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Presented by the Save My Scholarship Coalition: Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by the Save My Scholarship Coalition | Happy Thursday, Illinois. Sending prayers to Maine.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Illinois senators take a moment of silence on Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023, to honor those killed in the attacks on Israel. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Senate addressed the Middle East. Progress was made on bills vetoed by Gov. JB Pritzker. And the future of the Invest in Kids scholarship fund is still up in the air. Here we go, one by one: Democratic and Republican senators addressed the Hamas attacks on Israel during points of personal privilege, with the most compelling comments from Sen. Sara Feigenholtz. “One message I’m hearing from Jewish people is that they no longer feel safe,” she said, noting there are half a dozen synagogues in her 6th District Senate seat in Chicago. State Sens. Laura Fine, a Democrat, and Jil Tracy, a Republican, also spoke of the Jewish experience. And Democratic Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel spoke about Wadea Al-Fayoume, the kindergartener and Palestinian American who died in an apparent hate crime. Along with their comments, lawmakers held two moments of silence. Ameren, unions to regroup after conceding defeat on 'right-of-first-refusal' bill: They “waived the white flag” Wednesday on their attempt to override Pritzker’s amendatory veto of a measure that would have given the utilities first dibs on building out billions of dollars in new transmission lines. Their next move is to “educate” lawmakers ahead of the spring legislative session, writes Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore. Senate approves bill providing faith based food options in public schools, correctional facilities: An earlier version of the bill had been vetoed, but sponsoring state Sen. Ram Villivalam made adjustments and believes his latest proposal “can make it across the finish line and become law,” reports WAND TV’s Mike Miletich. House approves framework allowing legislative staff to unionize: Senators “have not yet revealed” whether they will take it up during the fall session, by Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel. Lawmakers push for compensation for Chicago’s elected school board, by WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky Invest in Kids: Student lobbyists converged on the Capitol on Wednesday to voice their support for the controversial private school scholarship program, which is set to sunset at year’s end. Lawmakers are considering extending it. Lawmakers could take up a new bill to tweak the program and extend it when they return to Springfield on Nov. 7 for the rest of the veto session.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | 
Gov. JB Pritzker, photographed during a bill-signing in March, talked bipartisanship on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2023. | Charles Rex Arbogast/AP | PRITZKER’s SOFT TAKE: Gov. JB Pritzker, who isn’t shy about criticizing Republicans, called for bipartisanship and acceptance of people’s differences during a forum put on by the progressive Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. “Leadership in this time means putting in check sometimes your emotions about the attacks that are coming and … trying to find common ground to work with one another because we have to bring the temperature down in this country and talk to one another, whatever party we belong to or whatever ideology we may have, because we have so much to accomplish,” Pritzker said. The governor said bringing people together is possible when government helps people succeed. “It actually brings people together if you can make it easier for people to raise their family, save for retirement, send their kids to college, buy a house. If we can make it just a little bit easier for people, I think that brings the temperature down.” The one issue that will always divide: Abortion rights, Pritzker said. “We’re just not going to come together” on that, he said. Pritzker’s kumbaya “didn’t last long,” reports the Tribune’s Rick Pearson and Jeremy Gorner. Soon after his remarks, the Democratic Governors Association sent out a fundraising email from Pritzker in which he wrote: “GOP radicals are working night and day to enact an extremist Republican agenda” to curb abortion, LGBTQ+ and voting rights, fighting gun safety and pushing discrimination and book bans.” If you are Meg Loughran Cappel, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition: Over 9,500 students are counting on the Illinois General Assembly to save the Tax Credit Scholarship Program. If they fail to act NOW, then students from low-income families will lose their scholarships, causing many to leave their best-fit schools. Most of these students are Black or Brown, and 100% are from households with demonstrated financial need. Additionally, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist. Do the right thing. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At the Brown Sugar Bakery at 1 p.m. for the opening of its manufacturing factory.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | At Daley Plaza at 11 a.m. for a Municipal Flag Exchange Ceremony to show off the county’s new flag. During your break at Wally’s, email me at skapos@politico.com
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Rev. Jeremy Leganski of Immaculate Conception Church in Elmhurst gave the invocation Wednesday in the U.S. House. He was introduced by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whose deputy chief of staff is John Leganski, the brother of Rev. Leganski. Pic! — Don Harmon, the son of Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, attended the White House State Dinner Wednesday night honoring the Australian prime minister. We did a double-take when the guest list showed Don Harmon, the Illinois Senate president, would be attending. Harmon’s spokesman, John Patterson, confirmed the Senate president was in Springfield, but his son was headed to the splashy gala.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Crime spree | Ex-boyfriend of slain CPS special education teacher arrested in shooting of state trooper: “Relatives of Adrianna Lopez, 37, who was gunned down outside her home Sunday night, say the suspect in the shooting of state trooper is her ex-boyfriend and had recently shown signs of violence against her. She was shot more than 10 times, police said,” by Sun-Times’ Rosemary Sobol and Sophie Sherry. From the State Journal-Register: “The shooting was a personal matter to Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, as the trooper is engaged to one of his legislative aides. The freshman lawmaker addressed the Illinois House Wednesday, arguing that law enforcement needs support,” by Zach Roth. — Renovated $38.4M welcome center on I-65 gives visitors a view of the region, from monarch butterflies to steel industry, by Post-Tribune’s Carrie Napoleon
