McHenry County Blog

I knew I was getting a lot of hits on my October 28, 2011, story about the campaign contributions given by the electric industry, but look what popped up a couple of weeks ago on Quad Cities OnLine.

It’s a long piece by retired Circuit Court Judge John Donald O’Shea of Moline.  I thought I would share his letter to the editor.

Illinois Senate: When does a contribution become a bribe

Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2011, 7:54 am

I am neither for nor against Smart Grid.

I write because I am appalled by reports that two utility companies, Ameren and Commonwealth Edison, and their friends generously poured money into the campaign coffers of members of the Illinois Legislature at a time when the utilities were lobbying for passage of that legislation.

These allegations show that the Illinois State Senate is a sewer.

When a judge takes “gifts” from a litigant whose case is pending before the judge, we call it a “bribe,” and the judge goes to jail.

But when a legislator takes thousands of dollars from somebody who wants the legislator to vote a certain way on a bill, the money paid is characterized as a “campaign donation.”

The Better Government Association (BGA) states that on May 31, the Illinois Senate passed a controversial bill to raise energy rates and revamp the grid.

In the 18 months ending June 30, Ameren and ComEd interests gave more than $400,000 to all but six members of the Senate. And in the three months after Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto, they gave more than $170,000 to state legislators and party organizations, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records.

Since Jan. 1, 2010, members of the General Assembly and their political organizations received more than $1.5 million from the utilities. Last week 98 legislators voted to override the veto, 71 voted against and eight voted present. All told, 177 legislators shared in the $1.5 million utility “contribution.” You do the math.

The McHenry County Blog obtained this information from a spreadsheet prepared by Campaign for Political Reform. Donations are for the 2011 calendar year through Oct. 18th. ComEd and Ameren got their rate hike and veto override on SB 1652 on Oct. 19. The Blog notes that there is a possibility of additional, last-minute contributions.

The blog lists the 2011 utility contributions to the 39 Senators who voted for Smart Grid.

It also notes a contribution to the Senate Democratic Victory Fund — $89,250 –and to the Republican State Campaign Committee — $42,650. The Democratic Party Senate campaign fund is controlled by Senate President John Cullerton. The Republican Party Senate campaign fund is run by Minority Leader Christine Radogno.

Here’s the McHenry County Blog’s list:

• Radogno $38,000
• Kirk Dillard $19,000
• Mike Jacobs $16,750
• Dale Righter $13,930
• Antonio Munoz $13,850
• Don Harmon $11,500
• Toi Hutchinson $11,000
• James Meeks $11,000
• Bill Brady $9,500
• Annazette Collins $8,250
• A. J. Wilhemi $7,700
• Mattie Hunter $7,000
• Carole Pankau $6,350
• John Millner $6,050
• Donne Trotter $6,000
• John Jones $5,750
• Kimberly Lightford $5,500
• William Haine $5.450
• Terry Link $5,000
• Michael Noland $4,750
• Matt Murphy $4,250
• Pam Althoff $4,000
• David Leuchtefeld $3,358
• Kwame Raoul $2,500
• Sue Rezen $2,000
• Maggie Crotty $1,500
• John Cullerton $1,500
• Linda Holmes $1,250
• Iris Martinez $1,250
• Emil Jones, III $1,000
• William Delgado $1,000
• David Koehler $750
• Martin Sandoval $500

Did ComEd and Ameren pass out the money to ensure an ethical government? Do they honestly believe senators who pocketed the money were so honest and able that if they weren’t reelected it would be a disaster for the people of Illinois?

Did they give money in the hope that the senators would consider only the merits of SB1652 — free of all other considerations?

Did they give the money to induce them to vote against the bill?

Did they give the money to influence them to vote in favor of the bill, and subsequently to vote to override the governor’s veto? Or did they simply give the money because these were the best senators money could buy?

And how generous does the contribution have to be to buy a legislator’s vote?

Every senator, of course, would deny he was influenced by campaign donations. But what is the appearance? Does it look like an attempted bribe? Does it smell like a one?

If any judge in Illinois took even a $1,000 campaign contribution from any litigant before his court, he would properly be removed from the bench and indicted for corruption. Why should the rule be different for senators or representatives?

Back in the 1990s I wrote lyrics for a song for a Gridiron show, to the tune of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.” It was in an era of Illinois judges being arrested for corruption; the days of “Operation Greylord.” My lyrics:

“When a judges take’s bribes that’s shocking.

