Welch gives nod to unionizing staff

By Shia Kapos

Presented by The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association

Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. We’ve got a lot of news today, so get your coffee and settle in.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, photographed in 2021, is carrying legislation to allow legislative employees to unionize. | Pool photo by State Journal-Register's Justin Fowler

SCOOP: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has filed a bill that would allow House and Senate legislative staffers the ability to unionize. It’s an extraordinary move given the House speaker isn’t usually one to carry his own legislation.

Welch says the issue is personal as his office employs nearly 200 people. “Legislative employees in the House and Senate have the right to organize and collectively bargain. It’s important that they have equal opportunity,” he said in an interview with POLITICO, ticking off workers in a range of departments that would be affected, from the janitorial crew to the law department.

Illinois Democratic lawmakers have a long history of supporting labor, but their Springfield staffs have never been allowed to form a union because current law prohibits it. That would change if Welch’s legislation is passed by the Democratic-led Senate and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, who like Welch is a Democrat.

Welch has drawn criticism in recent weeks by some legislative staffers who said he wasn’t willing to sit down with them to talk about unionizing.

The speaker countered that his chief of staff and legal adviser were at the table and that he’s been in talks for months with fellow House speakers around the country about what they are doing.

Few other legislative houses have unionized, but California is in the process of seeing its legislative staffers go union, and New York is watching, Welch noted.

“These things take time, and I wanted to make sure we did thorough research. It needed diligent and thorough research. We did that,” Welch said.

What they want: The Illinois workers say union representation would protect them when they want to speak up and allow them to bargain for better wages.

With Welch behind the legislation, passage is all but assured in the Democratic-controlled House. Pritzker, who a few months backed the contract for AFSCME Council 31 state employees, has signaled he supports the legislative employees’ union efforts.

That’s a far cry from California, which took five tries before it was able to pass legislation earlier this month to allow staffers to unionize.

A union moment: Welch’s legislation comes during a national union moment. United Auto Workers in Illinois and across the country have gone to the picket lines calling for better wages and benefits. And dozens of workplaces have seen labor disputes. It’s something the Illinois General Assembly wants to avoid.

NEW TODAY: A request for proposal to prepare the United Center for the August 2024 convention is going out to bid today.

“This RFP will be the first of many to come that will help lift up local businesses across Chicago and Illinois,” Host Committee Executive Director Christy George said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to grow our team and finding the best talent in the Midwest to put on an unforgettable convention.”

“It’s a first step” to reach out to local businesses, added Alex Hornbrook, the Democratic National Convention Committee executive director who was part of the selection process for the convention.

The selection process: The DNCC will evaluate RFPs based on “experience, reliability, costs, relationships to Chicago and the surrounding region, participation of union labor, women, minorities and persons with disabilities.”

The winning contractor will likely be in charge of pulling city permits, assisting with planning and building out the event at the United Center. RFP details here

If you are Alex Hornbrook, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com

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A message from The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association:

Hotel property values in Chicago have plummeted as much as 50% in the last five years and investors are already saying NO to purchasing Chicago hotels. The Bring Chicago Home Proposal would quadruple the real estate transfer tax, giving investors yet another reason to take their business elsewhere. Tell your alderperson to vote NO on the Real Estate Transfer Tax hike and instead focus on ways to grow the city’s tourism and hospitality industries.

— Crime takes center stage for national hearing in Chicago: “The left has implemented pro-criminal policies that have allowed dangerous criminals to remain on the street,” Rep. Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee said at the haring. “The left has attacked law enforcement and has sought to defund the police. And then when crime goes up, they act shocked.” Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba reports.

— ‘The normals’ were there: Congresswoman Mary Miller spoke at the crime hearing, claiming Gov. JB Pritzker “lied to the people of Illinois” about how the state’s new SAFE-T Act and bail reform law works. “We are the normals, and they are the crazies,” Miller declared.

— SPOTTED: Attending the crime hearing as an observer was former Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, a strong opponent of the SAFE-T Act. We hear he had initially been set to testify but was taken off the speaker list when organizers got wind of his op-ed supporting an assault weapons ban.

— Migrant crisis is causing anxiety heading into the 2024 election cycle: “You’re hearing sentiments that are not dissimilar from what you would hear at Trump rallies where asylum-seekers are referred to as illegals,” Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez, who heads the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said in an interview. “There are people who are saying ‘the Democratic Party isn’t doing anything for us’ and ‘look at what we’re stuck with.’” Read my and Lisa Kashinsky’s full story here.

