. Edwardsville      Joshua G. Pritsolas                      Glen Carbon, IL

The University of Chicago                        Cynthia J. Avila                          Chicago, IL

Trinity Christian College                        Halie A. Wisse                          Oostburg, WI

Trinity International University                 Richard J. Davis                          Arlington Heights, IL

University of Illinois Chicago                       Taylor R. Casino                         Champaign, IL

University of Illinois Springfield                    Hannah Cave                           Esmond, IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  Monica S. Chen                           Buffalo Grove, IL

University of St. Francis                        Laura Muñoz Lopez                          Simpsonville, SC

VanderCook College of Music                      Kendall C. Jones                          Lake Villa, IL

Western Illinois University                     Hannah F. Drake                          Charleston, IL

Wheaton College                        Kyle L. Mellinger                      Ladera Ranch, CA

 

###

 

02 Nov 2015

Governor Announces Appointment - 10/30/2015

By Catherine Kelly

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Pamela McDonough to the Illinois Capital Development Board. She brings more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors to the board.

McDonough is the President of the DeAngelo McDonough Construction Management Company. She has been with the construction management company since 2003. She also serves as President of McDonough Enterprises, Ltd., which is a business development company that performs technical assistance and association management for not-for-profits. Before this work, McDonough served as the first woman director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. Under her leadership Illinois ranked first in the nation for economic development in 2001 and 2002. She also served in many other state government leadership roles including serving as Deputy Director of the Capital Development Board from 1992 to 1995.

McDonough is an active member of the community. She sits on the Affirmative Action Advisory Board, the Federation of Women Contractors Board, the Women's Business Development Center Board and the Wilbur Wright College President's Advisory Committee.

McDonough earned her bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University and earned a Master's in Public Administration from Sangamon State University. She lives in Chicago.
28 Oct 2015

Governor Announces Appointments to Unmanned Aerial System Oversight Task Force

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has appointed the members of the Unmanned Aerial System Oversight Task Force. They represent the interests of various stakeholders, local governments and State Agencies.

The Task Force will prepare comprehensive recommendations for the safe and lawful operation of unmanned aerial systems or drones in Illinois. A report with recommendations is due to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2016.

The Task Force was created when the Governor signed SB 44 earlier this year.

The following have been named to the Task Force:

·         Steve Young, Illinois Department of Transportation - Division of Aeronautics

·         Brian Miller, Illinois State Police

·         Eric Rollins, Illinois Conservation Police

·         Chuck Cawley, Illinois Department of Agriculture

·         Christine Dudley, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

·         Ron Tremain, INSITU Inc. - a Boeing Company

·         Cameron Eugenis, Illinois Attorney General

·         Troy Williams, Illinois Conservation Police Lodge

·         Scotty Bryant, Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources

·         Doug Yoder, Illinois Farm Bureau

·         Tom Collins, Collins Engineers

·         Linda Rhodes, ComEd

·         Lt. Col Clarence Pulcher, Illinois National Guard

·         Alec Laird, Illinois Retail Merchants Association

·         Brian Young, Archer Daniels Midland

·         Eric Vanasdale, Country Financial

·         Chief Frank Kaminski, City of Park Ridge

·         Joseph Ciaccio, Illinois Railroad Association

###
26 Oct 2015

Governor Announces Appointment - 10/23/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Michael Bigger to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Bigger's participation in various civic endeavors will bring an excellent perspective to the commission.

Bigger is currently the owner and operator of the State Farm Insurance branch in Wyoming, Illinois and has worked there for nearly 35 years. In the community, Biggar has served on the Stark County Board of Supervisors and the Stark County Economic Development Partnership, and he is a member of the Wyoming Lions Club and the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce.

Biggar is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He lives in Wyoming.

###
23 Oct 2015

Governor Takes Bill Action

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 1081

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate, with the exception of sections 1, 5, and 10, which take effect on July 1, 2016, and section 20, which takes effect on January 1, 2016.

 

###
22 Oct 2015

Rauner Administration - Trade Unions Reach Agreements

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - After several months of good faith negotiations, Governor Bruce Rauner has agreed to terms on new four-year collective bargaining agreements with the International Union of Operating Engineers, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, and the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers.  The last set of agreements expired June 30, 2015.