Such graft sets the courthouse rocking,

to jail he goes, as “Greylord” shows.

“But when the cash is thrown at Congress

All rules are trashed and largess is apropos.

As everyone knows.

“Though “bribes” are still crimes these days

there are “gentler” ways

To describe outlays

that the lobbyist pays

Inside the beltways

To influence the ways

That his client’s bill should go.

“When “bribes” become “campaign donations”

These artful equivocations augment cash flows.

Everything goes!”

Until the voters clean up this cesspool in Springfield, they deserve whatever the Legislature chooses to do to them. Does anyone out there care?

John Donald O’Shea of Moline is a retired circuit court judge.

An email from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Our second week of veto session has ended, and while typically this would signify the end of the fall veto session, legislators are being called back to Springfield on Tuesday, November 29 to consider additional business. However, during the last few weeks several noteworthy votes have occurred.

House Bill 3793: Limits Property Tax Increases in Declining Housing Markets

Limiting property tax increases during times when housing values are declining is a discussion that needs to occur. The same tax cap laws that protected taxpayers in the years of unprecedented growth and prosperity in this area are now causing property taxes to increase while housing values are going down.

I am very sensitive to the issues faced by taxpayers in this declining economy and believe the taxing laws must be changed to protect taxpayers when their property values are decreasing.

As I have said many times, the economy is contracting and people are adjusting their budgets and getting by on less.

I believe the public sector needs to do the same.

This week I voted in favor of House Bill 3793.

The bill failed by a large margin.

The bill would have amended the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) to prevent any taxing body in a tax capped county from collecting an increase in funding during a year when the area’s total assessed value decreases.

There was fierce opposition to the bill by

• school districts,
• municipalities and
• other agencies which rely on public funding for their operations.

I understand this opposition because property taxes are a primary funding source for these agencies, which provide important services that we all expect and rely upon.

At a time when the State is not making timely or full payments to them, the passage of House Bill 3793 would have created a significant hardship.

I have plans to file a bill which will require taxing bodies to publish in the newspaper the percentage increase of their tax rate as budgets are being finalized. I believe this new level of transparency would allow stakeholders to have additional information and an increased opportunity to be involved as taxing bodies’ budgets and levies and finalized.

Senate Bill 77: Unemployment Insurance Reform

It was with pleasure that I joined all other members of the House of Representatives in supporting Senate Bill 72, which reforms Illinois’ unemployment insurance system. Today the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund has a projected deficit of $2.4 billion. This staggering sum threatens the very sustainability of this important safety net for working families. Through this bill, the fund will become fully solvent by 2018 and it will provide $400 million in cost savings for employers across the state. Most importantly, these reforms will be accomplished without raising taxes. The provisions of the bill should also help create private sector jobs and reinvigorate the Illinois economy.

Senate Bill 2147: Funding for Regional Offices of Education

Governor Quinn used his veto power several months ago to eliminate funding for Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) and their employees. Because of his veto, Regional Superintendents have not been paid since June. In fact, in McHenry County, the veto led to the current Regional Superintendent retiring early and the individual who had been elected to replace him declining the job. As a result, Lake County officials have been taking care of McHenry County’s ROE needs for the last five months.

I am a strong supporter of Regional Offices of Education and the statutory services they provide, and I voted in favor of restoring the funding for the remainder of this year from the personal property replacement taxes that are distributed to local governments each year. At the conclusion of this fiscal year funding for ROE’s will revert back to the General fund where I believe it belongs. The bill also creates a 15-member streamlining commission that will look for opportunities to consolidate some offices and duties. I favor the creation of this commission and look forward to learning about how we can increase efficiency and save money in these offices.

Senate Bill 1701: Emergency Medical Services Access

This bill amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act by providing that any person who, in good faith, dials 911 or seeks medical treatment for someone experiencing a drug overdose shall not be charged with a crime. I voted against this bill because I know that today in our area those who call in an expected overdose are usually not charged with a crime.

The bill creates a situation where drug dealers who administer a fatal dose of a tainted drug could escape prosecution. I believe strongly that drug dealers need to be prosecuted. The “common sense” approach currently used in our area appears to be working and I think we need to continue to look at each drug overdose case individually. However, the bill passed in the House and is now pending in the Illinois Senate.

