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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos and Olivia Olander | Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Will he or won’t he? It’s still Trump’s party and he’ll run if he wants to ... run if he wants to, run if he wants to, via POLITICO
|  | TOP TALKER | | The Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield today — snow be damned! Va-va-veto: This week and next is described as a “veto session,” but there aren’t any bills to veto. Instead, lawmakers will hold dinners at undisclosed locations to elect leaders of their caucuses. Up for the votes: House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon are expected to hold on to their top jobs. And we’ll be waiting to hear if state Rep. Tony McCombie becomes the first woman to lead the House Republican caucus and if state Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie holds on to his job. There’s a legislative agenda, too: Watch for Democrats to propose some tweaks to the criminal justice law known as the SAFE-T Act. Given Democrats emerged stronger after the elections, they see the SAFE-T Act as an agenda item that voters support, so changes will be minor. Welch’s take: “Certainly it’s a hope that we get clarifications done before we leave here in the second week of veto session,” which ends Dec. 1, Welch told WTAX’s Dave Dahl. “I don’t think there’s a need for a big overhaul. We have already done three trailer bills that have been signed into law.” Other legislation: A few lawmakers are also talking about tightening gun laws in wake of the Highland Park mass shooting on July 4th. We’ll look for details. Gov. JB Pritzker has also pivoted to legislative mode. He’s proposed using $1.7 billion in revenue surplus to beef up the state’s savings and pay off some state debts. “Illinois’ bills are being paid on time, we have over $1 billion in our rainy-day fund, our credit ratings are up and we are honoring our commitments to long-term financial liabilities by contributing extra to Illinois’ pension systems,” Pritzker said in a statement. “We’ve closed a seemingly insurmountable structural deficit that I inherited, and together we are securing Illinois’ long-term financial stability and providing economic opportunities to its citizens.” New digs: And senators will be getting used to their new digs in the Howlett Building, where they’ll be located for a few years while the Senate side of the Capitol is renovated. RELATED GET WELL SOON: State Rep. Thomas Bennett is recovering after a single-car crash Sunday night. According to his Facebook page, Bennett’s car crashed near Gibson City while on his way home from an Iroquois County event. “He was taken to the hospital where they’ve been observing him and running some tests. He’ll be resting for a few days, so he won’t be able to make it over to Springfield for the veto session,” according to his Facebook post.
| | THE BUZZ | | | 
When she takes office next year, Nabeela Syed, 23, will be among the youngest state representatives ever to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. | Nabeela Syed campaign photo | Nabeela Syed, a 23-year-old Palatine Democrat, will be one of the youngest elected lawmakers ever to serve in the Illinois General Assembly after flipping the 51st District held by Republican Rep. Chris Bos. Syed is also among the few Muslim Americans to ever serve in Springfield. Abdelnasser Rashid , who is also Muslim, was elected to the legislature as well. In an interview with Playbook, Syed, whose parents immigrated from India, said she doesn’t think age was the reason for her victory. “We focus a lot on age. But I think this victory … [is] proof that voters care about electing candidates who will listen to them,” she said. But she acknowledges it was a factor: “At a time where politics doesn’t necessarily feel hopeful, I believe that young people are providing some hope.” There’s also a Trump factor: Syed said the 2016 presidential election played a role in her getting involved in politics. “At a time when a polarizing presidency was making people of color and women feel like they had no space in politics, or even in this country, it made me realize that we need to continue to create space for ourselves in politics,” she said. She wasn’t the only one. Syed, who graduated from Fremd High School in Palatine before earning a double major in business and political science from the University of California, Berkeley, was among a handful of Gen Z candidates to prevail in the Midterms across the country. Maxwell Frost is a 25-year-old newly elected congressman from Florida, for example. How she won: Syed secured funding from Democrats, worked hard knocking on doors and zeroed in on issues, including property tax reform, lower prescription drug costs and issues of importance to seniors and the district at large. If you are Rep. Chris Bos, Playbook would like to talk about your view of the campaign. Email skapos@politico.com . Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I’d like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
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| | WHERE'S LORI | | On Chicago Avenue at 9:15 a.m. to mark the three-year anniversary of INVEST South/West with groundbreaking ceremonies in the Austin neighborhood for mixed-use development and streetscape improvements.
