Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2025

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods will resign effective Sunday, Feb. 2, after nearly nine years of service. […]

Lake County Republican Party Chair Keith Brin was surprised by McConchie’s announcement. Brin praised McConchie’s “unwavering dedication to public service” and his willingness to listen to and work with people on both sides of the political aisle for the betterment of Illinoisans. […]

Lauren Beth Gash, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party, said she’s aware of several Democrats interested in running for the seat in 2026.

“We feel very good about our prospects there,” Gash said Monday.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Frank Manzo | Illinois can overcome its challenging budget realities: Indeed, the nonpartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability is expecting only a $618 million shortfall. Regardless, whether the gap is $618 million or $3.2 billion, Illinois must find a way to overcome it yet again — all while dealing with mounting pressures in other areas.

* CNN | ‘Ridiculous’: Illinois attorney general reacts to Dr. Phil questioning detained migrant: CNN’s Jim Acosta discusses the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Chicago with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

* 21st Show | Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on immigration enforcement, birthright citizenship: Illinois law prohibits local authorities from cooperating with federal immigration officials on civil enforcement, but the arrests that have taken place so far are reportedly of individuals who have been convicted or accused of criminal activity. Meanwhile, Illinois was one of a number of states that sued and temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order re-interpreting the constitutional provision that says if you’re born in America, you’re an American citizen. All these issues and more have been top of mind for Illinois’ attorney general, Kwame Raoul. He joins the program today to discuss immigration enforcement and how the state is handling the new policies as well as his personal perspective on birthright citizenship.

*** Statewide ***

* Prism | Trans people in Illinois prepare for the Trump years: Newly elected President Donald Trump and his Republican Congress have threatened to ramp up discrimination and repression directed at trans people. Trump, during his campaign, promised to end all gender-affirming care for minors. An emboldened, Republican, transphobic House of Representatives has already passed a ban on trans girls and women participating in women’s sports; schools that defy the restriction face a loss of federal funding. On his first day, Trump passed a flurry of transphobic executive orders, including one that requires that “government-issued identification documents” deny trans people’s gender identity.

* WICS | Illinois Department of Revenue Announces Opening of 2025 Tax Season: Illinois will participate in the free IRS Direct File program this year. Eligible Illinois taxpayers can use the program to file their 2024 federal returns directly with the IRS. They will also be able to easily transfer their information into IDOR’s free online account management program, MyTax Illinois, to file their Illinois taxes.

* WTVO | Yuengling beers now available on draft in Illinois: Yuengling says its Traditional LAGER, Light Lager, Golden Pilsner, Black and Tan, and FLIGHT by Yuengling, will be available on draft in Illinois bars across the state. […] Following the draft launch, the brewery plans to make its beers available in cans and bottles at stores, restaurants, and bars starting in early March.

*** Chicago ***

* Bloomberg | Arrest warrants, luck: Inside a Chicago deportation raid at dawn: [Matthew Putra, acting field director for ICE in St. Paul, Minnesota,] said ICE expects the number of criminal warrants to increase as federal prosecutors begin accepting more cases. The bulk of those warrants will probably involve illegal re-entry, he said. On Sunday agents had seven criminal warrants in hand.

* WTTW | Under Fire, Ald. Jim Gardiner Used $122K in Campaign Funds to Pay Legal Fees: State Records: Gardiner said the decision by the city’s Law Department under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot not to use city resources to fight the lawsuits “left him no alternative but to turn to permissible resources to defend my actions as an elected official.” Gardiner spent nearly three times as much on legal fees during 2023 and 2024 than any other member of the Chicago City Council, according to a WTTW News analysis of records filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Spending during Chicago’s first school board campaign season exceeded $13 million: In addition to candidates’ direct spending, the union’s two political action committees spent $4.3 million — including a $1.5 million spending spree the week of the election — during that same time period. In some cases that spending could have also given a boost to other candidates in other races, but most went to nine candidates in contested school board races, three of whom won seats on the board. Two pro-school choice super PACs — those for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and Urban Center — jointly spent roughly $3.5 million during the same period. These groups also backed three candidates who prevailed at the polls.

* Chicago Bar Foundation | Making Sense of Our Nonsensical Immigration System and the Role Our Legal Community Should Play: While there are clear and loud exceptions among vocal minorities on both fringes, most Americans recognize we are a nation of immigrants and support this balanced approach. The majority of the public is not anti-immigrant, but they do want to see an orderly system based on laws, which is hardly an unreasonable request.

* Block Club | Can The Google Effect Revive The Loop? Experts Say Yes: “I think a small boom is fair … people didn’t expect what happened to Fulton [Market] until Google came there, and then it took off like the Wild West,” said Andy DeMoss, senior managing director at Bradford Allen, a Chicago-based commercial real estate and investment firm. […] The LaSalle Street initiative was delayed during the transition from Lightfoot to Mayor Brandon Johnson but officially moved forward in the spring with five adaptive reuse projects making their way through the city’s development and TIF approval process. If approved by City Council, the projects would collectively use $150 million in TIF funding and add at least 1,000 apartments to the area. The target completion date for the five projects is the end of 2026.