Senate Bill 1652: Com Ed Smart Grid

Today, 44 states have some level of smart grid technology in place, and when Illinois lawmakers approved a bill several months ago to modernize Illinois’ grid, Governor Quinn vetoed it. During the first week of veto session, members of the House and Senate voted to override Governor Quinn’s veto. I voted in favor of the override and did so in part so that Illinois could become more competitive in attracting new businesses and jobs.

The override means that once the improvements are in place, Illinoisans will have fewer and less widespread power outages than we have today. It will also provide the framework for Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to respond more quickly to network problems.

The need to upgrade our electrical grid was never more obvious than earlier this year when many collar county residents were without power for extended periods of time due to storms. But Oak Park, which has been using the smart grid technology on an experimental basis since 2010, escaped the summer’s widespread storm outages while communities all around it suffered significant power outages. The Smart Grid improvements would not only help prevent widespread outages, but it would also provide for a wholesale technology upgrade that will eventually lower overall electrical costs.

A trailer bill presented the first week of veto session included language that lowers the profit rate for Commonwelath Edison and Ameren to rates that are lower than what the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has allowed in the past.

The new language also toughens the performance standards they must meet and increases the amount of money they must spend to improve the infrastructure. The trailer bill also calls for the creation of a fund to help those of lower socioeconomic circumstances pay their electric bills. Based on the changes included in the trailer bill, a consortium of 42 suburbs withdrew its opposition to the bill prior to the override votes.

Gaming Expansion in Illinois

A new gaming bill that scaled back a gambling expansion package approved by the General Assembly several months ago was soundly defeated by the House last week. I voted against the gambling expansion bill when it was originally presented almost six months ago and I voted against the scaled back version last week. The new bill dropped a provision that would have allowed for slot machines at Chicago airports and the state fairgrounds, and addressed concerns by some that regulations were not stringent enough. However, the new plan still allowed for five new casinos in Illinois and permitted racetracks to operate slot machines.

I am not opposed to a modest expansion of gaming in our state such as the addition of slot machines at racetracks. The racing industry is a large part of the McHenry County economy. In my current legislative district, there are 13 thoroughbred farms and several other farms which supply crops and feed for the horses. My issue with the bill was the large nature of the expansion and the way in which the revenue would be spent. It is my hope that a new, scaled back version can be considered when we return to Springfield on November 29.

Coming Up… The Status of Pension Reform and, the Proposal to Close Seven State Facilities and the Sears EDA

Pension Reform…

There are a few other issues that may be debate and/or resolved when the General Assembly returns to Springfield on November 29. I am a member of the pension reform committee and we have met many times to discuss ways to stabilize the state’s pension system.

Today’s pension system includes an $86 billion unfunded liability. Those negotiations are ongoing and I look forward to reading Senate Bill 512 when it reaches its final form.

It is imperative that we solve the pension crisis, but we must do so in a manner that once and for all stabilizes the system without placing the $86 billion liability onto the backs of the taxpayers.

Facility Closures…

As you have probably heard, Governor Quinn recently recommended closing seven state facilities due to budget shortfalls. His announcement was premature, ill-thought out and included no plan for how the patients and inmates would be transitioned to new facilities.

It was nothing more than a political move on his part, and yet another attempt to press for additional funding by using some of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens as pawns.

I also serve on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and as a group we have been visiting these facilities and holding hearings over the last several weeks.

On Oct. 27 we voted against closing the Murphysboro juvenile detention center, Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford and Chester Mental Health Center.

Last week we voiced similar concerns by recommending against the closure of the Logan Correctional facility in Murphysboro, the Jacksonville Developmental Center and the Tinley Park Mental Hospital.

I am very much in favor of looking for opportunities to blend services so that efficiencies for providing services can be optimized. I also welcome an opportunity to review a comprehensive plan which includes a thorough cost-benefit analysis. To date, we have seen no plan and no cost-benefit analysis.

As the issue moves forward, I feel strongly that any ultimate changes would need to include a provision for a smooth transition for the individuals served by these facilitates.

Sears EDA…

Lastly, there has been much discussion and debate lately about Sears EDA in Hoffman Estates. As the 23-year tax incentive that brought Sears to Hoffman Estates approaches its 2013 expiration date, Sears is looking to the General Assembly to extend the terms of the EDA for an additional 15 years.

I am firmly opposed to the 15-year extension.

For the last 22 years, Sears has operated out of their space along I-90 between Beverly Road and Route 59 while enjoying significant property tax relief. I favor those original incentives and believe that at the time they were a necessary “carrot” that lured Sears and other businesses to the Hoffman Estates location. Jobs were created and the economic impact was very favorable.

