The Center for Tax and

Budget Accountability

 

 

 

 

www.ctbaonline.org
312.332.2151 (phone)
312.578.9258 (fax)
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Chicago, IL 60601

April 3, 2007                                                                                       WEEKLY REVIEW
  Provided through the Generous Support of the McCormick Tribune Foundation                                                          

 

In this issue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE FISCAL REFORM

The Education and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 passes out of Committee!

 

SURVEY: ILLINOIS VOTERS READY FOR REFORM

Voters concerned about healthcare, education and cable franchise reform

 

POLICY REFORM NEEDED TO MAKE WORK PAY IN ILLINOIS

National Center for Children in Poverty highlights what needs to be done

 

IMMIGRATION

Immigration reform maintains a space on the national agenda

 

FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE DEBATE UPDATE

Bush expected to veto minimum wage bill

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Extreme poverty, TANF, affordable housing

 

THINGS TO DO

CTBA is speaking at several exciting upcoming event around the state

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

  • April 5, 2007: Moving from Poverty to Opportunity: Champaign Township Forum (Champaign)

  • April 11, 2007: The After School Matters Showcase - an arts and music showcase of Chicago Public School students (Chicago)

  • April 12, 2007: Understanding the Public Benefits Appeal Process Training (Naperville)

  • April 12, 2007: Understanding Spenddown Training (Naperville)

  • April 13, 2007: A "Skills Gap" Community Forum (Aurora)

  • April 16, 2007: A Budget on the Brink (Springfield)

  • April 17-18, 2007: Housing Action Illinois' 2007 Annual Convention (workshops, celebration, and rally) (Springfield)

  • April 19, 2007: Early Childhood Lobby Day (Springfield)

  • April 21, 2007: Moving from Poverty to Opportunity: Dewitt, Piatt, Macon, Shelby, Christian Forum (Clinton)

  • April 24, 2007: Financing Illinois’ Future - Building a Solid Framework (Chicago)

  • April 24, 2007: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (Chicago)

  • April 28, 2007: Moving from Poverty to Opportunity: Champaign County Action Forum (Champaign County)

  • May 4-5, 2007: What Works for Today's Families? And What Doesn't?: A Decade of Research, Practice, and Dialogue (Chicago)

  • May 15-16, 2007: Financing Development: Community Housing Developers Institute (Springfield)

  • May 17, 2007: Making the Connection: Basic Training (Naperville)

  • June 5-6, 2007: Construction Management: Community Housing Developers Institute (Springfield)

  • September 11-12, 2007: Single-Family Development: Community Housing Developers Institute (Springfield)

  • October 16-17, 2007: Property and Asset Management: Community Housing Developers Institute (Springfield)

  • November 1-30, 2007: Affordable Housing Month (Springfield)

 

COMPREHENSIVE FISCAL REFORM

 

THE EDUCATION AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2007 PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE!


HB 750 will:

Provide more money for every child in Illinois

Reduce local property taxes and

Help relieve the high tax burden placed on middle and low income families in Illinois.
 

 

Last Thursday, March 29, the Education and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HB 750), sponsored by Representative David Miller, passed out of the Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee by a vote of 12 to 3.  The bill will now move to the full house for debate.

HB750 is a comprehensive, bi-partisan bill that offers a real solution to school funding and Illinois tax fairness problems by:

  • Guaranteeing property taxes will be reduced statewide,

  • Generating the revenue necessary to provide every child a quality education, without taking money away from well-financed districts,

  • Reforming the fiscal system so it is able to produce adequate, reliable and sustainable revenue, on a fair and competitive basis, now and into the future,

  • Providing almost $1 billion in targeted tax relief to low and middle income families thought the refundable Family Tax Credit which effectively ensures the bottom 60% of income earners in the state will not pay more in taxes after HB 750 passes and bringing true tax fairness to Illinois,

  • Maintaining Illinois’ overall low tax burden – after HB 750 passes, total tax burden in Illinois will rank only 42nd in the nation, despite the fact Illinois has the fifth largest state economy and population, and

  • Reducing the direct taxation of business.

This is a very important step to solving the decades long problem Illinois has faced in funding education. This is the year to get the problem fixed!
 

Stay tuned to the Weekly Review for next steps and ways to show your support of HB 750.

