Downstate schools get funding shaft; Rahm's rubber-stamp council; Robin Kelly vows fresh start for 2nd District

DOWNSTATE SCHOOL SHAFT Why is it that some school districts in Illinois spend nearly $21,000 per student while others spend only $9,000? Good luck figuring it out. "Only half a dozen people in Illinois really understand the complex Illinois formula for state aid to public schools, and the six aren’t allowed to fly on the same plane," writes Jim Nowlan of the Institute for Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois in a Reboot Illinois op-ed today. The state's "incomprehensible, jury-rigged school funding 'system'" consistently leaves downstate school districts underfunded, while state funding cuts fall disproportionately on those districts, Nowlan writes. If you care about education statewide, you'll want to read it.

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LIVING CIVICS Reboot's Madeleine Doubek joined several other good-government types (including the aforementioned Jim Nowlan) last week to address several hundred DuPage County high school students at Youth Government Day at Benedictine University's Center for Civic Leadership, which is headed by former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan. The theme was “Corruption and Mismanagement in the Shadow of Lincoln.” And Old Abe casts a long shadow indeed. Doubek came away from the event inspired: these kids asked great questions and had a genuine interest in government. "Still, something was missing," she writes. She explains here.

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CORRECTION No sooner had we published our flat tax vs. progressive tax infographic than an alert reader caught an outdated figure. California's top tax rate, paid by those who make $1 million or more, is now 13.3 percent. The new rate went into effect in January after voters there approved Proposition 30 last November. We've got the updated figure in our infographic. Thanks to reader Gene Leone for this catch.

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DAILY TIP-OFF Robin Kelly, as expected, cruised to an easy victory Tuesday to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. representing Illinois 2nd Congressional District. This race attracted considerable national attention both because of Jackson's spectacular fall from grace (he spent thousands of dollars in campaign money on some fairly crazy things, like fur capes and elk heads) and because it became a national referendum of sorts on gun control. Independence USA, a Super PAC run by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, spent $2.2 million on ads against one of Kelly's main primary opponents, Debbie Halvorson, because of Halvorson's pro-gun record in her previous stint in Congress.

Kelly assumes a seat that has a long history of occupants who ran afoul of the law. Jackson disappeared from Congress and the public view in June. "They feel like they haven't had a congressman," Kelly says in today's Chicago Tribune story. "Really, there will be a lot of focus on re-establishing the district office and constituent services and being visible and community outreach."

UIC political science professor and former Chicago Ald. Dick Simpson has a new study out that shows Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has engendered more loyalty from the Chicago City Council than either of the Daleys before him. Aldermen have supported Emanuel 93 percent of the time, Simpson says, which isn't necessarily good. "We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of Richard M. Daley putting the X’s in Meigs Field. When you don’t have a check and balance, autocratic mayors can make really major mistakes,” Simpson tells the Chicago Sun-Times. (Simpson, incidentally, also was a panelist at Benedictine's Youth Government Day mentioned above.)

As lawmakers get back to work in Springfield this week, the Chicago Tribune sounds the alarm about a gambling expansion bill under consideration in the General Assembly. The bill could be important as a bargaining chip to win votes from lawmakers for a pension reform bill, but the Tribune sees it as an open door to organized crime. "Governor, take the lead on gambling expansion by crafting modest legislation that Illinois citizens can support," the Tribune urges.

You'll find links to these and other Illinois reform news articles in the Daily Tip-Off sectionof our website.

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WE'RE HIRING! We are looking for a director of outreach to work with our partners both on social media platforms and in the communities. See the job description here.  Know anyone who would be a great fit? Pass on this email! 

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