District 300 officials have waited for the day when the EDA would expire so they could begin collecting the property tax revenue that rightfully belongs to them. Some legislators are trying to push through an incentive package that places the lion’s share of the sacrifice onto the backs of District 300 taxpayers. Simply put, it isn’t fair. It is my hope that my colleagues in the House and Senate slow down, take a step back, and create a piece of legislation that entices Sears to stay in Illinois while still being fair to the District 300 taxpayers.

I believe strongly that the next incentive package should be structured like the package we used to keep Motorola and its jobs in Illinois. The State gave Motorola a $100 million incentive package based on “EDGE” credits, whereby a percentage of the income taxes paid by Motorola employees was rebated back to the company. It was an incentive that was very lucrative for Motorola, and it wasn’t done at the expense of local taxpayers.

Clearly, all of Illinois is enriched by the economic activity that Sears brings to our state.

Therefore it is not equitable for the taxpayers of one school district to provide the overwhelming majority of the financial incentive that keeps Sears here. Since everyone benefits if Sears stays in Illinois, everyone should share in contributing toward making that happen.

As always, it is a pleasure to serve you in Springfield and at home. If I, or a member of my staff, may be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my Crystal Lake office at (815) 459-6453 or at mike@miketryon.com.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon
State Representative, District 64

Here is State Senator Pam Althoff’s explanation of her vote on the override of Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of the bill sought by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren. It is in the form of a letter to constituents contacting her about the issue.

Thank you for contacting me about the electric grid modernization utility legislation or SB1652.

I understand your frustration and/or anger regarding my support for this legislation.

I, like you, am outraged that area residents were without power for, in many cases, four and five days after the last windstorm.

I believe more than ever that Illinois’ 20th Century electric grid is in serious decline and demands modernization.

I believe that the Illinois Commerce Commission who is the regulatory oversight for utilities in the state of Illinois has failed, for years, to adequately address this infrastructure need with our electric companies to the detriment of Illinois residents.

I believe after much revision SB1652 and the subsequent trailer bill, HB3036, address these concerns.

Let me also state that there has been much misinformation, as well as outdated information, about this legislation which has resulted in anger, anguish and mistrust.

I hope this letter will allay some of your fears and mistrust.

I will also always remain available to discuss this information further or to answer any questions you may have.

Multiple major legislative revisions occurred before SB1652 was voted on.

The bill only applies to electric utilities if they have met hard target documented goals and employ more than 2500 NEW workers.

These companies must minimally invest $2.6 billion in the new grid system and meet statutory performance goals or face stiff financial and regulatory penalties.

These companies must still go through a multi-month long formula rate hearing in front of the Illinois Commerce Commission; which retains regulatory oversight and enforcement of the performance standards to protect consumers.

This is the same process utilities use to currently obtain rate increase approval.

Any and all rate changes shall be CAPPED and the entire program expires in 2017.

HB3036 also added additional Illinois Commerce Commission performance measures (identified in the Governor’s veto) as well as lowered (below historically granted ICC rates) the permitted rate of investment return (profits) for these utility companies.

In addition the bill requires the shareholders of the company pay $60 million to fund low-income families, seniors, disabled veterans and others that may be affected by utility disconnections.

The bill will ultimately permit homeowners and businesses the ability to more effectively manage their energy use and save money.

The new technology will also provide a foundation for economic development in our region and enable businesses to develop new green technology and provide better more efficient energy management tools.

The legislation was soundly supported by the Illinois Business Roundtable a volunteer organization of 63 chief executive officers of Illinois’ leading businesses as well as all the leading environmental organizations…that is a very diverse group of special interest entities…all advocating passage of SB1652 on behalf of the Illinois consumer.

The Campaign for Political Reform has a spreadsheet that shows how much each state legislator has taken from companies like Commonwealth Edison, Ameren and other entities which it thinks has a stake in the so-called “Smart Grid” electricity rate hike bill.

It’s not perfect. I found one State Senator who got a contribution from ComEd PAC that wasn’t on it, but it’s the best one-source document out there.

The donations shown are for this calenday year through October 18th. The Com Ed/Ameren electric rate hike veto override of Senate Bill 1652 occurred on October 19th, so there is some possibility additional, last minute contributions were made.