 

Resources

  • HB/SB 750: Education and Fiscal Responsibility Act outlines a package of fiscal solutions that address education funding reform, the state's structural deficit, the need to adequately fund human services, and the need to pay off the state's pension debt.

  • Gross Receipts Tax fact sheet shares general information on GRTs and highlights the ways in which the GRT is not the solution to Illinois' fiscal crisis. 

SURVEY: ILLINOIS VOTERS READY FOR REFORM

 

VOTERS CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND CABLE FRANCHISE REFORM


Citizen Action/Illinois released a new statewide telephone survey of Illinois voters which was conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. between February 28 and March 1, 2007. The survey was designed to measure Illinois voters’ mood, their priorities, and their attitudes on a range of public policy issues that recently have gained attention in Illinois.

Key findings of the poll which surveyed 617 registered voters in Illinois include:

  • One of Illinois voters’ top concerns is health care – voters feel that its cost and lack of adequate coverage for a growing number of Illinois families are serious problems in the state, with 30% of the voters saying that a family member has put off some sort of medical treatment because of cost.

  • Education funding also ranks at the top of the voters’ issue agenda – particularly funding of K-12 schools in the state. More than any other issue, voters cite education and school funding as top priorities that they would like state government to address.

  • Voters support introducing competition into the cable television marketplace, as a way to drive down costs. Fully 70% of Illinois voters support statewide video franchise legislation.

  • Nearly four in five voters (79%) had high levels of concern about the war in Iraq.

  • Seven in ten voters (69%) think that the state budget deficit is an extremely or quite serious problem. More than half express the same level of concern about Illinois’ under funded pension system (55%), but there is little support for addressing this problem by cutting pensions and health care for future retirees.

  • More than half (52%) of the voters acknowledge that the increasing consumer debt through the use of payday and auto title loans is an extremely or quite serious problem in Illinois, and fully 77% of the voters favor strengthening the Illinois law that protects consumers from predatory payday loan type products.

  • Voters are so concerned about education that across a majority of all demographic subgroups, two-thirds of the Illinois electorate favors a tax swap proposal to increase state support of K-12 schools and state colleges by increasing the state income tax while reducing the property tax burden for homeowners.

For more information on the survey, contact Lynda DeLaforgue at Citizen Action/Illinois, (312) 427-2114 ext. 3.

 

report: POLICY reform NEEDED TO MAKE WORK PAY IN Illinois

 

 

 

Did you know that when a parent’s earnings double from $8 to $16 an hour, the family actually loses ground?

 

national center for children in poverty highlights what needs to be done

According to a new report from the National center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), Illinois maintains a number of strong work supports-- earned income tax credits, health insurance coverage, childcare assistance, and food stamps—but these benefits quickly disappear once family income increases even a small amount. A worker employed full-time cannot expect to earn enough to support a family, and what’s more, increased earnings can actually trigger a loss of critical supports.

Many of us have heard this same story told with a different angle. We have seen on the news, read in publications or novels, that stereotype of “freeloaders” taking advantage of the welfare system. Since our national policy shift in 1996, from welfare to “workfare,” federal policy makers have focused on transforming this image to maintain any sort of popular support for federally funded social services.

According to Kinsey Alden Dinan, lead author of “Supporting Work in Illinois: The Challenges Ahead,” “What we see in Illinois, and throughout the country, is that parents can work and earn more with no financial gain for their families. Parents should not have to choose between long-term success in the workforce and their family’s immediate financial stability.”

The report commends Illinois for prioritizing low-wage workers and their families, but does not miss the connection between state economic policy and the experience of poverty. Through this report, one can get come to better understand one dynamic of structural inequality-- how social institutions and laws maintain inequality amongst members of society.


Read the full text of this report, or take a look at the summary.

NCCP also offers a Family Resource Simulator, which can be used to calculate income data based on family specifics such as number and age of children, earnings of parents, debts, assets and supports.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

 

 

 

 

IMMIGRATION REFORM MAINTAINS A SPACE ON THE NATIONAL AGENDA

The beginning months of Session for the 110th Congress saw debate on a number of issues, but it was not until March 22, 2007, when Rep Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced the Security through Regularized Immigration and Vibrant Economy Act (STRIVE) that immigration reform made it back to the table. It remains to be seen how our elected officials will lead the national debate.

The Bush Administration has shown its interest. According to one recent L.A. Times article, following the failure of last year’s immigration reform attempt, top aides recognize that a window of opportunity has re-opened to not only “salvage the process” of negotiations, but also distinguish the Bush Administration with a policy-making success.

