Who’s more out-of-touch?

It was earlier this week that we learned of a federal judge in Texas who issued an order that prevented a Texas state effort to prevent municipalities from declaring themselves to be sanctuary cities with regards to immigration policy.

Also earlier this week was the initiative signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner that declared all of Illinois to be something similar to a sanctuary place – one in which local police are prevented from harassing people because of suspicions about immigration law violations.

SO WHAT’S THE latest action? It seems we have six members of the Illinois General Assembly – all Republican and from communities of a less-urban composition – who are coming up with bills determined to repeal the Trust Act.

That was the measure that Rauner used to take his immigration-related action, and was one that received overwhelming support from the General Assembly.

So it may be very likely that these half-dozen legislators aren’t acting with serious hopes of actually getting anything undone. They just want to be sure they’re on the record as being on the side of the crackpots who want to view immigration law as an excuse to harass those who aren’t exactly like themselves.

Now for those who are saying to themselves, “That’s overly harsh!” or are thinking other obscene thoughts about me right now, I’m not apologetic.

“CRACKPOTS” IS ABOUT the nicest term I can use to describe these people, who clearly are putting themselves on the wrong side of the issue – just like all the people of a half-century or so ago who were determined to believe that the concept of segregation somehow had a place within our society.

Maybe some people just feel the need to create someone else to look down upon themselves, because otherwise they’d have to look at themselves and realize how little they contribute to our society?

My own viewpoint on the whole immigration issue and sanctuary cities, welcoming cities or whatever label you put on it is that it makes sense that local police enforce local law and federal immigration officials enforce the U.S. immigration policies.

GARCIA: Struck down Texas efforts

Seriously, I wouldn’t expect local cops to comprehend the nuances of immigration policy. I don’t think they should be expected to do something that is beyond their jurisdiction.

THE KIND OF people who would want local cops to get themselves involved in something that is beyond their scope are the kind who view police as the official thugs of municipal government – harassing those whom they object to.

Which most definitely is NOT what any responsible person should expect from their police. Or what any responsible law enforcement officer should have any desire to do.

Much of the cheap political rhetoric coming from the White House in this Age of Trump about sanctuary cities and wanting to revoke federal funding from those municipalities is truly pathetic. Only the most pathetic of pols are trying to side themselves up with it.

Because it’s pretty much a safe thing that those people some 50 years from now are going to come off looking absurd, if not downright ignorant.

WHICH IS WHY U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia issued the order on Wednesday that prevented Texas from enforcing its initiative to make sanctuary cities such as the now-completely-flooded-over Houston a prohibited concept.

CURIEL: Judge who infuriated Trump

I’m sure the crackpots are going to be spewing nonsense about Garcia similar to how Trump himself tried attacking federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel (an East Chicago, Ind., native) of California because of his rulings in that court case that ultimately found the concept of Trump University to be less-than-legitimate.

But that’s what too much of the immigration opposition rhetoric comes down to – trash talk that no one of intelligence can possibly take seriously.

And the day will come when state Reps. John Cabello of Rockford, David McSweeney of Barrington, C.J. Davidsmeyer of Jacksonville and David Reis of Olney, along with state Sens. Kyle McCarter of Lebanon and Tim Bivins of Dixon (as a former county sheriff, he in particular should know better) will regret how ridiculous they looked this week.

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EXTRA: Will immigration issue provoke 'civil war' amongst GOPers

Gov. Bruce Rauner followed through on his rhetoric of last week, using Monday to sign into law the Trust Act – a measure limiting the ability of local police across the state to get involved in the enforcement of federal immigration law.

KELLY: Rauner 'betrays' Illinoisans?

Rauner even went so far as to venture into the Little Village neighborhood for a bill-signing ceremony; which ensured he was surrounded by many Mexican-American activist types who have long been anxious for such legal protections from police harassment.

BUT THE CONSERVATIVE ideologue-types are upset. They’re the kind who want government officials who are eager to harass so-called “foreigners” who “don’t belong” in this country. Many of them aren’t too concerned about the niceties of the law or the details of a person’s ethnic origins.