| | Where's Toni | | At the Cook County Building at 10 a.m. to preside over a meeting of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
| | MAYOR'S RACE 2023 | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign is out with a digital ad campaign titled “Delivers” and featuring the characters Felix and Oscar, two Chicago “experts” on whether Lightfoot has delivered for Chicago. The ad ticks off corporate investments, best-city rankings and new jobs. It’s the first of several ads featuring the characters and will run across multiple digital platforms starting this week. The ending will surprise you. — Brandon Johnson nabs another union endorsement for Chicago mayor: The Service Employees International Union Healthcare, writes Tribune’s Alice Yin
| | ELECTION RESULTS — RACES TO WATCH: | | — Still not called, but … Workers' Rights Amendment on verge of passage, unions claim: “The proposed change to the Illinois Constitution is well ahead with relatively few votes still left to be counted, labor groups point out,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz. — DuPage County Clerk not properly verifying mail-in ballots, Mazzochi says in lawsuit: “With a seat in the Illinois State House hanging in the balance, one of Illinois’ top Republican state lawmakers has accused DuPage County election officials of not following the law in how they are validating signatures as they count mail-in ballots, and is asking a DuPage County judge to step in,” by Cook County Record’s Jonathan Bilyk.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Mary Jane Theis, sworn in as chief justice, says partisanship has no role on state Supreme Court: “She’ll preside over a new historic first for the court, as women take a 5-2 majority for the first time in Illinois’ history,” by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki. — After initial hesitation, state board approves Advocate Aurora deal to combine with Southern hospital system, by Tribune’s Lisa Schencker — Thanksgiving turkeys more expensive, harder to find: “The average bird costs 32 cents more per pound this year than last year,” by Sun-Times’ Nicky Andrews. — Big donation: The MacKenzie Scott Foundation has donated $7 million to LEARN Charter School, a network of 11 college prep public elementary and middle schools in Chicago, North Chicago, Waukegan and Washington, D.C.
| | CHICAGO | | | 
First lady Jill Biden steers a robot while robotics students Ethan Salibio and Kaitlyn De Loncker watch at Rolling Meadows High School on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Rolling Meadows. | Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool | — Jill Biden touts ‘career-connected learning’ in Chicago, calling education a nonpartisan ‘American’ issue: “The first lady visited Chicago on Monday to highlight apprenticeship and career training opportunities for young people,” by WBEZ’s Nereida Moren. — Aldermen say the city needs a department of environment — not an office. But what’s the difference? “Smaller and with less of a budget than many city departments, Lightfoot’s new climate office lacks enforcement power most of all, detractors say,” by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel. — Twenty-five council members ditch meeting about city’s homelessness crisis, by Block Club’s Mina Bloom — Black-owned company gets OK for $13.5M city subsidy to buy, revamp 6 South, West side grocery stores, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Deadnaming, misgendering and more: Chicago’s trans and nonbinary community grapples with end-of-life complexities, by Tribune’s Adriana Pérez — $5M settlement advances for family of teen shot by Chicago police as he fled crash that followed pursuit, by Tribune’s A.D. Quig
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County assessor finds Chicago homeowners bear more of the tax burden, pointing the finger at Board of Review: “Assessment reductions at the Board of Review shifted a substantial amount of Chicago’s assessed value back onto residential property owners and reduced the tax burden for commercial property owners,” according to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s report, via Tribune’s A.D. Quig. — Highland Park shooting survivor shares story as city's assault weapons ban faces new legal challenge, by NBC 5’s Phil Rogers — Elgin leaders say they still support Chief Lalley after police union vote of ‘no confidence,’ by Daily Herald’s Rick West