With all eyes turned towards immigration, the STRIVE bill is sure to gain a significant amount of attention, as well as derision. A number of powerful groups, including the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have voiced their support for STRIVE, but not without hesitation.

The major provisions of the bill are as follows:

  • Create and implement an improved border enforcement strategy before the start of an electronic employment verification system;
  • Increase penalties for non-citizens involved in criminal misconduct, employment of or smuggling of undocumented persons;
  • Create an electronic “employment verification regime” with anti-discrimination provisions
  • Create a new worker visa valid for three years, with option to renew, which would be contingent on:
    • Demonstrated job qualifications
    • Evidence of job offer from a U.S. employer
    • Completed criminal background check
    • $500 application fee
    • Medical exam

Workers in this program would be able to apply for citizenship for themselves and family members after working for 5 years and paying an application fee.

  • According to STRIVE, undocumented immigrants who have resided in the U.S. prior to June 1, 2006, would be eligible for a 6-year visa, and afterwards be able to apply for citizenship. Requirements for this 6-year visa are:
    • Proof of employment in U.S. before June 2006, and since that date
    • Criminal background check
    • $500 fee plus necessary application charges
    • These individuals would have to meet a new set of criteria to apply for citizenship after these six years, including meeting English and civic requirements, paying additional fines

Read an overview of the STRIVE Act.

The act is being called a decent foundation for new immigration policies, but some argue the bill is essentially the same as last year’s immigration reform attempt. Also, a semi-buried “touch back” provision that would force migrants to return to their country of citizenship before being granted U.S. citizenship or a visa raises concern.

It will be important to follow this debate and keep close watch on any changes made to the STRIVE Act. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said he will open the debate to the floor the weeks of May 14 and 21, 2007-- which leaves just a short timeframe for discussion.

 

FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE DEBATE UPDATE

 

 

 

 

 

BUSH EXPECTED TO VETO MINIMUM WAGE BILL


Ten years after the last minimum wage increase, and with the cost of living up 26%, the U.S. Senate has allowed the minimum wage raise bill to be lost in the shuffle. Last week, the Senate followed the House’s lead to include the wage raise provisions, this time with $12.2 billion in small business tax breaks, to the war supplemental funding bill.

Although the House passed a “clean” bill that would increase minimum wage to $7.25 an hour back in January 2007, the bill has gone through a series of changes. Amendments offering tax cuts to small business were the first in a series of measures that effectively slowed down the passage of the bill. Although it can be said that both the House and Senate believe a minimum wage increase is due, the act now finds itself dangerously attached to bills calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and not quite as precariously attached to House and Senate calls for $700 million-plus budget for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, of which massive funding shortfalls are anticipated for this year.

The Senate bill calling for withdrawal passed late March 2007 with a vote of 50-48. The bill sets a deadline for troop pullout at March 31, 2008, several months sooner than the House supplemental spending bill which would make August 2008 as the final date. The White House has threatened a veto on both the House and Senate spending bill packages. If a veto goes through, the minimum wage raise debate will have to recommence.

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

 

 

 

 

 

EXTREME POVERTY, TANF, AFFORDABLE HOUSING

 

This week marks the beginning of a two-week spring recess for the Illinois House and Senate.  Below are some updates on legislation that we've been tracking in the Weekly Review.  To view a more comprehensive updated listing of legislation that we've been tracking, check out our 2007 Legislative Roster.

 

Extreme Poverty Resolution Introduced

 

On March 29th, Representative Will Davis introduced the House Joint Resolution to hold hearings on the causes and solutions to extreme poverty in Illinois. You can find the resolution, its current status and all the co-sponsors on the Illinois General Assembly's website by clicking: HJR46. The resolution was introduced with 30 co-sponsors from both parties and from across the state.

Now that the legislature is on break for the next two weeks, it would be the perfect time to call your representative's district office, let them know you think freedom from poverty is a human right, and either thank them for sponsoring or ask them to sponsor HJR46. Contact information can be found by clicking here and then clicking on your representative's name.  For more information, contact Doug Schenkelberg at (773) 336.6084 or dschenkelberg@heartlandalliance.org.  