Below you see the contributions from 2011 for the 39 State senators who voted to override Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of Senate Bill 1652:

• Senate Democratic Victory Fund – $89,250
• Republican State Campaign Committee – $42,650

The Democratic Party Senate campaign fund is controlled by Senate President John Cullerton.

The Republican Party Senate campaign fund is run by Minority Leader Christine Radogno.

In descending order, here’s what each of the 39 State Senators who voted to raise your electric rates got in contributions from Commonwealth Edison, Ameren, plus other companies and executives thereof which the Committee on Political Reform believes had an interest in the bill’s passage:

• 

  Mike Jacobs, sponsor of Senate Bill 1652

  Christine Radogno – $38,000

• Kirk Dillard – $19,000
• Mike Jacobs – $16,750
• Dale Richter – $13,930
• Antonio Munoz – $13,850
• Don Harmon – $11,500
• Toi Hutchinson – $11,000
• James Meeks – $11,000
• Bill Brady – $9,500
• Annezette Collins – $8,250
• A. J. Wilhemi – $7,700
• Mattie Hunter – $7,000
• Carole Pankau – $6,350
• John Millner – $6,050
• Donne Trotter – $6,000
• John Jones – $5,750
• Kimberly Lightford – $5,500
• William Haine – $5.450
• Terry Link – $5,000
  

  GOP Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno

• Michael Noland – $4,750
• Matt Murphy – $4,250
• Pam Althoff – $4,000
• David Leuchtefeld – $3,358
• Kwame Raoul – $2,500
• Sue Rezen – $2,000
• Maggie Crotty – $1,500
• John Cullerton – $1,500
• Linda Holmes – $1,250
• Iris Martinez – $1,250
• Emil Jones, III – $1,000
• William Delgado – $1,000
• David Koehler – $750
• Martin Sandoval – $500
• Thomas Johnson – 0
• Steven Landek – 0
• Ron Sandack – 0

Lots of people are cynical about the legislative process.

They should be.

And, I’m the guy whose seatmate, Rep. Tom Johnson, would turn to me when I was particularly outraged and say,

“Cal, your problem is that you think this is on the square.”

So it is from that perspective I write.

There was a saying that some legislators couldn’t be bought, but they could be rented.

Jack Franks was a “No” vote on May 30th for Senate Bill 1652.

But, he announced he was switching to ABC’s Charles Thomas the night before yesterday’s vote and that political reporter thought it important enough to share with the world through his twitter account.

Now, no one would suggest millionaire Jack Franks could be bought.

But, he is a union Democrat.

And, the billboard you see here certainly generated his ire.

You’ll notice that it reports Jack Franks received hundreds of thousands of dollars from “lawyers, labor, and lobbyists.”

International Brotherhood of Electrical Engineers were in the Capitol to encourage legislators to vote for the Com Ed/Ameren rate hike bill.

Maybe some talked to Franks.

Certainly some contributed to his campaign war chest this year.

The State Board of Elections reports $1,000 was donated by three IBEW union locals:

• $250 IBEW Local 117 – Crystal Lake  2/22/2011
• $250 IBEW Local 364 – Rockford  9/14/2011
• $250 IBEW Local 9 – Hillsboro 1/25/11
• $250 IBEW Local 9 – Hillsboro 9/8/2011

State Senator Dan Duffy’s speech in opposition to the Com Ed/Ameren electric rate increase bill:

Business side of bill:

This “smart grid” technology does not prevent outages from Storms like we experienced in the recent past.

It is not going to stop “Acts of God” but what it will do, in theory, is reroute power quicker.

Even in the new trailer bill – the state is still guaranteeing profits for the power company.

What other company in the state gets such a sweet deal of guaranteed profits?

When I met with representatives from the power company, what I suggested is that there be a 3^rd Party Audit of the power company.

We should know – from somebody other than the company or the ICC – that the power companies are OPERATING the most EFFICIENT and COST EFFECTIVE way possible BEFORE we allow them to have another rate increase.

Why allow a rate increase if the company is not operating as EFFICIENTLY and EFFECTIVELY as possible?

Nobody has responded to me about my audit request nor has any representative of the company followed up with me about my request.

Regarding the “Ethic’s Side” of this bill:

I have – in the past before this bill was in play – accepted unsolicited donations from ComEd.

But I have a Rhetorical question for everyone:

Who is worse – the Drug User or the Drug Dealer?

Who is worse – legislators who accept unsolicited donations from companies who are pushing specific bills OR the CEO’s who write the big checks in order to gain votes.