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago Public Schools officials project $391M deficit next year when Covid-19 relief funds run out: “District leaders and Board of Education officials have warned of a financial cliff approaching next school year. Federal Covid-19 relief funds had papered over a structural deficit that officials estimate will reach $691 million. Only $300 million in federal funding is left to offset that,” by Sun-Times’ Nader Issa. — Mayor taps real estate exec Ciere Boatright to lead Planning Department, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone — Euthanizations up 25 percent in Chicago animal shelter; city director points to post-pandemic return to work, inflation, by Tribune’s Alice Yin
| | | | A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition:   | | | | | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Uber is out with a survey it conducted in August about rideshare equity in Chicago. The big take-away: More than half (55 percent) of Black and brown residents use rideshare services with most (70 percent) using them monthly, compared to 63 percent of white monthly riders, according to the polling memo. The survey is designed to capture the rideshare landscape in Chicago’s underserved communities as the City Council looks to take up Ald. Mike Rodriguez’s proposal to increase pay and worker protections for drivers. The survey says 66 percent of users would cut back on services if the cost went up. — Is CTA getting better? WBEZ asked hundreds of riders, by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Will the show go on? Suburban school superintendent reconsiders decision to postpone 'The Prom' musical, by Daily Herald’s Alicia Fabbre — Head-turner: Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is endorsing the Democratic challenger in the Cook County Board of Review District 3 race. The position is currently held by Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr. But Kaegi is backing Larecia Tucker for the job, and he’s donated $8,250 to her campaign, according to the State Board of Elections. In endorsing Tucker, Kaegi said in a statement: “Larecia has pledged not to take any campaign contributions from lawyers who practice before the Board of Review and has committed to numerous ethics reforms.” It’s a dig at Rogers who has drawn scrutiny for raising funds from lawyers who practice before the board. — Englewood activist says he’s running for state House race to challenge incumbent Rep. Sonya Harper, by Block Club’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden
| | | | PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | | | 
The Illinois Governor's Mansion, photographed Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, is a not-so-hidden gem in Springfield. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | We asked about Springfield hidden gems. Janice Anderson: The Illinois State Bar Association building located across the street from the Capitol. Eli Brottman: Mekong Cafe. Jerry Harrison: Glenarm, an unincorporated community near Springfield. Carol Hughes and Josh Mogerman like the Dana Thomas House. “Gov. Thompson made some big investments to be sure this Frank Lloyd Wright classic was returned to its original grandeur,” wrote Mogerman. Neil James: D’Arcy’s Pint for their Horseshoes. Chris Jessup: Custom Cup Coffee. Ashvin Lad: Taco Gringo restaurant. Kevin Lampe: “Amtrak Lincoln Service (heading north).” Smart aleck. Kevin Lamm: Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum. Ed Mazur: Sportsman’s Lounge. Conny Moody: “The trolls at Lincoln Memorial Gardens: Aco, the defender of mankind, and Søvn, which is Danish for sleep, were made by students who took part in the Springfield Art Association’s troll camp.” Mark Rosenberg: The renovated Governor's Mansion. Bill Velazquez: Terra Ferment Craft Beer Bar. And from John Fritchey, a former state rep: “These days, a real hidden gem in Springfield is bipartisanship. It's really hard to find but worth the effort.” Who’s the most notable name you’ve seen riding the train to or from Springfield? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition: Voters are very clear: They support the Tax Credit Scholarship Program by an overwhelming margin of more than 2:1. What’s at stake is the best-fit education of thousands of low-income students who receive a Tax Credit Scholarship or are waiting for one. Over half of the recipients are Black or Brown, and all the recipients qualify based on financial need. We cannot fail these children and their families. The Illinois General Assembly needs to extend the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program during this fall veto session. In addition to the 9,500 students who currently receive the scholarships, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist hoping to receive the same opportunities as some of their peers. This commitment is an investment in poverty reduction and economic acceleration, so lawmakers should do the right thing: Extend the Tax Credit Scholarship Program. | | | | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — ‘Who’s Mike Johnson?’ Diplomats scratch their heads at new speaker, via POLITICO — No Labels’ call: Speaker Mike Johnson is ‘not a Trump Republican,’ by your Playbook host! — UAW-Ford tentative deal could relieve some pressure on Biden, by POLITICO’s Nick Niedzwiadek, Olivia Olander and Tanya Snyder
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Clem Balanoff for correctly answering that Laurie Strode and Michael Myers, the characters in “Halloween,” are residents of the fictional town of Haddonfield, Ill. TODAY’s QUESTION: What Chicago company led the Arts and Crafts movement in silver? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Ald. Gilbert Villegas, former Congressman David Phelps, former Ald. James Cappleman, Deputy Secretary of State Hanah Jubeh, Ignite Blue Partners founding partner Kaitlin Delaney, Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund spokeswoman Michelle Holleman, Rabbi and dean of Ida Crown Jewish Academy Leonard Matanky, Silver Property Group’s Ron Abrams and WTTW co-anchor Brandis Friedman. -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 | | | | |  |