 

The SUCCESS Act (HB 949)

 

HB 949 provides increased support for those children and families in deepest financial need. Currently the bill has 41 co-sponsors in the Illinois House. The bill will be called for a vote when the General Assembly re-convenes after the spring recess. You can help by asking your representative to support this legislation.  For more information, click here to read a fact sheet on the SUCCESS Act.
 

TIF Housing Innovations Programming Act (HB 1682)

 

Read a message from Dan Rockafield, President of Maverick Advocates & Professionals, the group leading the effort around HB 1682:

  • Friends of Affordable Housing                                                      (Please share/forward)

    We have come a long way in the past eight months since the first public dialogue on the possibilities of creating new, affordable housing opportunities through use of accrued but unallocated TIF funds. The dialogue session we facilitated last June became the basis for a video and subsequent discussion papers that were widely circulated. Meetings with housing advocates since that time have been encouraging and prompted our broadening the focus from Chicago to housing markets statewide. Ultimately though, the time required to advance this cause was key in it not reaching the House floor this year. We needed time to galvanize support, to neutralize opposition and inform the strategies of others confused about the legislation, and to meet with leaders before they sorted out committee and chamber priorities. This challenge proved too great an obstacle in so short a time.

    However, great progress has been made with the help of Rep. Julie Hamos, our chief sponsor, and we have learned much. Lines of communication have been opened with a variety of associations, coalitions, municipalities and even legislators. In the end, work on this issue reaffirmed our belief that Maverick Advocates & Professionals must educate and dialogue with policy makers and peers alike about the economic trends and consequences impacting our work so that we can determine how to adapt our strategies for the future. We took that initial step with our testimony by Mike Rohrbeck to the House Revenue Committee.

    As with most good causes, this is but the first step. We hope you will continue to join us on this and other important policy matters affecting the affordable housing sector. We will keep in touch and provide updates as we progress on our work together.

THINGS TO DO

 

 

 

 

 

CTBA IS SPEAKING AT SEVERAL EXCITING UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND THE STATE

 

A "Skills Gap" Community Forum - Aurora

Friday, April 13, 2007

  • You are invited to attend a “Skills Gap” community forum on the economic and workforce development crisis confronting the Aurora area and Illinois. Your leadership is needed in order to successfully prepare for the shortage of trained workers and ensure that the Aurora area has a strong economy, skilled workforce, and thriving community. During this forum, data will be presented on the skills of Aurora’s workforce as well as solutions to this looming skills shortage. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

 

A Budget on the Brink

Monday, April 16, 2007

  • Illinois is headed toward financial implosion.

    The State’s liabilities and unfunded commitments exceed its assets by over $100 billion. The State has failed to set aside the amounts necessary to pay employee/retiree pensions and health benefits and to pay amounts currently owed to healthcare providers under Medicaid. The State has also failed to fund K-12 education at the “foundation” level. These liabilities and unfunded commitments are growing rapidly. Yet the State continues to spend or commit to spend billions more than it takes in each year.

    This jolting conclusion, after an in-depth examination of state finances, comes from the highly respected Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, which represents major employers in Illinois.

    The warning is the catalyst for staging a day-long conference featuring speakers from a diversity of perspectives who are well-prepared to elaborate on spending pressures and obligations as well as the state's current revenue structure.

    For more information on speakers, a schedule of events and registration details, click here. The registration deadline is April 10, 2007.

 

State of the State Luncheon: Financing Illinois’ Future - Building a Solid Framework

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

  • The League of Women Voters of Illinois invites you to attend the 2007 State of the State Luncheon. For more information and to register, click here.  See below for a listing of the guest speakers.

    Honorary Chairman: The Hon. Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago

    Speakers: R. Eden Martin, Commercial Club of Chicago; Ralph Martire, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability; Daniel Hynes, Illinois Comptroller

    Moderator: Aurie Pennick, Field Foundation

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

 

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TODAY

 

WHAT? Moving from Poverty to Opportunity: Champaign Township Forum

WHEN? Thursday, April 5, 2007, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

WHERE? City of Champaign Town Council Chambers – 102 North Neil Street, Champaign

For more information, click here.

 

WHAT? After School Matters Showcase - an arts and music showcase of CPS students

WHEN? Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 5:00 PM

WHERE? Chicago Theatre, 175 North State Street, Chicago,

For more information and to RSVP, contact Marcy at (312) 642-6644.