* Block Club | Non-Alcoholic Malört? Avondale Restaurant Serving ‘No-Lört’ By The Shot Or Bottle: Dubbed No-Lört, it’s being served at Void, 2937 N. Milwaukee Ave., which cheekily describes itself as having “successfully removed Malört’s only redeeming feature.” And people are loving it, its creators said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* ABC Chicago | Lori Lightfoot to release report Monday on Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard: Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is set to release Monday night the findings of her investigation in Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Lightfoot was hired last year to look into questionable financial mismanagement of village funds. […] Lightfoot will present her findings at a 6 p.m. meeting of the Dolton Park District. This release will serve as a follow-up to the preliminary findings already issued by Lightfoot last August and provide additional insights into the village’s financial condition, governance issues and other matters.

* Daily Herald | Judge denies request to delay ballot in Glendale Heights case: A DuPage County judge has denied Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar’s request to have the county clerk stop preparing the April 1 consolidated election ballot while the court considers whether his name should appear on the ballot. Judge Bryan Chapman handed down the decision on Friday. Court records do not indicate why the judge denied the request.

*** Downstate ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Dave Joens grew up reading about Illinois history. Now, he retires after 20 years preserving it as state archivist: For two decades, Dave Joens has led the Illinois State Archives, the government agency tasked with preserving official government documents with historic value. The job of caring for historic records has been a natural fit for Joens, he said, who has been interested in history since reading Abraham Lincoln biographies as a child in Springfield. […] Now, though, Joens is retiring from the post to pursue another passion: writing history books. Joens has been a janitor, journalist, a biographer, a press secretary for the Democratic caucus in the Illinois Senate and the Illinois state archivist. He served in the Army stationed in Germany, wrote speeches for Illinois state senators and digitized the state archives. Though Joens explored many professions over the course of his career, his love for Illinois history has been at the heart of his work.

* WRSP | The Abraham Presidential Library and Museum Presents “Little Lincoln’s Fireside Tales”:…

*** National ***

* NPR | Elon Musk faces criticism for encouraging Germans to move beyond ‘past guilt’: On Saturday, Musk spoke repeatedly about the importance of Germans taking pride in their heritage. “It’s good to be proud of German culture and German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said. Then, in an apparent reference to the Nazi era, Musk added that there is “frankly too much of a focus on past guilt and we need to move beyond that.”

* The Atlantic | RFK Jr. Is an Excellent Conspiracy Theorist: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, is a longtime conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine activist. He thinks Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates are leaders of a “vaccine cartel” that intentionally prolonged or even started the coronavirus pandemic in order to promote “mischievous inoculations.” Kennedy also blames immunizations for autism and obesity (among other chronic diseases) in children. In the meantime, he isn’t really sure whether HIV causes AIDS, or whether vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles are actually dangerous.

* Nieman Lab | Inside a network of AI-generated newsletters targeting “small town America”: It turns out Good Day Fort Collins is just one in a network of AI-generated newsletters operating in 355 cities and towns across the U.S. Not only do these hundreds of newsletters share the same exact seven testimonials, they also share the same branding, the same copy on their about pages, and the same stated mission: “to make local news more accessible and highlight extraordinary people in our community.” […] The newsletters do all name the same founder and editor: Matthew Henderson.

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A big hole in the argument

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Chicago Tribune last week…

A downstate Republican lawmaker is urging Illinois prison employees to secretly send her information on undocumented immigrants who are behind bars so she can pass the information on to federal immigration authorities, raising concerns from a civil liberties group that she’s encouraging the workers to circumvent the state’s sanctuary law.

“If you are (Illinois Department of Corrections) staff who wants ICE to know of an illegal immigrant in IDOC call or message me,” state Sen. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro wrote in posts on X earlier this week. “I won’t rat you out. I will notify ICE.”

I was thinking over the weekend that there seems to be a big hole in Sen. Bryant’s logic.

* Attorney General Kwame Raoul addressed it during an interview with The 21st Show’s Brian Mackey…

If there’s a murder or sexual assault committed by an undocumented immigrant in the state of Illinois, the people of the state of Illinois rely on law enforcement officials within the state of Illinois to hold that individual responsible and make sure that they’re convicted and they’re penalized for the crime that they have committed.

So if the answer is, ‘Well, just deport them even before you convict them,’ then you’re not holding them responsible for the crime that they commit.

What’s to say, they don’t find a way to sneak back into the country after they’re free, they’ve been deported and they’re free, let’s just say they figure out how to get around Donald Trump’s partial wall and get back into country?

So there’s a real public safety interest in the Trust Act and to make sure that local and state law enforcement gets to hold people who’ve committed crimes responsible, violated their state criminal law, responsible.

That same logic would apply to people who’ve been convicted and are now incarcerated. Do we really wanna spring them from prison so they can be deported?

19 Comments

It’s just a bill

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WAND…

A bill filed in Springfield could stop the further criminalization of people experiencing homelessness.

A 2024 Supreme Court ruling in Johnson v. City of Grant Pass allowed local and state governments to criminalize homeless sheltering outside in public places.

This Illinois bill could ban state and local governments from creating criminal charges against the basic needs of the unhoused, such as sleeping, sitting or taking shelter on public property. […]

The plan would add to a previous bill, adding a new term called “life sustaining activities.” These would be protected rights of the unhoused to sleep, lie down, eat, drink and hold personal belongings under shelter in public property.

Rep. Kevin Olickal filed HB11429 earlier this month…

Amends the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act. Prohibits the State or a unit of local government from creating or enforcing policies or ordinances imposing fines or criminal penalties against people experiencing unsheltered homelessness for occupying or engaging in life-sustaining activities on public property. Provides exceptions to maintain access to property or address risks to public health and safety. Creates a necessity defense for charges alleging violation of laws criminalizing life-sustaining activities while the individual was experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Defines terms. Limits the exercise of concurrent home rule powers.

