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Pritzker on taxes, budget, Trump and a third term

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Here’s what Gov. JB Pritzker said today when asked about tax hikes to balance the state’s budget in the face of a $3.2 billion projected deficit…

Pritzker: That’s certainly not the first thing on on my list is thinking about tax increases. I’m looking at how we can manage balancing the budget within our means.

Q: Does that mean cuts versus new revenues?

Pritzker: Doesn’t mean that. It means that we’re going to be prioritizing things within the budget. You know, I told you that one of the things we’ve done is lowered the interest burden on the state, so that some of that gets shifted to the priorities that we have for spending. And, you know, we’re just going to have to be very, very prudent, which, by the way, we have a history of doing so.

Q: [What do these budget issues mean for Chicago’s budget?]

Pritzker: Chicago is hugely important to the state, hugely important to the state’s economy. And so, as I have, every year I look at what the needs are for the city of Chicago, the people of Chicago, the businesses in the city and in the surrounding area. And I’m going to continue to prioritize making sure that we are growing our economy. I think that’s, I hope you’ve heard me say many times that I have spent a lot of time, effort, energy, reaching out to companies across the world. They in turn, by the way, many have reached out to us without any inbound call from us. They’ve outbound, called the state of Illinois, and come here to look at properties to consider where they might put themselves, whether it’s a manufacturer or service business, an office, headquarters. And I often meet them directly, personally, so that is something that I’m looking at always and and as you see, I’ve announced lots of things over the course of the last several years, and will continue to do this year.

Notice that he didn’t directly address Chicago’s city budget.

* More…

Q: What is it that you want to do this session? What is it proactively you’d like to do and deliver for the people of Illinois? And might that include anything that lowers their tax burden or drives prices down?

Pritzker: Always. You know, nobody pays much attention to the fact that every year that I’ve been, every year I show up with a reduction in the franchise tax, for example. Every year we’re trying to make progress with regard to helping small businesses across the state. We’ll do that again this year. When you talk about priorities, certainly, as you’ve seen for six budgets in a row. Now, one of my highest priorities is to put Illinois back on firm fiscal footing again, to remind you that getting nine credit upgrades, it’s not just about racking up a number, and isn’t that great? Nine credit upgrades as a result of that, we’re paying lower interest rates on the borrowing that states do regularly and Illinois does regularly, and in that, I’m talking about hundreds of millions of dollars of savings as a result of those credit upgrades. So when we talk about priorities, prioritizing the fiscal health of the state has been, you know, among the most important things that I’ve, I think, achieved and will continue to prioritize in this one, and I think that’s that’s an important thing for us to focus on birth equity. You know, we can talk about some of the things that we’ve already gone after that. Need to continue focusing on early childhood. Again, there are lots of priorities, and the budget itself is a good road map when we introduce it for the things that we think must be the highest priorities, including education.

He later clarified that he wasn’t able to reduce the franchise tax every year, saying “we can only do a certain amount each year in order to be able to afford it within the context of our budget.”

Please pardon any transcription errors.

* On Trump and the budget…

Q: The governor of California said that the Trump administration’s policies may actually erase, potentially, the state surplus. Illinois already is projected to have a $3 billion deficit. Do you think that deficit can get bigger because of the incoming administration’s policies?

Pritzker: Sure.

Q: Because of things like Medicaid?

Pritzker: Yes. I mean, I can articulate more, but yes, of course. I mean, we don’t know what they’re going to do and and, it’s so unpredictable that we need to consider that as we’re putting a budget together and debating it over the next four and a half months or so. So yes, this is possible that that will create another hole in the budget. I don’t, we don’t.

There’s not a specific thing that I can point to, though, because he hasn’t taken office yet. We haven’t heard, and I don’t think it’s just going to be a concern about what he says or does on day one. And so we’re all going to have to be on guard for what the impact of that would be on the state of Illinois.

But you know, we’ve done a lot. I just want to remind you that that we’ve had a challenge. You know, as governor, we’ve had a crisis virtually every year that I’ve been in office of some sort or another. When I first came in office, the budget was still in crisis, and we managed to balance it that year and balance it every year, even the year of 2020 when we saw revenues fall off a cliff, we cut $700 million from an existing budget to try to deal with it. Now, fortunately, the federal government came in and and helped us to replenish that but, but that’s not the only crisis. I mean the COVID crisis broadly. Then, of course, we had additional crises, like the governor of Texas deciding to send 50,000 migrants to the city of Chicago, not to most other places, although we a few other cities, but to the city of Chicago.

