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Ideas Weren’T Enough: The Strategies Behind Paul Simon’S Run For President, 1987-88, Robert Hartley

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Ideas. That word best describes the fifty-two years Paul Simon spent as a public person, journalist, politician, author, and head of a policy institute. His ideas flowed nonstop at the local community level, state legislature, and in Congress.

When Simon opened his 1987-88 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, he did what he always did: fed the public his ideas for solving the ills of the federal government and setting a national direction. As he stated in his announcement, “I dream of an America at work in a world at peace.” Straight stuff. But would voters outside familiar ground in …

Where Is Illinois Now And Where Is It Going?, Rob Paral

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Granted statehood in 1818, Illinois is slightly over two centuries old. During that time, in approximately fifty-year segments, our state has embodied trends that defined our nation. The early 1880s brought westward expansion by European migrants and the taking of natives’ land. The second half of that century saw a population explosion and rapid urbanization. In the first part of the twentieth century, Illinois industrialization was essential to helping our nation win two world wars and establishing the United States as the pre-eminent world power.

Most recently, a new half-century period can be identified. One of profound social and economic …

The 2022 Mid-Term Elections In Illinois: Unfinished Business Or The Wave Of The Future?, John S. Jackson, John L. Foster

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Part I of this paper provides a description of the Democratic and Republican Primaries in Illinois for the mid-term elections of 2022.

Part II then turns to the general election campaigns focusing on the governor’s race between incumbent Democrat J. B. Pritzker and his Republican challenger, State Senator Darren Bailey. The race for the U. S. Senate between the incumbent, Tammy Duckworth, and Kathy Salvi, and the state’s Constitutional Offices are also analyzed. The unit of analysis utilized is the county-level aggregate data voting returns. Part III deals with the aftermath of the November election with a focus on the …

The Effects Of Legalization Of Recreational Cannabis In Illinois, Stephanie Chambers-Baltz

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

In 2019, the Illinois House passed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act that legalized the recreational use of cannabis. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act became law in the state of Illinois as of January 1, 2020, making Illinois the first state to establish such a law via state legislation, as opposed to a ballot measure approved by voters. This law allows adults aged 21 and older to legally purchase cannabis for recreational purposes. This law has significant implications for social equity and for public health. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was intentionally designed to address and repair some …

The Climate Of Opinion In Illinois 2008 - 2019: Gridlock Broken?, John Jackson, Charles Leonard, Shiloh Leah Deitz

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The current report is an extension of the longitudinal data report we provided in an earlier Simon Review based on the 2008 through 2016 polls (Jackson, Leonard, and Deitz, 2016). In major respects the current report is a revision and update to that original paper, continuing and revising our analysis of the political narrative and history in Illinois. That paper was subtitled: The Roots of Gridlock. The 2016 paper reflected the deep polarization and gridlock that had made Illinois a dysfunctional state at that point in its history. The current report extends the analysis by an additional three years, and …

Sexual Harassment In Illinois: Public Opinion And Legislative Action, Oluwaseyi Amosu

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The last several years have brought sexual harassment in the public and private sector to the forefront of a national conversation. This paper addresses the issue of sexual harassment specifically within the Illinois public sector. First, to understand how Illinoisans view sexual harassment, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute conducted statewide polling. This endeavor asked respondents about their perceptions of how well the public understands sexual harassment, how likely people who engage in harassing behavior are to be held accountable, and whether or not the respondents would be likely to vote for a political candidate accused of sexual harassment. This …

The 2018 Race For Governor Of Illinois: Rauner Vs. Pritzker, John Jackson

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The 2018 race for governor in Illinois was unique in the annuals of the state and nation. For the first time ever it featured two mega-rich candidates vying for a job that pays $177,412 per year. Between the candidates, Bruce Rauner, the incumbent Republican, and the challenger, J. B. Pritzker, the two campaign committees spent a combined total of $251.7 million dollars on the race and support for other allied candidates, making it the most expensive governor’s race in Illinois history. This race came close to surpassing the national record of Governor Jerry Brown vs. Meg Whitman in California in …