* HB1713 from Reps. Marty Moylan and Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar…

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that any appointments to the Chicago Board of Education made by the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall be made with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council. Effective immediately.

* Pantagraph…

Chris Davis, director of state legislation for the Illinois Farm Bureau, predicted this year will be an interesting one for agriculture. He said many groups are looking for increased funding for conservation programs in Illinois, an effort likely to be hindered by the looming deficit.

The Illinois Farm Bureau is continuing to advocate for changes to the estate tax, which applies to all estates valued over $4 million.

An effort to raise the threshold to $6 million for family farms in Illinois failed to pass during last year’s legislative session, despite support from both parties.

Billed as the Family Farm Preservation Act, the legislation was introduced last January by state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, and state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria. It is intended to help operators of small family farms, who often fall into a “land rich, cash poor” category in which their modest farming income does not reflect the immense value of their land.

State Sen. Chapin Rose said the budget deficit is expected to hang heavily over the legislative session, but the Mahomet Republican said he still anticipates that action on the estate tax will be discussed.

* Sen. Steve Stadelman filed SB265 last week…

Amends the Local Records Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency that encrypts police scanner transmissions must provide, by license or otherwise, real-time access to those transmissions to broadcast stations, broadcasting stations, radio broadcast stations, and newspapers. Effective January 1, 2026.

* NPR Illinois…

New Republican state Rep. Regan Deering, who represents parts of Bloomington, wasted no time wading into a fierce political debate in her first days after taking office.

Deering, who ran unopposed in the 88th House District race after defeating Chuck Erickson of Bloomington in the Republican primary, has filed a bill that schools must organize sport teams by male, female, and coeducational according to their gender assigned at birth.

The bill also defends schools if a government agency or organization wanted to start an investigation, complaint, or action against them. […]

The proposal is co-sponsored by six Republican House members, all women.

* WAND…

State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) is introducing a bill that he said will improve election security in the state.

Rose wants to make it mandatory for voters in the state to bring the IDs to the polls. Right now, IDs are not required to cast a ballot unless you are also registering to vote at that time.

“For far too long, Illinois has ignored basic election security measures that people expect and deserve,” said Senator Rose. “Requiring a photo ID to vote is just plain common sense. Letting often paid canvassers collect ballots and then toss these ballots, all together, into an unsecured drop box on the side of a street is a recipe for disaster.” said Rose. […]

Rose brought up Senate Bill 181 on Friday and is now hoping to get it passed.

* HB1709 from Rep. Kam Buckner…

Creates the Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. Defines terms. Provides that a unit of local government may not prohibit the building or usage of accessory dwelling units in the unit of local government. Provides that a unit of local government may provide reasonable regulations relating to the size and location of accessory dwelling units similar to other accessory structures unless a regulation would have the effect of prohibiting accessory dwelling units. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

10 Comments

Question of the day (Updated)

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Lynn Sweet…

With Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., having not announced yet whether he will run again — and Gov. JB Pritzker still not confirming whether he will seek another term — Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Monday is launching her Level Up federal political action committee to build up her political operation and bolster a potential Senate run. […]

Stratton, 59, who was raised in Hyde Park, on Monday will be releasing a biographical video shot in her Bronzeville home.

Durbin, 80, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate and the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, will announce his plans in his own way on his own timetable. He was first elected in 1997 and is in his fifth term. […]

Stratton told me the Level Up PAC “is going to help me to do something that I think is especially needed right now, and that is to make sure that we demonstrate the leadership of our administration, how Illinois has become a beacon of progress, quite frankly, for working people. I want to elevate and build on that success through the Level Up PAC, and I want to support candidates, campaigns and causes that are delivering results for working people.”

The Level Up board consists of three women who Stratton trusts and is close to: Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering; Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Precious Brad-Davis; and Sol Flores, a former deputy governor.

* The Question: Do you think that LG Stratton should run for US Senate if Durbin retires? Note that I’m not asking if she will run. Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

online polls

…Adding… The launch video…

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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like the Berchtolds, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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McClain goes (further) under the bus

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s attorney Dan Collins further separates his client from Mike McClain…

There is an element of truth to this.

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Isabel’s weekend ICE coverage roundup

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

*** Secret Service Mix-Up ***

* MSNBC | ‘Misunderstanding’ over Secret Service agents sparks fear at Chicago elementary school: In a post on X, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cautioned against sharing unverified rumors, writing, “While people across the city are worried about heightened immigration enforcement, it is imperative that individuals not spread unverified information that sparks fear.”

* WTTW | Secret Service, Not ICE Agents Turned Away From Back of the Yards Elementary School: Even the governor reacted to the false information. “Targeting children and separating families is cruel and un-American,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement, issued before the Secret Service said their agents had been at the school [but after ICE denied being there].

* Illinois GOP Press Release: In case you missed it, Illinois Democrats took a false report from Chicago Public Schools and ran with it, spreading lies and creating hysteria. On Friday, CPS officials (and Ald. Jeanette Taylor) reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents visited an elementary school and were turned away. Hours later, it was revealed that Secret Service agents were investigating a threat, NOT ICE. It begs the question – when will Democrats like JB Pritzker retract their ICE lies? Bottom Line: Pritzker, along with multiple Democrat officials, ran with unsubstantiated reporting because it is convenient to their political agenda.

