John Amdor

Oh, these are extraordinary

While the 1st seems dated to lawmakers and staff with laptops, this Campbell one is ageless. @johnamdor.bsky.social, @capitolfax.bsky.social

Ran across a book of the late Bill Campbell’s editorial cartoons. He drew for the Quad City Times and was very familiar and popular with Capitol folks then. A crash in the latter 1970s paralyzed from the chest down. Sales from the book went to expenses. This was 1 of 2 favs. @johnamdor.bsky.social

Of 12.7 million emergency room visits in the U.S. related to consumer products in 2023, fireworks accounted for fewer than 10,000. Barbecuing caused double that and baseball and softball games 14 times as many. No politicians are trying to ban grilling or America’s pastime.

Oh, that second post was supposed to have this excerpt attached. Oops.

Anyhow, consumer fireworks suck and you're stupid if you think legalizing their sale in Illinois would result in some deluge of state revenues.

Excerpt of Indiana bill analysis about revenue impacts of changing fireworks sales times. "Explanation of State Revenues: Sales Tax – This bill could impact sales tax revenue if limiting the use of fireworks results in reduced sales of fireworks. The revenue decrease would likely be minor. Sales taxes collected from fireworks sales have averaged approximately $5.4 M annually from FY 2019 through FY 2023. Sales tax revenue is deposited in the General Fund (99.838%), Commuter Rail Service Fund (0.131%), and Industrial Rail Service Fund (0.031%). Public Safety Fees – In addition to sales tax, individuals who acquire fireworks in a retail transaction are liable for a 5% public safety fee which is deposited in the General Fund. The bill could affect public safety fee revenue if limiting the use of fireworks results in reduced sales of fireworks. Public safety fees collected from fireworks sales have averaged approximately $3.9 M annually from FY 2019 through FY 2023. The first $2 M in public safety fees collected on an annual basis are transferred to the Regional Public Safety Training Fund. The remainder of the funds collected in that year is split evenly between the State Disaster Relief Fund and the Regional Public Safety Training Fund, both of which are nonreverting, dedicated funds administered by the Department of Homeland Security."

Also, according to the Indiana legislature's research arm, the state only collected like $10m/yr in taxes and fees from firework sales between 2019-2023. legiscan.com/IN/supplemen...

I'm no math whiz but I bet if you looked at the rate of ER visits per firework detonated versus burger grilled, you'd find that blowing stuff up is a slightly more dangerous activity.

Chicago Tribune op-ed head by some IPI dork calling on ending Illinois' fireworks ban

Alternatively, let's not.

STATE OF ILLINOIS 90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 87th Legislative Day February 4, 1998 Speaker Madigan: "Mr. Black, how do you feel today?" Black: "Just fine, Mr. Speaker. I do enjoy these mid-afternoon starting Sessions, but we're all here ready do the business of the people, and I think we could do that in the next five minutes if you have a Supplemental Calendar ready to go. And I do miss the Senate. That's a shame that they couldn't be with us today." Speaker Madigan: "Okay."

February 4, 1998: Rep. Bill Black continued to express his dismay that the Senate was not in session along with the House.

i am strong and focused and determined and very very very very hungry

Last week, I was honored to visit Belfast to learn first hand what can be accomplished by addressing youth crime through a child first lens. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with colleagues on the Restorative Justice Committee this session! Thank you @youthjusticeagency.bsky.social

STATE OF ILLINOIS 90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 86th Legislative Day February 3, 1998 Black: "Inquiry of the Chair, Mr. Speaker. Is it is it normal procedure for the Senate to amend the House Adjournment Resolution?" Speaker Madigan: "There is a lot of amends that the Senate should do, you know that." Black: "Well, I would... I have an Inquiry of the Clerk. The rumor is sweeping the Floor that one of the Senators run outside yesterday and saw his shadow and they won't be back for six weeks. Is there any truth to that?" Speaker Madigan: "That may be okay." Black: "That would be fine with me. Speaker Madigan: "Right." Black: "I... I'm somewhat shocked and appalled that the Senate would amend an Adjournment Resolution. Did they amend it? What is the Amendment? Did they amend it so they wouldn't have to be here for the next two weeks? How did they amend it? Maybe we're not suppose to be here I don't know what the Amendment is." Currie: "In my experience, Representative, they far prefer passing Senate Joint Resolutions in respect to adjournment and every time we pass a House Resolution in respect to adjournment they amend it or they ignore it they bottle it up in the Rules Committee. So I wasn't surprised action at at this all and in fact all the Amendment does, it doesn't do us any good, it merely adds some perfunctory days to their schedule." Black: "Well, I don't have any problem with that and I would gladly vote on the Senate Adjournment Resolution but they have to be in Session to pass one over to us. So I'm not sure we'll see that for a month or so. But this seems like a reasonable Amendment to me."