The Politics Of Public Budgeting In Illinois, John Jackson, John Foster

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

This paper is about taxing, revenue and public budgeting in Illinois. The concept of public budgeting includes both the revenues raised by government and the ways in which those revenues are spent on the functions and programs sponsored by governments. This paper focuses especially on spending, that is on how and where revenue is distributed in the state in the form of public services and programs. It provides relevant data on the statewide distribution patterns and especially the question of whether those expenditures of the taxpayers’ money disproportionately benefit one region over the other. This question has provoked a long …

Illinois As A World Provider Of Virtual Water And Advocate For Clean Water: How Does Illinois Fit Into The Global Water Crisis/Solution?, Kara Lawrence

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Although politically Illinois has recently been plagued with an extensive budget crisis and stalemate on how to overcome its large deficits, Illinois as a state is fortunate in its exceptional natural geography which provides both abundant fresh water resources and fertile agricultural soils (Lant, 2005). As such, Illinois plays an important role in the global water crisis as a water supplier through its exports of crops which consume vast quantities of water. The state is a leading exporter of corn, soybeans, and swine, and through these commodities is supplying what many experts call “virtual water” to the world. Virtual water …

State Oversight And Local Government Savings: An Analysis Of Illinois County Fund Balance Politics, Lashonda Stewart, John Hamman, Brian Curtis Chapman

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

This paper assesses Illinois county government policies pertaining to the size, use, and replenishment of unreserved funds. As political forces push for reductions in taxes and in government itself, incentives for local governments to use less transparent means for managing finances increase. A better understanding of the impact which fund balance policies have on the amount of financial slack local governments keep on the one hand, and how counties use the funds on the other, is of increasing importance. This work expands on previous analyses of budgetary uncertainty and the possibility of using slack to stabilize service provision through times …

Governor Rauner’S Turnaround Agenda From A Comparative State Policy Context, Marnie Leonard

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The purpose of this research is to study Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, which he initially unveiled in 2015 after taking office. His plan was meant to overhaul state government with goals that were largely focused on keeping businesses in Illinois and convincing new businesses to take root, but proposals like limiting union power and decreasing workers’ compensation costs for employers have kept him at odds with Democratic lawmakers like House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. This has led to an unprecedented budget stalemate in the Capitol as neither side is willing to compromise. Now, after …

The Presidential Election In Illinois: 2016 Compared To 2012 And 2008., John Jackson

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

This paper describes and analyzes the 2016 general election results in Illinois and compares those results to the 2012 and 2008 presidential elections. The primary unit of analysis in this paper is the 102 counties in Illinois and the aggregate vote results at the state and county level. Those aggregate data voting returns are supplemented with statewide survey data taken from the Paul Simon Institute’s periodic polls which allows an individual voter level of analysis to add to the aggregate data.

The Illinois Veterans Treatment Court Mandate: From Concept To Success, John Adams, Jaye Hobart, Mark Rosenberg

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Veteran Treatment Courts in Illinois - The VTC Mandate In Illinois, several VTCs already exist. These courts have seemingly been successful in achieving the outcomes that matter to veterans and communities. Because of the preliminary success of these courts, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 5003 (HB 5003) into law on August 14, 2016, which amends the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act of 2010 by providing that each judicial circuit shall—rather than may—implement a VTC by January of 2018 (Public Act 099-0807). In addition to this legislation, in November of 2015, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts …

Perspectives On The Illinois Healthcare Delivery System Challenges, Structural Issues And Opportunities For Reform, Linda Baker

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

As fourth year students in the program, students at SIU School of Medicine have enrolled in classes at the Institute and have spent a rotation studying public policy choices that impact the delivery of health care services and the profession itself. The choices made by these public entities will have ramifications for physicians, nurses, administrative support staff and most importantly, for patients and their families. Students have studied state healthcare policy formation up-close and have learned a great deal about the forces and factors that shape their fields of study. Common to all students’ findings and much of the literature …

A Warm Bucket Of What? Assessing The Role Of Lieutenant Governor In Illinois, Sheila Simon

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The office of lieutenant governor in Illinois has often been the subject of debate, particularly during budget preparation time. This essay examines the history of the office of lieutenant governor in other states and in Illinois. Changes in the process of selecting the lieutenant governor are described, along with the current duties of the office. Finally, the author recommends changes in law and practice which would make the office of greater value to the state.