Tom Homan says ICE saved Children Today, and Goes Scorched Earth on Governor Pritzker

“This governor, Governor Pritzker, they want to vilify ICE… but ICE saved children today. ICE saved children today.

And it makes me angry that Governor Pritzker went on social media and said… pic.twitter.com/XmJGGKVDKU

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) January 26, 2025

*** Chicago ICE Arrests ***

CNN | Pritzker on planned immigration raids in Chicago: ‘I’m very afraid that they will not follow the law’:

* Sun-Times | Trump officials join federal agents — and Dr. Phil — for immigration arrests in Chicago: Officials told McGraw that 300 people were being targeted in Chicago, but specific details of the Chicago operations, including locations or number of arrests, were not released. Until Sunday, there were few reports of large immigration actions in Chicago despite previous statements that Chicago would be targeted as early as Tuesday morning, the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

* Crain’s | Arrest warrants, luck: Inside a Chicago deportation raid at dawn: As the day wore on, agents on the ground faced familiar challenges. Many immigrants are aware that ICE agents typically don’t have criminal warrants and can’t enter a home without permission. Social media alerts and word-of-mouth warnings are also urging migrants to stay out of sight. “Usually, it just takes the first arrest and the phone calls start,” said Matthew Putra, acting field director for ICE in St. Paul, Minnesota, describing how Facebook posts and tweets often tip off communities. “Nobody would move, nobody would open a door, lights would be turned off.”

* Block Club Chicago | ICE Arrests Dozens In Chicago As Part Of ‘Targeted’ Operation — With Dr. Phil Broadcasting Live: Media campaigns are being coordinated with the rollout of ICE initiatives, including in Chicago, where television personality Dr. Phil McGraw has joined Tom Homan to broadcast ICE raids to millions of viewers. McGraw encouraged people to download an app in order to see live coverage of the arrests. Homan told McGraw they were targeting 300 people in Chicago, according to the Tribune. ICE reportedly arrested nearly 1,000 people nationally Sunday.

* Tribune | ‘We are terrified’: ICE begins long-promised immigration blitz in Chicago: In keeping with city law, the Chicago Police Department did not participate in Sunday’s operations, according to a post on X by Mayor Brandon Johnson, who acknowledged the reports of ICE activity. In the post, Johnson also implored Chicago residents to “know their constitutional rights.” Also on Sunday, Gov. JB Pritzker appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and reiterated that local law enforcement “will not coordinate with federal officials on the arrest of people” when they do not have a judicial warrant.

* Reuters | TV host ‘Dr. Phil’ films as ICE targets migrants in Chicago: In addition to Dr. Phil, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove publicized his trip to watch DOJ agents support immigration enforcement. “This morning, I had the privilege of observing brave men and women of the department deploying in lockstep with DHS to address a national emergency arising from four years of failed immigration policy,” Bove said in a statement, adding that the deputized agencies, the FBI, and federal prosecutors would all be working on the effort.

2nd Ward Ald Brian Hopkins, chair of public safety committee, rips “PR stunt” deportation raids yesterday. “There’s a right way to do it and a wrong way, they chose the wrong way.” pic.twitter.com/8N7MEJ064u

— Paris Schutz (@paschutz) January 27, 2025

*** Statewide ***

ABC Chicago | School attendance declines in parts of Illinois amid fears of immigration raids, state supt. says:

* WIFR | Rockford-area leaders watch Chicago’s ICE immigration raid with concern, appreciation: There’s a saying Bethany Hoffman knows from her fellow attorneys: immigration law is like the ocean. “There’s going to be waves of all kinds that are going to affect our practice and immigration law,” says Hoffman, from Hoffman Immigration Law in Rockford. […] On Thursday, the White House’s Press Secretary reported 538 arrests of “illegal immigrants.” State Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) appreciated the efforts from ICE. “The guys and gals that are working with ICE are going after the worst of the worst,” contends the lawmaker.

* ABC Chicago | Illinois authorities divided on TRUST Act forbidding federal immigration enforcement collaboration: In an exclusive interview, [Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey] allowed I-Team cameras into the Kankakee County jail. That facility, until the past few years, was contracted to hold up to 200 ICE detainees. […] Currently, the closest local ICE detention center is in Wisconsin, where republican lawmakers are working to establish new rules for all local law enforcement to collaborate and assist with ICE.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Five Things To Know About Illinois And Chicago Policies To Protect Immigrant Students: In a statement Tuesday night, CPS reiterated its stands not to share student information with ICE, “except in the rare case where there is a court order or consent from a parent or guardian.” On Wednesday, the U.S Department of Justice ordered federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who do not follow Trump’s executive orders on immigration. Trump’s executive orders and proposed immigration policies are expected to face legal challenges.

*** National News ***

Axios | ICE arrests 956 in 1 day as Trump admin immigration crackdown ramps up:

* The Hill | White House says migrant deportation flights with military aircraft have begun: “I said from Day 1, no one’s off the table. If you’re in the United States illegally, you got a problem, but we’re focusing on public safety threats first,” Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, told NewsNation on Thursday. However, those figures are also not a sharp departure from the levels that were under Biden, with Reichlin-Melnick saying the Trump administration was “slap[ping] a ‘mass deportation’ sticker on the side of normal ICE operations.”