When I met with representatives from the power company, every time somebody mentioned how “ethically challenged” we are in this state and how bad our reputation is.

However – this same company has NO problem, when they want a bill to pass the legislature – to pull out their check book and pay out 1.3 Million dollars to legislators since this bill has been introduced. 1.3 Million DOLLARS in donations!

What is the point of this flurry of donations?

Is it just coincidence that all this money has been paid out to legislators SINCE this “smart grid” bill was introduced? Are these “donations” helping or hurting our states reputation? Is this typical “Pay to Play” politics in Illinois?

What about the SPONSOR of this bill. Is it coincidence that his close family member is the LOBBYIST for this bill and will benefit greatly from its passage? Is it right that this bill then in turn moved through the SPONSOR’s committee with lightening speed?

IF this is how business gets done in Illinois NO WONDER so Many companies have said NO THANKS and prefer to do business elsewhere!

I agree with the Governor and fully SUPPORT his veto of this bill.

State Senator Pam Althoff provided the deciding vote in overriding Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of the Commonwealth Edison/Ameren electric rate increase bill.

The veto override of the veto of Senate Bill 1652 passed by just one vote.

That means every one of the “Yes” votes can be characterized as the deciding vote.

With Althoff having no election opponent, she will walk away from the vote unscathed.

The other two area Senators, Dan Duffy and Chris Lauzen voted against the bill.

Some of these others, however, will come under heavy attack during primary and/or general elections.  These State Senators voted “Yes:”

• Althoff
• Brady
• Collins, A.
• Crotty
• Cullerton
• Delgado
• Dillard
• Haine
• Harmon
• Holmes
• Hunter
• Hutchinson
• Jacobs
• Johnson, T.
• Jones, E.
• Jones, J.
• Koehler
• Landek
• Lightford
• Link
• Leuchtefeld
• Martinez
• Meeks
• Millner
• Munoz
• Murphy
• Noland
• Pankau
• Radogno
• Raoul
• Rezen
• Richter
• Sandack
• Sandoval
• Trotter
• Wilhemi

Readers by now have figured out that I think Com Ed’s and Ameren’s electricity rate hike “Smart Grid” bill is dumb.

Let me tell you why.

The Illinois Commerce Commission has granted monopoly status to electric utilities.

In return for these monopolies, the electric utilities were charged with delivering electricity.

Creating and maintaining an infrastructure, in other words.

Also being promoted are electric meters that don’t require meter readers to walk through your yard. They can be remotely read.

Algonquin has these for its water system.

If a utility finds they will save money, by all means install them.

Do the analysis and figure out how many years it will take to pay for them out of the meter readers’ salaries that will not have to be paid.

And, for goodness sake, don’t use the absurd argument that your customers will not call to tell you that they have no electricity.  The current system gets repairmen where they need to go.

Now Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, which has taken over pretty much all of Downstate Illinois’ electric companies, except those rural ones created with Federal subsidy, come moaning to the Illinois General Assembly that their infrastructure is inadequate.

The reason the ICC was created, according to an old man (to me in my 30′s) I met on the train to Springfield was that utility magnate Sam Insull, whose secretary this fellow rider said he was, decided it would be easier to bribe a majority of a regulatory commission than a majority of the Illinois General Assembly.

It appears the ICC Commissioners can no longer be bribed.

So, it’s off to the Illinois General Assembly.

Yesterday, the Illinois Senate passed a bill (House Bill 3036) which supposedly makes the electric rate hike bill betters.

Jack Franks, switching from opposing the rate increase to supporting it, flipped on the so-called “trailer bill.”

Maybe the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, just to name one of his union contributors, got through to him.

But he wasn’t the only local legislator to vote for the rate hike.  Mike Tryon did, too.

Interestingly, the only local State Representative to vote against the measure is the only one with a primary election opponent–Kent Gaffney.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reproduced the Senate roll call on the trailer bill.  Senator Pam Althoff supported the bill, Senator Dan Duffy did not.

Below is the House roll call on the first Senate amendment to House Bill 3036:

The second amendment passed by the same 91-24 vote.

Next comes the vote on the main event, the override of Governor Pat Quinn’s Senate Bill 1652, first in the Senate and, then, assuming the override passes, which pretty much every observer thinks it will, in the House.