Party regulars willing to defend Rauner

Such as William Kelly, a Chicago Republican (Yes, they exist) who is talking up himself as a gubernatorial challenger in the GOP primary come March. He claims Rauner has “betrayed” Illinois residents and “has made Illinois a sanctuary for criminals, drug dealers and gang members.” Kelly also said Rauner, “has turned the state of Illinois into Chicago, America’s murder capital.”

That latter statement is so over-the-top as to be absurd. Particularly for those people who take the homicide rate literally – Chicago isn’t even the worst in the Midwest (St. Louis and Detroit have higher rates, while other cities such as Baltimore and New Orleans also exceed the Second City).

Not that it really matters much what Kelly says. He wants attention (I suspect most would-be voters don’t have a clue who he is, and would say that even if he gets on the primary ballot, Rauner is still running unopposed because it is difficult to call Kelly a credible candidate). He’s desperate for it!

BUT SOME WITHIN the Republican political structure must be concerned. Because the party managed to issue their own statement, quoting all kinds of law enforcement officials who claim that the Trust Act isn’t a big deal to them. In fact, the party got their statement to me through e-mail about a half hour before the governor’s statement confirming he actually signed the bill into law.

RAUNER: Will issue be key in '18 campaign?

The political party wants us to believe only the Democrats have a mess of candidates to pick from, while the GOP is solidly behind Bruce. Which may or may not be true. We’ll have to wait and see if Rauner can successfully portray a pol who cares one whit about urban issues.

Particularly after spending the past two years bashing the city about every chance he gets. “It breaks my heart to see the senseless violence going on in our streets, especially when that violence is inflicted on innocent children,” the governor said. “We need to prioritize our resources for the prevention of violent crime.”

Are you buying it?

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Will Gov. Rauner commit political suicide w/ immigration-related move?

To listen to the ideologues of Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner is going to do some serious

RAUNER: On the outs w/ ideologues

harm to his political reputation next week, if he follows through with his talk that implies he’s going to sign into law a measure meant to restrict law enforcement across the state from meddling into immigration enforcement.

Most famously, Chicago and Cook County, have declared themselves to be sanctuary cities – where people who might not have legal residency status to be in this country don’t have to worry every time they come into contact with local police for a traffic ticket or other matter.
 

TRUMP: Most definitely in good standing

EVEN SOME SUBURBS such as Evanston and Oak Park, along with nearby cities such as Gary, Ind., have declared themselves welcoming cities, which is a status meant to ensure that local police don’t get involved in federal immigration enforcement unless essential for local interests.

Now, the General Assembly this spring approved a measure it calls the Trust Act, which would prevent Illinois law enforcement entities – including local cops across the state – from arresting or detaining anyone based on suspicion of illegitimate immigration status.

Local police would only be allowed to detain a person who is not a .U.S. citizen or legal resident if there is an arrest warrant for that particular individual.

To many people, it is merely common sense that local police are busy enough enforcing local laws and that federal authorities are the ones with jurisdiction to handle the nuances of immigration law – which go farther than the notion of deporting everybody who isn’t like themselves.

BUT TO THE ideologues who support these kinds of ridiculous crackdowns (and likely idolize all of Donald Trump’s stupid-talk on the issue), the fact that Rauner has called the Trust Act “very reasonable” is offensive. The fact that both the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported that he is inclined to sign the bill on Monday is a major negative action.

WALSH: Rauner is 'done'

One Republican legislator from the part of Illinois near St. Louis said that Rauner approving this measure would be the “last straw” that would tick off rural Illinoisans who have been solid Rauner backers.

The Sun-Times quoted Republican activist-types, including former Rep. Joe Walsh of the northwest suburbs, as saying that Rauner approval for this measure as dooming him politically. “Governor Rauner is done,” Walsh said in Trump’s favorite medium – the 140 characters of Twitter.

Now as one who has followed the political debate over immigration policy and the need for reform for years, it doesn’t shock me to learn that the ideologues are taking a hard line that bears no tie to rationality.

IT WOULD SEEM the fact that Rauner has gone through his two-plus years as governor openly hostile to much of Chicago’s interests to try to garner the rural support isn’t sufficient.