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Sen. Dan McConchie announces resignation (Updated)

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sen. Dan McConchie…

Following a nearly nine-year public service commitment to the constituents of the 26th Senate District of Illinois, State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) announced his resignation from the Illinois State Senate, effective February 2, 2025.

Serving in office since 2016, Sen. McConchie consistently fought for the priorities of the northwest suburban district including limiting the size of government, reducing the property tax burden, and bringing common sense to state government and its functions.

“While I always possessed a desire to serve my country and my community, I never aspired to be an elected official, and certainly not a politician,” said Sen. McConchie. “It was my friends and neighbors who asked me to step up and run for office so I could bring common sense values to Springfield. It was these citizens who convinced me to run for office to help make Illinois a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

As a freshman legislator, Sen. McConchie took his obligation seriously and quickly got to work. As a member of the K-12 education funding formula working group, he helped lead negotiations resulting in bipartisan legislation that established a more equitable funding solution to the state’s elementary and secondary education system and created the successful Invest in Kids program—giving underprivileged children the opportunity at a great education regardless of zip code.

In just a short time, Sen. McConchie was viewed as a strategic thinker and leader by his colleagues. In 2020, he was elected by his peers to serve as the Senate Republican Leader, where he broadened his commitment to the people of Illinois, and offered them an alternative to the majority party’s policies. Under his leadership, he fought against executive and legislative abuses of power including government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, controversial executive appointments, and gerrymandered legislative maps.

Most recently, Sen. McConchie has focused on championing legislation that seeks to remove barriers for those with disabilities. His commitment to expanding accessibility for the disabled inspired McConchie to found a non-profit organization to promote accessibility for the disabled in states and localities across the country.

“As my time in the Senate comes to an end, I’m grateful for what I was able to accomplish for the people of Illinois. It was an honor of a lifetime and one that I will cherish forever,” McConchie said. “As I look to the future, I know that there is more that I can do. My desire to create positive impact in the lives of others has not gone away, it’s just expanded to the most vulnerable no matter where they live across the country.

“I want to thank my wife, Milena, and my kids for allowing me to serve the people of Illinois in this capacity these past several years. In many ways, they have carried the burden of service even more than me. I will forever be grateful to them.”

…Adding… Biden won Sen. Dan McConchie’s (R-Hawthorn Woods) district by almost 10 points in 2020. Pritzker won it by almost 11 points in 2022. Sen. McConchie won by just 385 votes against Democrat Maria Peterson the same year.

* McConchie announced a new non-profit this morning…

With the goal of ensuring everyone has the “freedom to live,” Dan McConchie, a policy expert and former Illinois state senator, has launched a new advocacy organization seeking to improve accessibility for the disabled nationwide. The Accessibility Policy Institute, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to improving accessibility for the disabled at every level—local, state, and federal. It supports policies that remove barriers, so every disabled person has the opportunity to LIVE, WORK, and PLAY.

“Even now, more than 30 years after the passage of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disabled Americans frequently experience barriers in everyday life,” said Dan McConchie, CEO. “And while our society recognizes the fundamental equality of every human being, many individuals cannot fully enjoy their lives as long as there are barriers that inhibit participation in aspects of community life.”

The core initiatives at the Accessibility Policy Institute will reflect a “freedom to live” motto in which policy efforts will focus on increasing accessibility, and thereby freedom, for every American regardless of ability. By removing barriers to employment, transportation, housing, and more, both individuals and society will mutually benefit.

The Accessibility Policy Institute also recognizes that not all improvements to accessibility can or should happen through public policy, which is why the organization will also spearhead “Beyond the ADA.” This project will promote voluntary solutions by working with private companies and organizations to innovate their products and services to maximize disabled accessibility beyond what the law requires.

“Working to popularize and normalize an expanded accessibility attitude both in the corporate world as well as amongst the public at large will be key to enacting meaningful change,” said McConchie. “Through our advocacy efforts, we believe that we can play a large role in helping to expand accessibility for the disabled, and in the end, help create greater communities throughout the country.”

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Roundup: Defense begins closing arguments in Madigan corruption trial

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

Prosecutors ended 10 hours of arguments that spanned three days Friday morning, explaining how they’d proven Madigan guilty of a racketeering conspiracy.

“For Madigan and McClain, the corrupt way was the way it was,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur said.

The prosecutor told the jury Madigan and McClain operated “as an ongoing unit.”

“They talked constantly,” she said. “They met regularly. They supported each other. They performed their own roles … One gave the orders, and one executed them.”

* Tribune…

Attorneys for Michael Madigan opened their final bid to persuade jurors of his innocence by harking back to a memorable nickname for the former House speaker: the Sphinx.

“The Sphinx is, of course, a mythical creature,” attorney Dan Collins said Friday as his closing argument finally got underway in a packed federal courtroom. “Quiet, mysterious. A myth. In this case, ladies and gentlemen, the government sees the myth. They do not see the man.”

The defense throughout Madigan’s marathon public corruption trial has tried to portray the longtime political heavyweight as a hardworking and humble Southwest Sider who only ever sought to help people through his role at the top of the Illinois political power structure.

To reinforce the regular-guy image, Collins on Friday repeatedly referred to his client not as “the speaker,” not as “Mr. Madigan,” but as “Mike.”

* WTTW…

Collins, in his own closing arguments, said the prosecution failed to meet its burden in proving any of the charges against Madigan.