A response to the letter concerning Commonwealth Edison service that Crystal Lake resident Paul Greenlee sent to the city fathers and mothers:

Mr. Greenlee:

The purpose of this email is to confirm that the City has received your email and that it is being forwarded to the Mayor and City Council. I also wanted to let you know some of the things that the City is doing with regard to ComEd.

The City shares the concerns you expressed in your email.

Since the storm on July 11th, the City has been in constant contact with representatives from ComEd to ensure that the City of Crystal Lake remains a priority for ComEd.

On Wednesday, July 13th, at the urging of the City, Mayor Aaron Shepley and City Manager Gary Mayerhofer met with the President and Chief Operating Officer of ComEd, Anne Pramaggiore, in the City’s Emergency Operation Center.

State Senator Pamela Althoff was very helpful in coordinating this meeting, during which Mayor Shepley indicated to Ms. Pramaggiore

• that the resources devoted to Crystal Lake were insufficient,
• that more resources need to be devoted, and
• that there needed to be a greater level of transparency and information sharing.

In response, Ms. Pramaggiore began contacting other ComEd representatives directly from the City’s Emergency Operation Center, which accelerated the number of crews made available to Crystal Lake after the July 11th storm.

In addition to our informal contacts with ComEd, the City will be submitting testimony at the House Public Utilities Committee Hearing scheduled for August 16th at 10:00 a.m. in Highland Park, IL.

The House Public Utilities Committee has scheduled a subject matter hearing to receive input from local government and the public regarding power outages in northeastern Illinois. Here is a link for more information regarding this event, if you are interested in attending.

Since ComEd is regulated by the State of Illinois, the City will continue to work with our local State officials to press for the dedication of greater resources in Crystal Lake. Should you have any other questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

George J. Koczwara
Deputy City Manager
City of Crystal Lake

McHenry County making the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times twice in one week.

That’s probably a record since the tragic school bus-Metra train collision in Fox River Grove in the mid-1990′s.

First we are treated to the Thursday revelation of Congressman Joe Walsh’s child support problems.

And, today, we learn that McCullom Lake has the worst Com Ed electric service on storm days in the entire Chicago Metropolitan area.

I’ve extracted the data from the almost full-page chart. It shows “the total number of each town’s outage minutes divided by the population.”

Reporters Art Golab and Kim Janssen say this is “the first to compare towns of different sizes on a per-person basis.”

This, I would note as a former state legislator is the kind of information that the Illinois Commerce Commission should regularly report so members of the General Assembly can hold the regulators’ feet to the fire when such variation exists concerning the reliability of service.

Here are the numbers in McHenry County, from worst to best:

• McCullom Lake – 263.0
• Barrington Hills – 64.1
• Union – 57.2
• Port Barrington – 37.0
• Trout Valley – 33.1
• Lakemoor – 26.7
• Fox Lake 24.7
• Algonquin 24.3
• Lakewood – 23.5
• Oakwood Hills – 22.3
• Woodstock – 20.0
• Bull Valley – 17.4
• Crystal Lake – 16.6
• Johnsburg – 16.1
• Fox River Grove – 15.4
• Harvard – 14-8
• Chemung – 14.0
• Spring Grove – 12.7
• Prairie Grove – 10.5
• Cary – 9.3
• Hebron – 7.2
• Huntley – 7.1
• Lake in the Hills – 5.9
• Richmond – 5.7
• Marengo – 5.6
• Wonder Lake – 5.5
• Island Lake – 2.6

You can find all the numbers here.

The article will undoubted be used by opponents to electric supplers Com Ed and Ameren, who are seeking rate hikes to finance something they call a “smart gird.”

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Office claims that the legislation “will guarantee it huge profits while weakening reliability standards for years to come,” the article says.

The following seems to summarize the dispute:

“Under the current legislation, ComEd is required to prove its reliability performance to regulators before winning rate hikes, whereas under the bill the balance of power would shift so that regulators seeking to prevent a price hike would have to show that ComEd has failed to meet reliability standards, according to Illinois Commerce Commission executive director Tim Anderson.

“Crucially, ComEd would not be judged on its performance on the worst nine storm days each year.

“ComEd says that’s necessary to allow a fair year-to-year analysis that excludes extreme weather events beyond its control, but critics say it will allow ComEd to dodge improvements to its storm preparedness and response.

“The utility said the new performance standard ‘is designed to accurately measure ComEd’s day-to-day reliability performance; it is not designed to measure how lucky we are in avoiding severe weather.’”