* Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore’s testimony has concluded…
* Capitol News Illinois…
Faculty at Governors State University ended a strike on Monday after being on the picket line for five days. […]
Union members at Chicago State University ended their 10-day strike on Sunday and those at Eastern Illinois University ended their six-day strike last Thursday. […]
Bargaining is also ongoing between administrators and faculty at Northeastern Illinois University. The faculty union there voted to authorize a strike last week and has also requested mediation.
* Rep. Joe Sosnowski’s HR176…
Encourages the further development of Liberland and the efforts of its government and citizens to establish a new partner in guaranteeing the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Requests the President of the United States, the Secretary of the State, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to consider recognizing the Free Republic of Liberland.
Wikipedia…
Liberland, also known as the Free Republic of Liberland, is a micronation in Southeast Europe claiming an uninhabited parcel of disputed land on the western bank of the Danube, between Croatia and Serbia (locally known as Gornja Siga). It was proclaimed on 13 April 2015 by the Czech right-libertarian politician and activist Vít Jedlička. […]
Legal experts in both Serbia and Croatia have said that, under international law, Jedlička lacks the right to claim the area, which is currently the subject of a dispute between the two nations. Croatia and Serbia have dismissed Jedlička’s claims as frivolous, although the two countries have reacted in different ways.
* Press release…
Davis Family Asks for Privacy and Prayers After Medical Emergency and Car Accident
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On Tuesday, April 11th, after experiencing a medical emergency, State Representative William “Will” Davis of the 30th District was involved in a minor car accident.
The Davis family wishes to thank the first responders for their expeditious response as well as the medical staff for the excellent care he is receiving.
He and his family are very appreciative of the prayers, thoughts, support and well-wishes. During this time, as he focuses on making a full recovery, the family respectfully asks for privacy.
Representative Davis’ office will continue to serve the constituents of the 30th District.
* Press release…
Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin announced today she is forming a federal committee to explore a run for Congress in Illinois’ Seventh Congressional District.
“Today, I am taking steps to run for Congress to serve the people of Illinois’ Seventh Congressional District. I’ve lived in this district my entire life and I understand the bold leadership that is needed to breathe new life into our communities. We all deserve a quality education, economic opportunities, and a safe neighborhood — no matter where we are born. It’s been my mission to serve, and I am ready to put myself forward,” she said
Conyears-Ervin added:
“Unfortunately, congressional races are long, logistically complicated, and expensive. I am taking this step today in order to ensure that I have the proper infrastructure to hit the ground running when the right time comes. Congressman Danny Davis has ably served the people of the Seventh District for many years. Whenever he should choose to retire, I will be running to succeed him and continue his legacy of service.”
* Tribune…
New mayors have often entered office at a disadvantage when they discover a massive budget deficit their predecessor left behind.
When Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office in 2011, he pegged the city’s budget shortfall at $636 million, blaming predecessor Richard M. Daley for profligate spending. Mayor Lori Lightfoot faced similar circumstances in 2019, when she said Emanuel left her an $838 million gap.
But the outgoing mayor’s financial team said Tuesday the administration is leaving Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson with a projected budget gap of just $85 million for his first year.
That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the city’s overall $16.7 billion budget. That gap would remain “relatively low” in 2025 at $124 million and 2026 at $145 million if Johnson’s administration sticks to his predecessor’s recommended budget practices, city officials project.
Sponsored
* M3 Strategies released a number of polls during the mayoral campaign. Turns out, the Republican firm was also paid $363,731.74 by Paul Vallas during the first quarter for various services.
By the way, Paul Vallas made just one campaign contribution out of his political action committee during the entire first quarter: $65,000 to Ald. Roderick Sawyer’s 6th Ward. Brandon Johnson won that ward 82-18.
Also, the Vallas campaign paid Ikoro LLC $500,000 during the quarter. $20K of that was for consulting, and the other $480K has the notation “Disputed - not verified.” According to state records, Ikoro LLC is owned by Chima Enyia, the former executive director of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
The rather odd Keith Thornton, last seen disrupting a Brandon Johnson event, got $20K. Tyrone Muhammad also got in on the Vallas action. The founder of Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change is perhaps best known for disrupting a trans rights rally and for being paid $250,000 by Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC and for palling around with Tom DeVore. Muhammad received $12,000 for consulting.
* Press release…
Today, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office announced it has filed a lawsuit against the nation’s largest insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) demonstrating that the defendants had illegally conspired to artificially increase insulin prices in violation of the Illinois’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Over the past 25 years, the list price of certain insulins has greatly increased — in some cases by more than 1000%. This increase has vastly outpaced the consumer price index or the relevant rise in costs associated with manufacturing and research.
The lawsuit argues that manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, and PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, have leveraged their market power to increase profits at the expense of Lake County and the payors who need the lifesaving medication.
The filing is here.
* Isabel is on assignment, so you’re stuck with me…
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 2:35 pm:
== M3 Strategies released a number of polls during the mayoral campaign. Turns out, the Republican firm was also paid $363,731.74 by Paul Vallas during the first quarter for various services.==
==The rather odd Keith Thornton, last seen disrupting a Brandon Johnson event, got $20K. Tyrone Muhammad also got in on the Vallas action. The founder of Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change is perhaps best known for disrupting a trans rights rally and for being paid $250,000 by Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC and for palling around with Tom DeVore. Muhammad received $12,000 for consulting.==
Just Normal Lifelong Democrat Things.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 2:52 pm:
The liberland bill should die a fast death as a frivolous use the the General Assembly’s time.
The micronation movement is a vanity project of egotistical people who think that are more important than they are.
- Google Is Your Friend - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 2:57 pm:
==Turns out, the Republican firm was also paid $363,731.74 by Paul Vallas during the first quarter for various services.==
But I was told Paul Vallas a lifelong, yellow dog Democrat!
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 3:24 pm:
Liberland needs to wait its turn; Illinois hasn’t even recognized the Principality of Sealand yet.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 3:48 pm:
===Turns out, the Republican firm was also paid $363,731.74 by Paul Vallas during the first quarter for various services.===
The grift is real. Grift? Why “grift”?
If you are pretending not to be a Republican but seek their operatives at a $300+K clip, one of the two sees the other as a mark. Vallas bet on them being his mark.
…
The checks, they cash the same.
In other grifting…
===By the way, Paul Vallas made just one campaign contribution out of his political action committee during entire the first quarter: $65,000 to Ald. Roderick Sawyer’s 6th Ward. Brandon Johnson won that ward 82-18.===
Losing 80-20 for $65K, the math was “folks over 50”… and they didn’t turn out like earlier.
My only hope is all the checks cleared and the grifters… and the mark… feel “good”
- low level - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 4:04 pm:
Thank you, Lake County SA. The insulin I use has gone up by a ridiculous amount the past 10 years or so. I dont know what people without insurance do.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 5:05 pm:
Give me Liberland or give me Andorra.
- Homebody - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 5:23 pm:
Decent money to be made to just be black near Republicans.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 6:08 pm:
It feels like Vallas literally had more money than he knew what to do with.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Apr 18, 23 @ 6:57 pm:
57 months is real time…even in a FPC or FCI.