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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Monday, Illinois. Ed Sheeran wowed at Soldier Field, but his appearance at Wieners Circle stole the show.
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State Reps. Lakesia Collins (9th) and Jawaharial “Omar” Williams (10th) are hoping to be appointed to a state Senate seat that's opening up. | Photos from their political websites. | The next appointment to the state Senate will expose the strength of Chicago progressives vs. old-school pols. State Rep. Lakesia Collins (9th), a progressive who heads the Illinois House Black Caucus, is talking to multiple people about running for the seat and is already lining up support from progressives, including the powerful Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU 73, Healthcare and Local 1 and some trade unions, too. State Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams (10th) also wants to be appointed. And get this: Williams is the son of Ald. and Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr., who in the Chicago way also sits on the Democratic committee that will appoint the new senator. The 5th District Senate seat is opening up with the retirement of Sen. Patricia Van Pelt. Forget conflict of interest: Burnett has the weighted vote, meaning his voice counts nearly double when the Democratic leaders gather to make the appointment. He told Playbook that “yes” he will be part of the selection process. Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) also has a strong voice on the committee. Others who will vote: Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st), Committeeman Tim Egan (2nd), Commissioner and Committeeman John Daley (11th), Commissioner and Committeeman George Cardenas (12th), Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd), Ald. Monique Scott (24th), Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Committeewoman Angee Gonzalez Rodriguez (26th), Ald. Christopher Taliaferro (29th), Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Committeewoman Lucy Moog (43rd). Here’s the breakdown of everyone’s weighted vote. The date of the appointment hasn’t yet been made public. The question will be whether progressives like La Spata, Sigcho-Lopez, Martinez and a few others can mount enough support behind Collins to make Burnett’s vote moot. And what about Waguespack? He’s been on the outs with some members of the City Council and the mayor’s team since he tried to get control of the City Council’s committee assignments. So, we’ll be watching who he backs for the appointment. Battle tested: Collins was first elected to the House in 2020 after coming out ahead in a highly contested primary. Williams was appointed to the House in 2019 and also won his 2020 primary. They both sailed through their 2022 races.
| | | The Wall Street Journal calls Gov. JB Pritzker a ‘union boss’ in an editorial Sunday in response to him signing a new contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). “Unions are running the table in Illinois because Mr. Pritzker and state Democrats essentially work for the unions that provide the cash for re-election campaigns. Big raises for union workers mean more union dues payments, which mean more campaign donations for the politicians who provide the raises. This is why allowing collective bargaining for government workers is so destructive to a state’s fiscal and economic health,” the editorial says. And then it pivots to politics: “Mr. Pritzker hopes to have a featured role at next summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and he’s likely to run for president himself if President Biden decides not to run. That’s one more reason the governor is acting more like a union boss than as a leader for all Illinois citizens.” If you are Scott Waguespack, Playbook would like to hear how you’ll vote for that Senate seat. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | WHERE'S JB | | At UIC at 11:30 a.m. to announce expanded reproductive healthcare protections.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | In Boston to meet with Mayor Michelle Wu, a Chicago native, to discuss youth workforce development and forging partnerships.
| | | Where's Toni | | At Provident Hospital at 6 p.m. to award 60 recipients of the Provident Scholarship Fund. Wrap up the month by sending a line to skapos@politico.com
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Pritzker signs bill overhauling mandatory supervised release: The new law takes effect Jan. 1 and “provides for remote check-ins with parole officers, standardizes the timeline for officers to review cases and encourages them to recommend early discharge for people who demonstrate success in their release,” reports Capitol News’ Peter Hancock. — Rapper Meek Mill was on hand for the signing, via CBS 2 — Here’s the full list of bills approved by the governor — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to visit central, southern Illinois today, by Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore — ‘Crisis pregnancy centers’ could face lawsuits under Illinois’ expanded consumer fraud act, by Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel — Groups call for safe-use site as opioid overdose deaths climb: “Overdose prevention groups continue to offer innovative solutions — such as stocking old newspaper distribution boxes with anti-overdose medicine — but say such efforts are not enough as deaths continue to rise,” by Sun-Times’ Michael Loria. — 8 dogs died in an unairconditioned cargo van from O’Hare to Indiana, by The Associated Press’ John O’Connor
| | CHICAGO | | — What to watch: How Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign promises translate into dollars and cents: “[There’s] a tension between idealistic and pragmatic in the nascent administration as it prepares its 2024 budget. [During a recent budget roundtable] Johnson didn’t address his promise not to hike Chicago property tax rates and instead pivoted to stress the point that generational wealth is built through homeownership, which he noted would not have been possible for him and his wife without government assistance,” Tribune’s Alice Yin reports. — The commercial real estate lobbyists are getting ready to fight the mayor’s ‘mansion tax,’ by the Real Deal’s Rachel Herzog — For interim Chicago police Superintendent Fred Waller, stepping in to help new mayor pays off in salary-pension double dip, by Tribune’s Sam Charles and John Byrne — Banned by City Hall for lying on construction contracts, company is still getting government work: “I didn’t believe we should be giving a contract to a firm with a history of fraud,” says the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Cameron Davis, whose agency hired Joel Kennedy Constructing Corp. Sun-Times’ Tim Novak reports. — Mike Royko’s beer test was restaged: “Fifty years after U.S. beers scored poorly against imported rivals in a backyard test by columnist Mike Royko, domestics prove they’ve improved. Slats would approve,” by Sun-Times’ David Struett. — Google plans to open in the Thompson Center by 2026. Will the tech giant help revitalize the Loop? Tribune’s Brian J. Rogal reports — St. Ignatius acquires architecturally significant Lakeside Bank building, by Sun-Times’ Lee Bey — Jonathan Swain, longtime owner of Kimbark Beverage Shoppe, sells to new owners, by Hyde Park Herald’s Zoe Pharo — Streaming now: Mental illness is the subject of The Broad Cast’s latest edition with Alexa James, CEO of the National Association of Mental Illinois Chicago, and Angela Sedeño, executive director of the Kedzie Center. They examine state and city issues, including the Treatment Not Trauma movement. Listen here
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Political feud: Democratic state Rep. Bob Rita is suing Tinley Park and Orland Township and their respective leaders in federal court, claiming his constitutional rights have been denied because he’s been blocked from holding community events — in his own district. From Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan: The lawsuit filed Friday cites a “consistent and systematic campaign” to prevent Rita from taking part in events such as the National Night Out Against Crime, scheduled for Tuesday in Tinley Park. Rita sought an emergency order Friday to participate in the event, but a judge denied the request, saying he already could attend. The tension goes back to a disagreement about the development rights of a mental health center. Here’s the background.