Unsupervised, Ensnared, Relational, And Private: A Typology Of Illinois’ Corrupt Women, Ryan Ceresola

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Scholars, pundits, and citizens know Illinois is at the forefront of corruption, as reported in the popular fact that four out of the last eight governors of Illinois have spent time in federal prison. We chalk up corruption to officials misusing their public role for their own private good. However, when we talk about corruption, even when we use inclusive language, we see the actor as a man, as corruption occurring in “old-boys networks,” and in dark and hidden backrooms of Springfield and Chicago, full of kickbacks and cigar smoke. What is missing from that analysis is an examination of …

The 2014 Illinois Governor Race: Quinn Vs Rauner, John S. Jackson

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The 2014 Governor’s race in Illinois featured two candidates who are the epitome of campaigns for high office in America today. In addition, the race also illustrated the major trends, driven by big money and big media, which are shaping our politics in the 21st century. This paper examines and analyzes the governor’s race in order to learn what it teaches us about politics in Illinois, and in the United States midway through the second decade of this century.

The Creative Economy In Southern Illinois: Opportunities For Reshaping Carbondale And Siu, Kent Dolezal

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Since the 2002 release of Richard Florida’s seminal book, The Rise of the Creative Class, a considerable amount of the regional and local development discussion has focused on his concept of attracting and retaining the creative class as a vehicle of economic growth. Florida’s (2002) work centers on the premise that contemporary development is not a process of attracting large employers but attracting talented people to an area; it is a process of jobs following people, not people following jobs. Although Florida has a primarily urban focus (Peck, 2005), with more than 59 million or 19.3 percent of the American …

The Climate Of Opinion In Illinois 2010-2014: A Dilemma Of Popular Democracy, John Jackson, Charles Leonard

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

No abstract provided.

Voter Petitions For Term Limits In Illinois: A Conflict Between Popular Desire And Constitutional Constraints, Paul Hale

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The question of whether a legislator should have his or her years of service capped by term limits is an issue that demands attention because of significant voter support in Illinois. “Legislative term limits have long been a popular response to perceived corruption or inaction in politics. Almost eight in ten [voters] (78.7 percent) favor, and more than half [of voters] (54.0 percent) strongly favor” term limits.1 However, since term limits are not currently incorporated into any article of The Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970 (hereinafter “Illinois Constitution”), those supporting term limits must amend the constitution to …

The Jackson-Williamson County Survey, Paul Simon Institute

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The Jackson/Williamson County Survey’s (JWCS) purpose is to examine residents’ assessments of the quality of life in Jackson and Williamson County. The survey will provide local leaders, community organizations, and citizens with insights for long-term planning. The questionnaire was developed by staff at the Survey Research Office, Center for State Policy & Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield and staff and faculty at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

There’S Nothing Fair About The Illinois Map: An Examination Of The Reapportionment Process In Illinois, Craig Curtis, Brad Mcmillian, Don Racheter

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

No abstract provided.

Ethical Reforms, The Budget Crisis, And Perceptions Of Quality Of Life In Illinois: Results And Analysis Of The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute 2009 Statewide Poll, Charles W. Leonard

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale conducted its second annual statewide public opinion survey in the fall of 2009. As in the inaugural survey in 2008, the Institute asked Illinoisans about their quality of life and about ways to deal with the state’s crippling budget deficits—whether cutting government spending or enhancing revenues. We also asked their opinions on a number of political and electoral reform ideas that had been well publicized over the summer of 2009 by the Illinois Reform Commission, appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn. Quinn’s takeover from the impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich seemed …

Reforming Health Care: The Paradoxes Of Cost, Edward A. Zelinsky

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

So let me explore with you why my judgment on this score proved inaccurate. In the proverbial nutshell, whatever happens in Washington in the weeks and months ahead, the United States is fated for the indefinite future to conduct a prolonged and difficult national debate on health care.