February 3, 1998: Evidence of some interchamber scheduling tension emerged as the House debated a Senate amendment to an adjournment resolution.

you stupid little rats you think the snow hides you but all it does is make the sniffing more interesting

Youth Justice Agency NI hosted a delegation from Illinois, including State Legislators, policy makers, and practitioners, as part of a learning visit focussed on our child first approach. On how a rights based, trauma informed model supports better outcomes for children and communities”

Belfast!

All the news that's fit to print (and comply with EU/UK privacy requirements)

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International travel is so good for one's mental health.

Elaine Nekritz: The strategist behind Illinois’ transit victory | Active Transportation Alliance When Illinois passed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act last fall, many credited former State Representative Elaine Nekritz as […]

“Groups that have always been allies are now strong allies. The environmental funder community is also awakening up to that fact that we can’t reach climate goals — we can’t address pollution without also addressing transportation.”

Sign on Parliament Street in Dublin. It reads: "SRÁID NA PARLAIMINTE SRÁID SAOR Ó THRÁCHT ÓN 4 IÚIL PARLIAMENT STREET TRAFFIC FREE FROM 4TH JULY"

A view looking south along a pedestrianized Parliament Street in Dublin towards City Hall.

Normalize putting up signs commemorating the date you made your street good.

AHIL endorsement graphic for Robert Peters

Abundant Housing Illinois is excited to endorse Robert Peters for U.S. Congress in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District! 🏘️

Oh, man, Chicago Code was so stupid but so good.

1/21/75 Howlett: Dr. Templeman, that was a beautiful prayer, but as one who's been here since January the 8th, that one never scared me. Our problem isn't getting to love their enemy; our problem is getting to love their friends.

January 21, 1975: Two weeks into a deadlocked vote to elect a Speaker, Secretary of State Michael Howlett presided over the House. Dr. Andrew Templeton of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield delivered the invocation and on the 93rd ballot, Bill Redmond was elected.

well i dont know about you but i am having an extraordinarily productive week reasserting my dominance over the various vermin of springfield

STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 79th Legislative Day January 20, 2000 Speaker Madigan: "Mr. Black." Black: "Yes, Sir?" Speaker Madigan: "We will ask the Department of Transportation for a report. We'll get it to you." Black: "I would be most grateful for that because I think some of us are... have a false sense of security from what we've seen here in Springfield. Northeast of here they had up to 7 or 8 inches of snow with high winds. And, Mr. Speaker, quite frankly, I'm afraid to venture out and thought I might be able to catch a ride with you, if you could drop me off in Danville, we'd love to have you in Danville. Our snow plow broke last night, the harness on the horse froze. So, but we'd do the best we could if you could... if you could perhaps drop me off later today in Danville, it would certainly be appreciated." Speaker Madigan: "Mr. Black, sometimes we get some pretty strong wind blowing through this chamber." Black: "Yes, yes. But, it's a little warmer than what's outside."

January 20, 2000: As the House prepared to adjourn, Rep. Bill Black rose to inquire about the state of the roads home.

so cold so very cold

Isn't the deadline 4:30?

STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION OF DEBATE 1st Legislative Day January 14, 1981. Madigan: "Mr. Speaker.." Speaker Ryan: "Mr. Madigan, I would like to congratulations as Minority Leader. And offer you my as the former Speaker said, may you forever be the Minority Leader., Mr. Madigan."

On the same day, Mike Madigan was elected to lead House Democrats for the first time.

82nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION January 14, 1981 SENATOR SHAPIRO: Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I think after the roll call was taken it was obvious to every-one in this Senate that there are not enough votes to elect a Presiding Officer for the 82nd General Assembly. I would now like to make my motion that the Senate stand in adjournment until 10:00a.m., Thursday, January 15th.

Chicago Tribune, January 15, 1981 Headline: Ryan heads House; Senate snag on Rock By Daniel Egler and Mitchell Locin Chicago Tribune Press Service SPRINGFIELD-George Ryan, a Kankakee Republican, was easily elected speaker of the Illinois House Wednesday, but there was not even a vote across the Capitol rotunda where dissident Democrats are threat-ening to tie up the re-election of Sen. Philip J. Rock [D., Oak Park) as Senate president.

The New York Times Headline,Jan. 18, 1981 TOP POST DISPUTED IN ILLINOIS SENATE By Douglas Kneeland, Special To the New York Times

January 14, 1981: The Senate convened for the 82nd General Assembly but GOP Leader Sen. David Shapiro quickly moved they adjourn without electing a President, setting the stage for Republicans attempting to take control of the chamber through a bit of parliamentary chicanery.

do not work too hard in january pals you gotta ease into the year

Five Years After the Passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act - Coalition to End Money Bond Five years ago today, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Pretrial Fairness Act as part of the SAFE-T Act. For more than five years leading up to that historic moment, communities across our stat...

5 years ago today, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Pretrial Fairness Act. Hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been used to purchase the presumption of innocence are instead staying in our state’s most marginalized communities.

Read more: endmoneybond.org/five-years-a...