He claimed the government’s case was “misguided” and relies on the public’s cynicism surrounding public officials and asked the jury to “see the man,” not “the myth.”

“When people ask for help, if possible, I try to help them,” Collins said, reciting Madigan’s own testimony at trial. “That’s Mike Madigan. It’s that simple. … Mike is not corrupt. Mike is not about power. Mike is not about profit. Mike will help, if possible, when asked.”

The racketeering conspiracy charge is an “umbrella count,” MacArthur said, which ties together all the “bribes, benefits (and) the use of influence to gain legislation” that are alleged in the various other charges.

* Courthouse News Service…

Addressing the specific charges Madigan faces, Collins focused on only one: a conspiracy charge for purportedly backing AT&T Illinois’ legislative agenda in 2017 in exchange for the company arranging a $22,500 do-nothing consulting gig for ex-Democratic state Representative Eddie Acevedo. Jurors have seen evidence the company didn’t pay Acevedo directly but through the firm of lobbyist and Madigan associate Tom Cullen. […]

In the meantime, Collins pointed out, Madigan’s office fought to include a 9-1-1 service reform bill with the legislation, which he said went against AT&T’s interests. […]

Collins also pointed out that Acevedo initially — and, per witness testimony, angrily — turned down the company’s offer for $22,500. AT&T in turn resisted Acevedo’s efforts for a better-paying contract. Collins argued this showed Madigan didn’t control the nature of Acevedo’s arrangement with AT&T.

Jurors have also seen evidence that Acevedo did little to no work in exchange for his $22,500 — or, per the testimony of Tom Cullen, only “busy work” — but Collins laid the blame for that at Acevedo’s feet, not Madigan’s.

“That’s not on Mike,” Collins said.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Before trial broke for the weekend, Collins left the jury with a parting thought on Solis, whom MacArthur had characterized as a “walking microphone” during her presentation – a reference to the hundreds of hours of secretly recorded conversations he gave feds access to during his 2 ½ years as an FBI mole. Solis began cooperating with the government in June 2016 after he was caught accepting bribes and abusing his campaign funds.

After an out-of-the-blue call to Solis the following summer, the FBI’s attention turned to Madigan, and the alderman began acting on agents’ orders when interacting with Madigan, Collins pointed out, acknowledging the government is allowed to use deceptive techniques as part of an investigation.

“He’s not a walking microphone,” Collins said. “He’s an actor in a stage production. And he’s getting direction from the government so he can, in turn, direct others.”

In that way, Collins said, Solis was a “walking crime wave,” and asked the jury to picture the alderman-turned-FBI mole as “that small little crack in your windshield that just keeps spreading and spreading and spreading and won’t go away.”

* More…

Tribune | Closing arguments in Madigan trial to continue Monday with more from his defense:

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Back to the drawing board on Tier 2

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

The Illinois Legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability recently released an eye-popping actuarial analysis of a union-backed pension reform plan.

The analysis concluded that the proposal, House Bill 5909, would cost taxpayers almost $30 billion through the year 2045.

And the annual state cost starting in fiscal year 2027, which begins in mid-2026, would be $1.13 billion.

As you likely know, the state is bracing to deal with a $3.2 billion deficit in the upcoming 2026 fiscal year. The state’s projection for the following fiscal year, FY27, envisions a $4.3 billion deficit. So, adding another billion-plus on top of that seems untenable, even though these budget projections don’t include any upcoming changes to how the state funds government.

More importantly, that estimate only includes the “Big Three” pension plans (state, university and teachers), and excludes local pension funds like the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and first responder funds, as well as the pension funds for judges and legislators.

Union members flooded the statehouse during the November veto session demanding these changes to the state’s Tier 2 pension program.

Public employee unions hotly opposed Tier 2 when it was approved by the General Assembly and Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013. The idea back then was to force newly hired employees to accept a significantly reduced pension package because the state was being crushed by the large and ever-growing costs of the existing plan, due to many decades of woeful state underfunding and legislative over-promising. The state constitution forbids reducing any pension benefits once they are granted, so the change could only be made to new hires going forward.

The actuarial report was conducted by Segal, a consulting firm often used by the commission. Segal also conducted an actuarial analysis on an earlier version of Tier 2 pension reform (HB 4973), which found it would cost state and local governments a net $4.6 billion by 2045. But the unions instead came down to Springfield in full force to back the new bill, introduced the day veto session began this past November.

Back in November, Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters he would “if necessary” agree to make sure all pension systems were in compliance with Social Security’s safe harbor provisions, meaning the pension benefits are at least as much as Social Security payments, as required by federal law. The earlier analysis of the previous bill had pegged that safe harbor cost at $4.8 billion for all systems. The latest analysis of the new bill has that particular projected cost at $6.2 billion just for the big three funds.

According to the new commission report, the union-backed changes to the final average salary calculation would cost an additional $1.1 billion through 2045; a redo of the annual cost of living adjustment payments would add $4.4 billion; and lowering the retirement age for Tier 2 recipients to equal Tier 1 recipients would cost a whopping $11.3 billion.

Total price: $29.76 billion, with the first additional payment of $1.132 billion owed in FY27, on top of the projected $10.8 billion projected pension payment that fiscal year.

Whew.