The reason for this protracted and arduous argument can be summarized in a single word: cost. Yet, paradoxically, the rhetoric of unspecified cost reduction is used to avoid the painful choices needed to prune health care outlays, choices that inevitably involve agonizing denials of medical services in a world of finite resources. …

Selecting Judges: Merit Selection And Other Matters, Stephen L. Wasby

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is pleased to publish this paper from Dr. Stephen L. Wasby who is Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University at Albany-SUNY. Steve, who is a former Professor of Political Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is a nationally recognized expert in the field of constitutional law and judicial processes. In this paper he surveys the various plans for selecting judges utilized by the fifty states. These plans break down broadly into elective versus appointive systems with those who use elections further distinguished by partisan versus non-partisan elections. The most popular plan is …

On Public Capital Investment And Economic Growth In Illinois, Subhash C. Sharma, Basharat Pitafi

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The present paper was written as an analysis of the proposed capital budget plan which is being considered by the State of Illinois and which has been a major item on the political agenda in the state for well approximately two years. In the spring of 2008, Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard asked Dr. Subhash C. Sharma of the Department of Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale to do an analysis of the proposed capital improvements plan which was being advocated by then Governor Rod Blagojevich and being considered by the Illinois General Assembly. The plan would make a …

The Anatomy Of President Barack Obama's General Election Victory In Illinois, John S. Jackson

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

On November 4, 2008 the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, was elected the 44th President of the United States. Obama was the first president to be elected from Illinois since the Civil War era. Of course, Abraham Lincoln was the first and the most famous, and the 16th president was also the first Republican ever to be elected president since the party was only born in 1854. Given Lincoln’s stature and reputation as one of the greatest, and perhaps the greatest president in American history, it is not surprising that Obama took every opportunity available during his campaign to …

Confronting The State Budget And Establishing Quality-Of-Life Benchmarks In Illinois: Results And Analysis Of The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute 2008 Statewide Poll, Charles W. Leonard

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

In Fall 2008, The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale conducted its first statewide public opinion survey since 2004. Topics included the general direction of the country, the state, and respondents’ respective areas of the state; benchmark quality of life measures for education, public safety, the environment, and the economy; opinions on important public issues, such as a proposal to amend the Illinois Constitution to allow recall of statewide elected officials and the proposed Constitutional Convention; and opinions on judicial selection issues in the state. By far the most newsworthy section of the survey, released October …

Party Competition In Illinois: Republican Prospects In A Blue State, John S. Jackson, Paul Gottemoller

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Campaigns and elections in Illinois are always interesting and exciting spectacles. They are full of colorful characters, great plots, and unexpected twists to the story line. Each election brings new characters and different stories, but each builds on the rich tradition and culture of a big and diverse state which takes its politics and politicians quite seriously. A state which over the last half century has produced such notables as Everett Dirksen, Paul Douglas, Adlai Stevenson, Jr., Charles Percy, Paul Simon, Alan Dixon, Richard Ogilvie, Dan Walker, Dan Rostenkowski, Richard J. Daley, Harold Washington, Richard M. Daley, Russell Arrington, Phil …

Still The Wild West? A 10-Year Look At Campaign Finance Reform In Illinois, Ed Wojcicki

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Kent Redfield used to tell a great story while on the speaking circuit in 1996. To describe a weakness in Illinois’ campaign finance laws, he explained that if a terrorist organization filed a routine semiannual report with the Illinois State Board of Elections and declared its purpose to be the assassination of public officials, the elections board’s only role would be to make certain that the group had filed the paperwork properly. That’s because the board had no authority to begin an investigation or to question what was in a candidate’s reports. Illinois laws regarding campaign finance disclosure had no …