Showing quarter on this issue is one that would undo everything else. Just as it was no accident that the Trump presidential campaign’s initial inanity was to criticize Mexicans and much has focused on non-Anglo people with strong ethnic ties to other parts of the world, they want the governor to behave in the same manner.

Would a Trump pardon for Arpaio be viewed ...

Even though amongst law enforcement officials, the concept of jurisdiction is a strong one, and cops usually are aware of when they have no authority to take on a particular incident. So why they’re expected to run roughshod over jurisdiction in immigration cases really makes little to no sense.

Of course, what these ideologues want is for someone to reinforce their own irrational hang-ups about our society. Trying to apply logic won’t work for Rauner in this case.

I WASN’T KIDDING when I wrote that they want more nonsense-talk like that of Trump – who just this week while in Phoenix hinted he’s inclined to give a pardon to former Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He’s the cop who throughout the years was so vociferous in his efforts to crack down on immigration that he violated federal court orders that were meant to restrict him from harassment.

... similar to when President Ford pardoned Nixon?

Arpaio faces sentencing in October for his contempt of court conviction, and he could get some jail time – a thought that would please many people who have been harassed by him throughout the years. Yet Trump says he’s inclined to offer a pardon – which would pre-empt the possibility of incarceration.

A move that would be perceived by some as more despicable than when then-President Gerald R. Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for his Watergate-era offenses.

I have no doubt that some will lionize Trump if he does that, just as they will lambast Rauner if he follows through with his talk on the Trust Act. Stances that actually say more about the depraved ideals those people have, more than anything about the governor or president themselves.

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No budget? No surprise! Election Day 2018 can’t arrive soon enough

The Illinois General Assembly managed to wrap up its springtime activity this week. Well, sort of.

At times it seems like the Illinois Legislature paid more attention and time to developing the Chicago White Sox' current ballpark, compared to their efforts the last two years to get a budget for state government

The Wednesday night adjournment date came and went without much of even a token effort to appear to be passing a budget for state government’s upcoming fiscal year.

THEORETICALLY, OUR GOVERNMENT officials could concoct something within the next month and a budget could be in place when the Illinois Fiscal Year 2018 begins on July 1. But it’s not likely. We’re going into Year Three without a balanced budget on the books for Illinois government operations.

It was fairly early in the day on Wednesday when Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s minions let it be known there would be no vote, and no last-minute efforts to try to concoct a deal. This wasn’t going to be like the end of 1988 when the potential loss of the Chicago White Sox to St. Petersburg, Fla., motivated our officials into approving a stadium deal that didn’t get enacted until the final seconds of the final day.

We learned there will be hearings throughout the month of June at locations across the state – beginning with Thursday at the Thompson Center state government building.

Gov. Bruce Rauner was quick to dismiss the idea of budget hearings as a sham, saying that if there was a real chance of getting a budget, such hearings would have been held throughout the spring.

RAUNER: Retaliatory vetoes on unrelated issues?

YOU KNOW, HE’S right.

I have no doubt that the Illinois House hearings to be held this month will turn into sessions where the name of Rauner is taken in vain. They won’t put us any closer to having a deal that details just how much money can be spent on the operations of various government programs.

But then again, I’m realistic enough to know that so long as Rauner is insisting on dragging various unrelated issues into the budget process for politically-partisan reasons, nothing is going to happen.

MADIGAN: Leading the Rauner bashing?

I suppose Madigan and House Democrats (who still have a solid majority and full control of that chamber) could have gone the Illinois Senate route and passed some measure that claimed to be a budget – even though they knew no one else was ready to sign off on it.

YEAH, DOING SUCH a thing could have placed full blame for the lack of a state budget on the governor. But then again, there already are enough reasons for people to blame Bruce Rauner for the chaos that has become of our state.

Looking for ways to add to the juvenile behavior doesn’t put us any closer to having a budget deal. And I doubt it really sways the public’s view of the situation.

The people willing to “Blame Madigan!!!” for the situation aren’t going to be swayed by fact. The scenario whose focus is the 2018 election cycle is set, and the real solution to our fiscal situation most likely is to wish that we could somehow hold that Election Day more quickly than the 17 months we’re going to have to wait.