The new contracts cover workers at the Departments of Agriculture, Central Management Services, Corrections, Historic Preservation, Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Military Affairs, Transportation, Veterans' Affairs, and the Illinois State Police.  The employees are all professional tradesmen and women who work as stationary engineers and plant operators, plumbers and steamfitters, and machinists.

The tentative agreements are being submitted to the membership of the trade unions for a ratification vote.  The terms of the tentative agreements are confidential until the end of the ratification process.

As a continuation of the productive negotiating sessions, the trade unions and the Governor's Office also pledged to form a long-term relationship to improve employer-labor relations in state government.

###
20 Oct 2015

Governor Rauner Announces New Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff

By Catherine Kelly

Col. Michael J. Glisson will be promoted to brigadier general

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced that The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., has appointed Col. Michael J. Glisson, as the Illinois National Guard's Director of the Joint Staff. As a result of the appointment, Col. Glisson will be promoted to brigadier general.

Glisson will replace Brig. Gen. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, who is being appointed as the Assistant Adjutant General - Army. Both Glisson and Tate-Nadeau are traditional Army National Guard Soldiers who will continue their civilian full-time employment outside of the Illinois National Guard. Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, the full-time Assistant Adjutant General - Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard is in a two-star position and is eligible to be promoted to major general.

"I'm pleased to announce this key appointment within the Illinois National Guard and congratulate Col. Glisson on his pending promotion," Governor Rauner said. "The Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff works with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and a multitude of other agencies to ensure we are ready to respond to any of a multitude of emergencies that could occur within Illinois."

The Director of the Joint Staff oversees all Illinois National Guard planning for domestic emergencies as well as the Illinois National Guard Counterdrug Program and the Illinois National Guard's State Partnership Program with Poland. In addition, the director administers the Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve within Illinois.

"Mike Glisson has extensive experience working in both domestic and international operations and has worked with all other U.S. military services as well as a great many international militaries," Maj. Gen. Hayes said. "He has also worked extensively with Illinois community leaders as well as with communities as far away as Poland and Afghanistan. He will do exceptionally well as the Director of the Joint Staff."

Glisson previously served as the Commander of the 65th Troop Command Brigade, a position he served in since June 2013. Glisson earned his commission in May 1988 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard in February 1990 as a fire support team chief assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment and was attached to the 3rd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment in East St. Louis, Illinois. He has since held command positions at every level up to brigade as well as several key Army and Joint staff positions.

He has deployed to Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009 as the director of Afghan National Security Forces Development for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII and previously deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle as the Chief, Army Liaison Section, Air Mobility Command, U.S. Air Force. He has also supported multiple state active duty mobilizations and overseas training missions. As the plans branch chief for the Illinois Army National Guard, he was a key leader in the success of the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago.

"Being selected as the Director of the Joint Staff and for promotion to brigadier general is a true honor and privilege," Glisson said. "I'm looking forward to working as a team with leaders both within the Illinois National Guard and outside our ranks. A great number of challenges lie ahead, but I'm confident that by working as a team we can overcome any obstacles and protect our state and defend our nation."

Glisson's professional education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in metalsmithing from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He graduated from multiple military courses including the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Infantry Captains Career Course, Joint Firepower Course, Joint Operation Fires and Effects Course, Air Mobility Operations Course, Command and General Staff Officer Course and the Reserve Component National Security Course.

Glisson's awards include a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Afghan Campaign Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Illinois Medal of Merit, Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

As a civilian, COL Glisson is a self-employed artist blacksmith.
17 Oct 2015

Gov. Rauner Releases 2014 Tax Returns - Updated

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner released his 2014 federal and state 1040's, reflecting income and tax rates, while detailing the Rauner family's  charitable and community giving last year.

Last year, the Rauners paid more than $18 million in federal and state taxes on income of $58.3 million for a total effective tax rate on income of more than 31%. Their federal effective tax rate on income exceeded 26%.

In addition, the Rauners and their family foundation made charitable contributions totaling more than $3.3 million.

Rauner 2014 Tax Summary:

Income on Federal Return: $58.3 million

Adjusted Gross Income on Federal Return: $57.5 million

Federal Income Taxes Paid: $15.2 million

Federal Effective Tax Rate on Income: 26.1%

Federal Effective Tax Rate on Adjusted Gross Income: 26.4%

Illinois Net Income on state Return: $58.7 million

Illinois Income Taxes Paid: $2.8 million

Note: This is an updated release, which contains the attached 1040s.

###

   

###

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

   

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.