The previous Tier 2 bill was much more affordable. The legislation included a $500 million annual funding source by using revenues freed up from retiring debt. The price tag for that would’ve been a mere $47 million in the coming fiscal year. Needless to say, $47 million is a lot easier to swallow than $1.1 billion.

And again, the new actuarial projection for the new bill doesn’t include any of the municipal pension systems or smaller state systems. The total cost would be significantly higher than the projection claims.

Pritzker is not enthusiastic about the union-backed bill, to say the least.

While Pritzker reiterated his support last week to bring pensions into compliance with federal Social Security laws, his spokesperson said the governor “has been crystal clear that he will not support any pension proposal that is credit negative or threatens the State’s balanced budget.”

Adding $1.1 billion a year to the state’s outlays would just be too much of a budget hit to take.

And even the proposal’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Rob Martwick, D-Chicago, agreed that the state can’t afford the plan.

Martwick call his bill a “great starting point” in negotiations, “because it shows us the cost of doing the right thing,” and insisted that the pension benefits created by the bill “are not ‘too rich.’”

However, Martwick said, “The unfortunate reality is that Illinois and Chicago are such financial disasters that we very well cannot afford to do the right thing.”

Back to the drawing board.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Trump order freezes funding for Illinois EV charging network, raises questions about other clean energy projects. Tribune…

* At 10 am Governor JB Pritzker will be at the Lookingglass Theatre to celebrate its reopening. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | New state transportation boss looking to cure Kennedy construction ‘headache,’ focus on speeding up projects: Gia Biagi has been at the wheel of the Illinois Department of Transportation for less than two weeks, but she already is planning to hit the accelerator on construction projects — including the slow-moving Kennedy Expressway headache. “When we get back out there, you’re going to see folks working all the time,” Biagi told the Sun-Times. “I’ve got my eye on this project, and we’re going to push as hard as we can to get it done as fast as we can.“

* Tribune | ‘Yo!’ Mayor Brandon Johnson’s texts reveal governing style and intrigue at City Hall: The mayor’s exchanges with aldermen, Gov. JB Pritzker, top business officials and labor leaders show he is more reluctant than predecessors Lori Lightfoot and Rahm Emanuel to put much in writing. While Lightfoot would often respond to text messages with voluminous essays that sometimes bordered on venomous, Johnson usually replies with a phone call or directs his staff to return the message.

*** Statehouse News ***

* QC Online | Illinois Quad-Cities lawmakers warn cuts are coming due to projected budget shortfall: “We’re going to lose programs,” Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, said. “We lost a couple of programs last year…which really broke my heart. …I will find out how we get our fair piece of the pie, but no doubt it’s going to be a difficult year.” Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, said in a November letter from the Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy Andy Manar requested state agencies start looking at reducing grants, winding down programs and eliminating vacant positions, among other preparations for a the projected budget shortfall. He noted, though, that the budget process is controlled by the Democratic-majorities in both chambers.

* Sun-Times | State Sen. Napoleon Harris is out as chairman of legislative committee regulating the insurance industry: Asked about this, Harmon spokesman John Patterson said, “With the start of every new General Assembly there is a shuffling of responsibilities to best recognize senators’ interests, experience and expertise. The leadership and committee chair announcements for the 104th General Assembly reflect the great diversity of people and talent we have in the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.”

*** Statewide ***

* Sun-Times | Illinois’ new flag: What design experts say to consider as you vote among 10 finalists: Coco Chanel made a name for designing many things, though flags of any sort weren’t among them. Still, flag design expert Ted Kaye cites her famous dictum in his parameters for a good flag: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” “Only the simplest designs really function well,” says Kaye, who is the secretary of the North American Vexillological Association — “The World’s Largest Organization of Flag Enthusiasts and Scholars” — and compiler of the design guide “Good Flag, Bad Flag.”

* NPR | University of Illinois raises tuition at all campuses: The rate hike takes effect in the Fall 2025 semester. The University of Illinois Springfield will charge 2% more. Both the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses will see tuition go up 2.2%. Rising costs driven by inflation are behind the decision.

* WCIA | Health insurers now required to cover pregnancy, postpartum care in Illinois: It is a two-phase process that will also expand access to prenatal doula services and coverage for professional midwives. In addition, insurers will cover postpartum care, lactation consultation, and a few other services with requirements that will take effect starting January 2026.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Johnson rakes in gambling contributions, including one that may violate ethics law: The $13,000 contribution came from the National Association of Promotional Retailers, a group affiliated with lobbyist Maze Jackson that advocates on behalf of opening up the state’s video gambling industry by creating a pathway for operators of so-called sweepstakes machines out of a gray market. The group shares an address with other companies tied to Jackson and he is listed as one of three directors of the entity, according to state records.

* Block Club | Chicago Conducts Annual Homeless Count As City Begins Combined Shelter System: The outreach on a night that dipped into the single-digit temperatures is part of the city’s annual Point-in-Time Count. It takes a snapshot of homelessness in the city and gathers numbers of both sheltered and unsheltered people living in the city on a single night. Last year’s survey found 18,836 Chicagoans experiencing homelessness. Of those,17,202 were living in shelters and 1,634 were unhoused. That number tripled 2023’s count of 6,139 people experiencing homelessness. […] The figures from this year’s survey will be compiled and released in the coming weeks.