 

WHAT? Understanding the Public Benefits Appeal Process Training

WHEN? Wednesday, April 12, 2007, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

WHERE? 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville

 

This training is part of the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform workshop series, Making the Connection: Accessing Public Benefits for Low Income Persons.  For more information, to learn about other workshops, and to register, click here.

 

WHAT? Understanding Spenddown Training

WHEN? Wednesday, April 12, 2007, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

WHERE? 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville

 

This training is part of the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform workshop series, Making the Connection: Accessing Public Benefits for Low Income Persons.  For more information, to learn about other workshops, and to register, click here.

 

WHAT? A "Skills Gap" Community Forum

WHEN? Friday, April 13, 2007, 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

WHERE? Prisco Center, 150 W. Illinois Avenue, Aurora

For more information and to RSVP, click here.

 

WHAT? A Budget on the Brink

WHEN? Monday, April 16, 2007, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

WHERE? Springfield Hilton Hotel, 700 E. Adams St., Springfield

Illinois is headed toward financial implosion.  To register, call the SIU Division of Continuing Education at (618) 536-7751 or register online.

 

WHAT? Housing Action Illinois' 2007 Annual Convention (workshops, celebration, and rally)

WHEN? April 17-18, 2007

WHERE? ICAA Training Facility, 3435 Liberty Drive, Springfield, IL

Click here to register and view the flyer.  Contact: nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

 

WHAT? Early Childhood Lobby Day

WHEN? Thursday, April 19, 2007, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

WHERE? Springfield

Join the Ounce of Prevention Fund and Healthy Families Illinois for an Early Childhood Lobby Day. Background materials, training, a box lunch, and transportation from Chicago to Springfield will be provided. For more information, contact Rashanda Perryman at 312-922-3863 ext. 3353.

 

WHAT? Moving from Poverty to Opportunity: Dewitt, Piatt, Macon, Shelby, Christian Forum

WHEN? Wednesday, April 21, 2007, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

WHERE? Warner Library-Revere Room, 310 N. Quincy Avenue, Clinton, IL

For information, click here.

 

WHAT? State of the State Luncheon -- "Financing Illinois’ Future - Building a Solid Framework"

WHEN? Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 11:30 AM

WHERE? Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago

Click here to register and for more information.

 

WHAT? Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing

WHEN? Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

WHERE? James R. Thompson Center , Room 9-040, 100 W. Randolph, Chicago

Click here to view a flyer.

 

WHAT? Moving From Poverty to Opportunity: Madison County Action Forum

WHEN? Saturday, April 28, 2007, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

WHERE? Location to be determined

For more information, contact Doug Schenkelberg, Associate Director of Policy Mid-America Institute on Poverty of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, at 773.728.5960 x6284.

 

WHAT? What Works for Today's Families? And What Doesn't?: A Decade of Research, Practice, and Dialogue

WHEN? May 4-5, 2007

WHERE? University of Chicago, International House, 1414 East 59th Street, Chicago

For more information, click here.

 

WHAT? Financing Development: Community Housing Developers Institute

WHEN? May 15-16, 2007

WHERE? ICAA Training Facility, 3435 Liberty Drive, Springfield, IL
Contact: nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

 

WHAT? Making the Connection: Basic Training

WHEN? Wednesday, May 17, 2007, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WHERE? 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville

 

This training is part of the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform workshop series, Making the Connection: Accessing Public Benefits for Low Income Persons.  For more information, to learn about other workshops, and to register, click here.

 

WHAT? Construction Management: Community Housing Developers Institute

WHEN? June 5-6, 2007

WHERE? Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center/President Abraham Lincoln Museum, Springfield, IL
Contact: nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

 

WHAT? Single-Family Development: Community Housing Developers Institute

WHEN? September 11-12, 2007

WHERE? ICAA Training Facility, 3435 Liberty Drive, Springfield, IL
Contact: nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

 

WHAT? Property and Asset Management: Community Housing Developers Institute

WHEN? October 16-17, 2007

WHERE? ICAA Training Facility, 3435 Liberty Drive, Springfield, IL
Contact: nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

 

WHAT? Affordable Housing Month

WHEN? November 1-30, 2007

WHERE? ICAA Training Facility, 3435 Liberty Drive, Springfield, IL
Contact: nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

 

For any questions on information contained in this Weekly Review,
or to JOIN OUR MAILING LIST, please contact Valerie Chepp at:
312.332.2151, vchepp@ctbaonline.org