— RELATED: 2 aldermen want voters to decide if Chicago should remain a sanctuary city amid migrant crisis, by Block Club’s Ariel Parrella-Aureli

Join Lincoln Forum on Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m., in partnership with the Union League Club & POLITICO, as we host Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse and Tollway Board Chairman Arnie Rivera. Be the first to hear the Tollway's vision to boost economic opportunities, advance equity, and meet the region’s needs in its next strategic and capital plan. Register here: https://bit.ly/44EebiC

— NEW: Michael Madigan’s name is stripped from the property tax firm he helped found: “The ex-Illinois House speaker is awaiting trial for his alleged role in a federal bribery scheme,” by WBEZ’s Dave McKinney

— Election authorities from 25 counties try to tamp down misinformation, by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock

— INVESTIGATION: Illinois traffic stops of Black drivers reach a 20-year high: “State law and oversight board fall short of goals to collect law enforcement data and to reduce racial disparities in police traffic stops,” by WBEZ’s Matt Kiefer and Taylor Moore and Jim Ylisela. It’s part of the Investigative Project on Race and Equity.

— Age for required behind-the-wheel testing would remain 79 under secretary of state’s recommendation, by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner

— Energy assistance in Illinois may fall short without federal boost, by WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco

— In Shawnee National Forest, a debate swirls around how to best protect trees amid climate change and wildfires, by Karina Atkins for the Tribune

A message from The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association:

— Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Treatment Not Trauma’ initiative takes step forward as fiscal questions remain: Supporters are calling for six clinics closed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel “to be reopened over the next four years,” reports Tribune’s Alice Yin.

—  Catholic Charities Chicago gets $5M donation from Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, by Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn

— Police board rejects push to move misconduct cases behind closed doors after arbitrator’s decision, by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba

— SCOOP: Chicago Park District pays out almost $2M to three former lifeguards, by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos

Chicago Ald. Bill Conway administers the oath to new recruits on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Chicago. | photo via Bill Conway office

— Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward), dressed in his Navy uniform, administered the oath of office for 32 soldiers, sailors, and airmen to the military on Tuesday at the Chicago Military Entrance Processing Station. In a statement, Conway called it the “honor of a lifetime.” Conway is a Navy lieutenant commander and intelligence officer and an active military reservist.

— Pat Ryan, the Chicago billionaire and minority owner of the Bears, has bought a stake in Premier League club Bournemouth in England. Ryan is also the force behind expansion plans for Northwestern University’s football stadium, via The Athletic’s Matt Slater.

— Jim Di Ciaula, the executive director of the CASA Kane County nonprofit, has been named to the board of directors of St. Charles Bank & Trust Co.

— Chicago man gets 10 days imprisonment, 9 months’ probation for role in Capitol riot: “Athanasios Zoyganeles pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building,” by Sun-Times’ Kade Heather.

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

We asked what you hope to hear in tonight's GOP debate.

Joan Pederson: “I’m hoping to hear moderators ask about the Supreme Court and candidates talk about code of conduct used by the other federal courts — and whether other candidates on state agree.”

Erika Weaver: “Football.”

What a body language expert is watching, by Joe Navarro in POLITICO

What’s the fall food you can’t do without? Email skapos@politico.com

— SCOOP: Sen. Tammy Duckworth calls on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign: “These are really serious and deeply troubling allegations of abuse of the public trust and corruption. I think he should resign as senator,” she tells Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

— Where Illinois members of Congress traveled on lobbyist-funded trips, by Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau

— The 2024 field braces for a ‘devastating’ fall, with drop-outs on the horizon, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren and Natalie Allison

— Trump fraudulently inflated his net worth by up to $2.2B, New York judge rules,  by POLITICO’s Erica Orden

— Bob Menendez thought he was untouchable. Until he wasn’t, by POLITICO’s by Dustin Racioppi

— UAW allies want a put-up-or-shut-up vote in the Senate, by POLITICO’s Sam Stein, Myah Ward, Lauren Egan and Lawrence Ukenye

— John Ridley, a Memorial Health administrator, is tapped to lead Sangamon County Public Health Department, by State Journal Register’s Steven Spearie

A message from The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association:

Hotels are a driving force for Chicago’s economy. But City Hall is putting their post-pandemic recovery at risk by proposing to quadruple the real estate transfer take. The proposal would give Chicago one of the highest transfer taxes compared to competitive cities and give investors another reason to take their business elsewhere. To sustainably increase revenues needed to support important programs, including reducing homelessness, we should instead focus on ways to ensure the long-term success of the city’s tourism and hospitality industries. Tell your alderperson to REJECT the proposal to increase the real estate transfer tax and instead focus on ways to grow the city’s tourism and hospitality industries.

— Today at 3 p.m.: The Broadband Summit hosted by University of Chicago Data Science Institute examines infrastructure solutions for broadband gaps in the Chicago area. Speakers: Chicago National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Pat Carroll, ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones, City of Chicago Digital Equity Director Devon Braunstein and Illinois Office of Broadband’s Matt Schmit. Register here  

TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jim Nowlan for correctly answering that William Lorimer was expelled by the U.S. Senate. Also kicked out: James Shield and Frank Smith.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Where was the first national political convention set in Chicago held? Email skapos@politico.com

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, Republican campaign consultant Joe DeBose, JLL International Director Meredith Sweeney O’Connor, businessman and former political fundraiser Lou Weisbach and entrepreneur Madeline Lauf. And belated greetings to Mike Ollen, senior political adviser to the governor.

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