So perhaps it was best that our legislators spent the final official days of their session tending to other issues – such as the TRUST Act meant to impose the immigration reform ideals of a “sanctuary city” on communities across Illinois and an increase to $15 per hour for a statewide minimum wage.

IT KEPT OUR legislators’ minds occupied with something that might have some positive benefits for the people of Illinois. Although I wonder if the hostility created by the lack of a budget is now going to be enough to start killing off other ideas.

Gloom and doom continues to linger over Illinois Statehouse

Including the popular-amongst-labor-groups idea of raising the minimum wage. Since when has Rauner cared about doing anything to benefit their interests?

And as for TRUST? I can easily see a beleaguered Rauner not wanting to even think about immigration policy.

So what are we likely to see Thursday when our legislators resume their government activity? Probably not much of anything; we’d probably be better off focusing our attention on the White Sox’ game that night against Tampa Bay.

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How good will Trust Act make Ill. look; while offending ideologues?

Is Illinois about to become the statewide equivalent of a “sanctuary city,” only without the sanctuary label attached?

Literally, no. But I can already hear the outraged wacky nonsense being spewed by the conservative ideologues who get particularly bent out of shape by anything related to immigration policy that doesn’t focus exclusively on increased deportations.

FOR THE ILLINOIS General Assembly is considering a bill this spring session called the Illinois Trust Act. Based on acts that already have been passed in a few other states, particularly California, it would prevent the state’s law enforcement agencies (primarily the Illinois State Police) from assisting federal immigration officials in arresting anyone unless a criminal warrant is produced.

Also, it includes provisions restricting immigration officials from going into schools or hospitals in search of people who may have overstayed their visa (or never had one to begin with).

Considering that some school districts, including the Chicago Public Schools, already are telling their officials to keep immigration agents off their campuses, this law would merely give the legitimacy of the state to the actions they’re already taking.

If anything, it means Illinois is taking sides in the political battle over immigration reform – and we’re certainly not on the side of a certain orange-tinted man with wild hair who likes to get his ideologue followers all riled up by ranting about all those “foreigners” who are to blame for everything wrong with their own lives.

PERSONALLY, I THINK this bill would change little if it were to become law.

It reinforces the basic concept of sanctuary cities that says federal immigration agents should do their own investigatory work and shouldn’t expect any instances of immigration law violators to be dumped into their laps by local cops.

It doesn’t restrict the ability of immigration to go out and find people violating the law. Even though the ideologue critics will want to lambast it as somehow providing a place where people can hide.

They'd have to do their own work

Actually, all it is meant is to provide a place where people can feel safe from the harassment of those who’d want to use the local cops to pick on people whom they want to believe “don’t belong” here.

EVEN THOUGH I often wonder if we all had to go through the rigors that foreign residents do to adapt to this country, how many of us would be worthy of that U.S. citizenship they obtained through the accident of birth.

At a time when Trump and his attorney general are trying to single out Chicago and other sanctuary cities, a measure such as this would add legitimacy to the actions of the communities that have decided to make themselves symbolic places of safety.

I also don’t doubt there will be some local politicking played, as one of the bill’s sponsors is Daniel Biss, the state senator from Evanston who is among the people with Democratic dreams of running for governor come next year’s elections.

If this bill does become law, I have no doubt that Biss will become the proud author who will take single-handed credit for its passage.

THE REAL QUESTION could be will anyone try to use it against him? Because using it gets one into political bed with the same “basket of deplorables” that will want to view this act as particularly venal because it legitimizes everything they rant against.

BISS: How much praise will he cover himself in?

Considering that Gov. Bruce Rauner is going out of his way to distance himself from Trump and many of the social issue causes they often spew (Rauner hates organized labor, but isn’t hostile on many other points), I can’t see him wanting to touch this issue with a 30-foot pole.

Thirty feet also being the height of that wall Trump claims he wants to have erected along the U.S./Mexico border.

The one that not only will Mexico refuse to pay for, but that a Mexican entrepreneur will probably use as motivation for his own invention – a 31-foot-high ladder suitable for scaling.

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