| | 2024 WATCH | | — GOP support: Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White will be feted at a fundraiser in Peoria on Aug. 20, featuring Congressman Darin LaHood and Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie. Details here — In IL-12, Congressman Mike Bost's re-election campaign has been endorsed by more than 100 Republican elected officials. List here — In IL-07, Kouri Marshall officially launched his bid to run in the Democratic primary against Congressman Danny Davis.
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Dixmoor hopes $14M in state funds can begin to fix years of water infrastructure problems: “The south suburb has gone through one water crisis after another. Now it’s hoping to overhaul an aging water system,” by WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde. — Illinois Gaming Board says it didn’t know of testimony about mob payoffs, now plans to revoke Cicero diner’s gaming license, by Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth and Tim Novak — In Alsip red-light camera investigation, feds have issued subpoenas, by Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth and Tim Novak — New Kane DUI problem-solving court aims to help defendants get on the straight and narrow, by Daily Herald’s Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas — Cook County hosts the nation’s first residency program for free-ranging wildlife veterinarians, by Sun-Times’ Dale Bowman
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Rachel Pritzker is the new chair of Third Way’s Board of Trustees. Third way is the centrist group working to stop the No Labels effort to elect a third party presidential candidate. Pritzker lives in San Francisco and founded the Pritzker Innovation Fund, which supports efforts to break political gridlock. If you're wondering, yes, she’s also part of the Illinois Pritzker family. Her mom, Linda, and Gov. JB Pritzker are cousins. — Cecilia Rodhe — through son Joakim Noah’s foundation — offers art therapy to mothers who lost a child to violence, by Tribune’s Darcel Rockett — Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher selected for 2023 class of Edgar Fellows, by State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what might dominate the 2024 campaign. Marilyn Canna: “Joe Biden’s age and his son Hunter and the overwhelming number of Trump indictments.” Joan Pederson: The economy. David Speck: If Trump is out and Biden is in, "the issue will be age.” John Straus: Donald Trump. Patricia Ann Watson: "Trumpism," reproductive rights and the "out of whack" federal judiciary. What’s the one thing you always do in August? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — GOP splits further over Tuberville’s military blockade as it stretches through summer, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett and Olivia Beavers — ‘Upside down world’: How crypto thrives even after attacks, by POLITICO’s Declan Harty — Republicans dominate in Florida. Abortion and pot could change that, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout — DeSantis: Being insulted by Trump ‘helps me, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky — A DeSantis come-from-behind win is looking vanishingly unlikely, writes POLITICO’s Steve Shepard… Still, “there are beacons of hope" in recent presidential campaigns, reports NPR’s Ron Elving
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Jack Reed, an investigator who probed Dianne Masters’ death and was portrayed in TV movies, has died. Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan has a story — Thomas “Tom” F. Swoik Sr., the former executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, has died. Obit here
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Paul Elsberg is VP of corporate stewardship at Constellation. He was VP of comms at ComEd, whose parent company Exelon split from Constellation last year. — Amy Carr is now comms director for the University Club of Chicago. She had been general manager and chief storyteller at TimeZoneOne and earlier headed Chicago magazine and Tribune’s culture coverage.
| | | TRIVIA | | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congratulations to Trisha Rich for correctly answering that the hottest temperature ever recorded in Illinois was 117 degrees on July 14, 1954, in East St. Louis. TODAY’s QUESTION: What Illinois event led to the formation of the NAACP? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Rep. Mary Flowers, former House GOP leader Tom Cross, Edwardsville Township Supervisor Kevin Hall, former state Rep. Helene Miller-Walsh, Department of Human Services chief of staff Amanda Elliott, real estate attorney Langdon Neal, Public Communications Inc.’s Katie Heinz and legislative affairs expert James Floyd. -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 | | | | |  |
