* There’s been some head-scratching about the Senate Executive Appointments Committee’s refusal to take up the nominations of Omer Osman to run IDOT, Mark Smith to head DCFS and Rob Jeffreys to direct IDOC. Their nominations have languished forever, but the Senate didn’t seem too concerned about it, even though these are the top three Black men nominated by the governor to run important agencies.

Finally, all three were favorably reported to the Senate floor during a committee hearing this morning.

* Despite Senate Republican pressure, however, the committee did not take up Pritzker’s nominations for the Prisoner Review Board. From the Senate GOP…

“The Senate Executive Appointments Committee’s continued lack of transparency on the Prisoner Review Board appointments is unacceptable. Our caucus is frustrated and disappointed that the Chair chose not to call Gov. Pritzker’s ten pending PRB appointees, that, just days ago, the Senate voted unanimously to waive their posting notice requirements so they could be heard in today’s committee. Ten unconfirmed people, four of whom have had their appointments pulled and then reappointed the next day, are making decisions on whether to release violent felons back into the community.

“Nearly three-fourths of the current acting PRB members are making serious, life-altering, and potentially dangerous decisions without even the basic transparency of a hearing. Gov. Pritzker may be comfortable ruling the state by executive order, but the Illinois Senate Republicans will not accept his attempts at directing them to abdicate their constitutional legislative responsibility.

“The Caucus will continue to fight for the public’s right to hear these appointees and they will not be silenced by political threats or ploys.”

Background is here and here if you need it.