Chicago - A message from the station manager

The Weekend Desk Report

By Steve Rhodes

“The city of Chicago’s promise of summer savings on electric bills for most residents appears to be so much hot air,” Crain’s reports.
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s recently renegotiated contract with Integrys Energy Services to provide power to 720,000 households and small businesses will cost average Chicago homes more in June and July than if they were still with Commonwealth Edison Co. if typical consumption patterns hold.”
There goes the electricity users voting bloc.


Durbin Loses The Plot
From Dick Durbin’s newsletter this week:

Too often we hear about corporations that evade taxes, ship jobs overseas, or do not pay their employees enough to support themselves or their families. These are the companies that are given millions of dollars in tax breaks under our current system.
The result is the loss of good paying U.S. jobs. Low wages force more and more working families to rely on safety net programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, child nutrition programs, Head Start and LIHEAP, just to survive, while many of their employers turn record profits.
At the same time, there are many responsible employers who treat their workers fairly while operating successful businesses. Yet, they don’t always get tax breaks like the bad actors. Employers that provide American jobs with fair wages and good benefits should enjoy a more favorable tax treatment than those unwilling to make the same commitment to U.S. workers.
I want to recognize the good work that many companies do and put the tax code on their side. This week, I will introduce the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act. This bill would reward the most deserving companies by acknowledging their commitment to U.S. workers and is paid for by closing a tax loophole that incentivizes companies to ship jobs overseas. This loophole costs the U.S. Treasury Department about $50 billion annually.

So far, so good.
But wait, there’s more!

Patriot Employers would receive a tax credit equal to 10% of the first $15,000 in qualified wages for U.S. workers, if the employer meets the following criteria:
* Invest in American Jobs
* Pay Fair Wages
* Provide Quality Health Insurance.
* Prepare Workers for Retirement
* Support Our Troops and Veterans
* Create a Diverse Workforce
Small businesses should have a fair shot at qualifying for Patriot Employer status too. My bill makes it easier for small employers to take advantage of this tax credit by allowing companies with fewer than 50 employees to qualify if they are headquartered in the U.S., are not inverted corporations, provide health care, and pay fair wages OR help fund their worker’s retirement.

So instead of just closing loopholes and forcing all companies to pay taxes, Durbin wants to level the playing field by giving everyone else a tax break too! Why not just eliminate taxes for everybody? USA! USA!
In my book, Patriotic Employers are those who pay their fair share of taxes. I don’t find it necessary to incentivize companies further by giving away taxpayers’ dollars for supporting our troops. The government should support the troops, set a standard for fair wages, and provide health insurance. Let’s stop getting it backwards.
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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: Role reversal.
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The Beachwood Radio Hour
Lakeshore Wars.
Working the narrative arts. Keywords: George Lucas, Rahm Emanuel, Wayne Newton, Navy Pier.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour
Backing In The Front Door.
The U.S. backs into the next round by losing just one of three, unlike a bunch of other teams going home. Plus: The Bulls’ Puzzling Draft Day & This Week In The Sky.
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This Week In Juvey Hall
Including: CPS code of conduct, Rahm’s graffiti bridge, Quinn’s never-ending scandal, Dixmoor Five Fallout, the EU’s children and more.
Please support the Chicago Bureau’s Indiegogo campaign.
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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: “It’s never too early to start making lists! Tune in for The Best Albums of 2014 . . . so far. Later, Jim and Greg review a new contender by Hüsker Dü founder Bob Mould.”
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The CAN TV Weekend Viewing Report: CAN TV is an independent nonprofit established by the City of Chicago in 1983 as the public’s space on cable television free of commercials, filters, and censors.
Chicago African Summit
United African Organization brings scholars, legislators and advocates together for a dialogue on critical topics facing Africans abroad and their descendants, including U.S. policy, refugee and immigration issues, health care, and growing small businesses.
Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on CAN TV21.
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Harvey School District
Students from the #152 Harvey School District swing with the sounds of Big Band music and celebrate an award-winning teacher from their school.
Sunday at 1 p.m. on CAN TV19.
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BeachBook
* Entire Park District Board Placed Under Citizen’s Arrest.
In Central Illinois; backed by sheriff.
* Blue Jays’ Mark Buehrle Keeps Rolling Along.
10-4, 2.52 ERA with first-place team.
* Chicago Residents Split On Showering At Electric Forest 2014.
It’s in Michigan, after all.
* Who’s Aboard The 230-Foot Super Yacht In Muskegon Lake?
Rumored to be a Chicagoan.
* Jabari Parker Heeds NBA’s Call, Bypassing Formal Mormon Mission.
Chicago teen to serve Milwaukee Bucks instead.
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Posted on June 28, 2014