| | POT-POURRI | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Cannabis Business Association of Illinois (CBAI), the state’s leading cannabis trade group, elected new board members to two-year seats. Pam Althoff, the former Republican state senator, remains as the organization's executive director. “Our board members reflect the diversity of our membership,” Althoff said in a statement. New board members: Ngiste Abebe of Columbia Care, Ambrose Jackson of 1937 Group, Laura Jaramillo Bernal of Nu Era Cannabis, Gabriel Mendoza of 4Front Ventures, Portia Mittons of Bridge City Collective and Terry Peterson of Progressive Treatment Solutions. Chair Jeremy Unruh, senior vice president of PharmaCann Inc., said the organization will focus on streamlining “the confusing multi-agency oversight of the state’s cannabis program.” He also wants to see CBAI work to eliminate the federal tax penalty “that prohibits cannabis businesses in Illinois from deducting normal business expenses such as rent and payroll.” — Social equity cannabis entrepreneurs say Illinois’ regulatory process continues to delay their store openings: “An Illinois lawmaker says the state needs a single government agency to simplify regulation of the legal pot industry,” by WBEZ’s Alex Degman.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Still no movement in R. Kelly’s Cook County cases, by Tribune’s Megan Crepeau and Jason Meisner
| | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — Metra to continue $100 ‘Super Saver’ monthly passes through 2023, via NBC 5 — Woman holding a baby threatened to kill flight attendant on flight to Chicago, video shows, by Block Club’s Mack Liederman
| | | | GO INSIDE THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO is featuring a special edition of our “Future Pulse” newsletter at the 2022 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit from Dec. 6 to 8. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of health industry leaders and innovators solving the biggest global health issues to ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE . | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked how travel should be changed: Bryce C. Harris: “I would like to see the TSA go the way of the dodo. Leave security to the airlines. Also, cheaper drinks at airport bars.” Michael R. Lieber, with tongue in cheek: “I’d like to see shock devices in airplane seats that can give passengers a small jolt if they’re playing movies and games on a device aloud, without using earphones.” Thomas More Leinenweber: “I would hope that travelers become nicer to the people who work in the travel industry — flight attendants, security, those who work at the airline counters.” Rey Nonato: “Cars that can fly.” John Straus: “Supersonic air travel and domestic bullet trains.” Timothy Thomas Jr.: “A return to a time when you don’t have to take off your shoes and belt before boarding a flight.” Bill Utter: “A commitment to rail travel, especially in the Midwest. Downtown to downtown travel to major cities would be much smoother when you eliminate airports and city traffic. Time for a real ‘moonshot’ program to untangle all the barriers.” Patricia Ann Watson: “In the immediate future, a raised level of continental high speed rail. In the sci-Fi future, use of the Earth’s electromagnetic field to propel personal and commercial travel.” Phil Zeni: “Travelers with enough regard for others to bathe and dress not like they’re going camping in the woods or to Mars.” What’s your longest friendship? Email skapos@politico.com
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Freshman orientation is in full swing in Washington, D.C. New Democratic members from Illinois are in attendance, including incoming Reps. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (IL-17). Pic! — Rep. Darin LaHood has called Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) to let him know he's dropping out of the race to lead the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), according to POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers. LaHood “wants to focus on family and his current panels.”
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Hobbs beats Lake in Arizona governor's race, by POLITICO’s Andrew Howard — Republicans just 1 win away from taking the House, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro and David Cohen — Former VP Mike Pence finally opens up, saying, Donald Trump “endangered me and my family,” by POLITICO’s David Cohen — 4 ex-presidents who ran again — and what they mean for Trump, by Joshua Zeitz in POLITICO magazine
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Andy Shaw for correctly answering that former Mayor Richard M. Daley and former Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn attended Providence College together. TODAY’s QUESTION: The Chicago Daily News (of blessed memory) opened a fresh air sanitarium in 1920. Where was it located and what is it currently? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Deputy governor Andy Manar, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, state Rep. Lindsay LaPointe, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Chicago Business Affairs and Community Relations Director Steve Niketopoulos, political consultant Nancy Kohn and Playbookers John McGowan and Peter Behle. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