* A City That Works | Construction costs for affordable housing are skyrocketing: It won’t be news to regular readers around here, but Chicago has a housing crisis. The DePaul Institute of Housing Studies estimates that the city is short 120,000 units of low-cost housing. Estimates of the number of homeless Chicagoans more than tripled last year, according to the 2024 HUD point-in-time count. […] At the same time, it’s getting much harder to produce new units. Costs for city-funded affordable housing projects have skyrocketed. In 2023, city supported affordable projects cost an average of $584,000 per unit.1 And that number includes rehabs of existing affordable units. Rehabs are great, and generally cheaper than new construction, but they also don’t add to the city’s overall housing stock.2 Costs for new construction in 2023 came in at $747,000 per unit. Those prices are growing fast; costs for both rehabs and new construction have almost doubled since 2020.

* Block Club | NASCAR Slashes Prices On Tickets To 2025 Chicago Street Race, Lets Kids In Free: NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Weekend returns July 5-6 for the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series along the same previous 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course. The racing company announced Thursday it dropped the price of its tickets for its third year in Grant Park in addition to expanding its free general admission tickets for kids 12 and under to both Saturday and Sunday.

* Crain’s | What’s up with Chicago snowfalls? WGN meteorologist Demetrius Ivory explains.: Meteorologically speaking, Chicago winters are changing. And who better than a meteorologist to explain what we’re experiencing. Crain’s spoke with Demetrius Ivory, chief meteorologist for WGN-TV/Channel 9, to talk about how weather patterns are affecting snowfall and temperatures in the Chicago area. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* NBC Chicago | Judge finds Dolton mayor in ‘indirect criminal contempt’ in liquor license case: Business owner Tiffany Kamara took legal action when she said she was not able to obtain liquor licenses from Henyard, who also serves as liquor commissioner. […] On Wednesday, Judge Horan gave Henyard until 5 p.m. Thursday to sign the licenses. The deadline was not met. After the documents were signed Friday in court, Judge Horan found Henyard in indirect criminal contempt, but Henyard was not taken into custody.

* Daily Southtown | Former Ford Heights Mayor Charles Griffin sentenced to 4 years for embezzlement conviction: Griffin, 69, was convicted in September of embezzling between $10,000 and $100,000 of public funds for personal use both during and after his first term as mayor of the small, impoverished village of Ford Heights. The federal indictment came after Griffin’s successor, Annie Coulter, who served from 2017 until Griffin was elected to a second term in 2021, found secret bank accounts tied to Griffin holding $147,000 in public funds. Prosecutors said Griffin used those accounts to pay for goods and services that benefited himself and those close to him, spending thousands at such places as Walmart, Home Depot, Menards, L.A. Fitness and various restaurants.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | Springfield-based hospital names new CEO, president: HSHS Central Illinois Market and HSHS St. John’s Hospital will have a new president and CEO come the spring. Dr. Leanne M. Yanni will take over the role at HSHS on March 17, 2025. Yanni will take over for Matthew Fry. Earlier in January, the SJ-R reported Fry will be leaving in early March to assume leadership duties at a Missouri-based health system.

* SJ-R | New task force looks to target gun violence in Springfield: The SPD is joining forces with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to form a Springfield Firearms Task Force that aims to more quickly and effectively identify and arrest people illegally purchasing, selling and using firearms. The task force has been working since this past fall and is made up of officers from the SPD, special agents from the ATF, and also Springfield police officers who have been sworn as federal task officers for the team’s purposes.

*** National ***

* AP | Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s famous name and controversial views collide in his bid for top health job: A Democratic group is running digital ads that accuse Kennedy of spreading misinformation in Samoa. The campaign is targeting senators in nine states, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah, which boasts a significant Samoan population. Another they’re targeting is Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Senate committee, which holds a hearing Thursday. Cassidy, who is also a doctor, stopped short of endorsing Kennedy after they met and is seen as swayable.

* Law Dork | Trans woman in prison sues over Trump’s anti-trans “sex” definition order: A transgender woman in federal prison sued the Trump administration on Sunday, arguing that President Donald Trump’s executive order defining “sex” is intentionally discriminatory, violates her constitutional and statutory rights, and puts her in danger. Trump, the lawsuit alleges, “has been transparent about his hostility toward transgender people and openly stated his intentions to create legal obstacles to eliminate legal protections for transgender people and to deter them from obtaining medical care or being able to live in a sex other than their birth sex.”

* NPR | This economist survived a wildfire. Now she’s taking on California’s insurance crisis: Around five years ago, Wallace recounted her incredible story in the Oakland Hills fire to her former PhD student Carles Vergara-Alert, who was back in Berkeley on a sabbatical as a visiting professor, and two other Berkeley economists, Richard Stanton and Paulo Issler. And it inspired them to study how the rising risk of wildfires was affecting housing markets. A pretty weird thing seemed to be happening to properties destroyed by fires. Nancy noticed it in her own community. After the fire, people got insurance money and rebuilt their homes. Their homes seemed to get bigger and nicer. And, like elsewhere in the Bay Area, their home values went on a rocket ship to the moon in the decades after the fire. It was like everyone had forgotten that it was still a risky area.

* Forbes | Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Linked To Lower Risk Of 42 Conditions: Scientists probing the health records of nearly 216,000 people with diabetes who took the GLP-1 receptor antagonists found they had a lower risk of 42 conditions than people on other forms of treatment. They also had a higher risk of 19 health problems. Some results, like reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and increased chance of nausea and vomiting, were expected. But others, like a lower risk of bacterial infection and an increased chance of joint pain, took researchers by surprise.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.