And so each time, you know, and I’ve lived through challenges every year, and each time we’ve overcome those challenges. And I think this year, of course, we know that we have a gap that we need to fill or that we need to manage in order to have a balanced budget, and I’m confident that we will do that. But it is true that there’s some unpredictable results that may come from Washington.

* Illinois has a trigger law that would decrease state Medicaid spending in case the federal government cuts the programs it’ll pay for. Is he preparing for that?…

We’re looking at all the challenges that might come from the administration and and also considering what we can afford to manage through in the event that the federal government, you know, removes itself from covering certain people. So, yeah, that is something we’re taking a look at. All I can say is that it is, look, everything about what we can pay for in the state is dependent upon our ability to balance the budget.

* Third term…

Pritzker: You want me to make some announcement here today? [laughter] Is that what you’re looking for? We’ll meet in private. I’ll let you know.

No, I you know, obviously I think you could start with, I think people have to collect petitions starting in August, I think. And so you can work your way back from that to determine what a last deadline would be for somebody making a decision about running for any office. And so I guess that would be the deadline. […] You all know, I think very highly of this job, and I have worked very hard in it, and I love the, you know, being able to effect change that’s lifting up working families across the state. So, you know, so that’s a good start. But I, you know, for a decision making, there are a lot of things that I consider in the process, and so, I can’t tell you exactly when I’ll announce something.

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Pritzker talks about ongoing issues with HDem caucus (Updated)

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Gov. Pritzker’s press conference today…

Q: Given everything that’s happened in the last couple of days, with the drama back and forth with the hemp legislation. You were pretty frank about your dissatisfaction with those situations, particularly with the Speaker’s office. Do you look at this inauguration today as a fresh start in your working with Democrats in the legislature, given all the big issues you have [to address] in the next five and a half months?

Pritzker: Every day is a new day to do the right thing. And today I had the pleasure of presiding over the Senate inauguration. … I’m somebody who’s open, willing to work with people of all political stripes and different views. I obviously feel very strongly that we need to protect and be good to our staffs. And so that was something I talked about yesterday. I think that these folks are professionals who choose to work in government and they could choose lots of other professions and careers. And so I think we owe them the respect that is due to people who are making some sacrifices and working very long hours, often to try to effectively good public policy.

Q: [Considering what happened with the House Democrats, will that effect your relationship with them going forward?]

Pritzker: Well, I’ve suggested that certain members should offer apologies to the staff, and I understand that a little of that has happened. And so no, I think that people, look, people can make mistakes, and certainly mistakes were made and behavior was improper during that caucus. But people can make amends.

Pritzker said he hasn’t talked with the House Speaker in the past 24 hours.

…Adding… Senate President Don Harmon weighed in on this during his inaugural address…

When two people, equally passionate about a topic, find themselves adamantly opposed to one another, tempers can flare.

Don’t let them.

Don’t let your words in a heated moment diminish the valuable work you’ve come here to do.

Because at the end of the day, we are all here because we love this state, the people who call it home, and want the best for all of them.

We can’t do this job on our own.

We need all of our neighbors.

So, don’t forget a “please” and “thank you” for the people who keep this building running: our excellent staff.

They, like everyone else, deserve kindness and respect.

They deserve to be treated like the professionals they are.

16 Comments

Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan on Wednesday finally explained why he doesn’t use a cellphone or email. […]

‘“Well, when cellphones came along, I was already speaker, and I had these offices [law firm, state representative and Illinois State Capitol speaker’s offices] … and I didn’t see that I had a need for a cellphone,” Madigan said. “In addition, I was a hard worker, and I worked seven days a week, and I was in the office before 8 o’clock and wouldn’t leave until 6 o’clock. And at that point, I wanted to end my day.”

Madigan said he “didn’t want to be sitting with a cellphone taking calls during the meal [dinner] or at other times when I just wasn’t on the job.”

His explanation for avoiding email was similar: “I never had an email address. When computers came along … I was already the speaker and I had those offices. I had the law office. I had people in all of them who could take transmissions through computer and give the documents to me.”

* Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office rejected more than 300 vanity and personalized license plates in 2024…

* President Jennifer Welch is stepping down from her role at Planned Parenthood of Illinois…

Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) today announced its President and CEO Jennifer Welch will step down from her role after over 7 years of dedicated service.

PPIL Chief Financial Officer Tonya Tucker will serve as interim CEO to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations as the organization initiates a national search for a new CEO.

Among Welch’s key roles during her tenure, she led the organization during the first Trump Administration, steered PPIL through the Covid-19 pandemic and actively prepared PPIL for the overturning of Roe v. Wade to welcome patients from all over the country

Welch will also transition from the role as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, the 501(c)(4) political advocacy arm of PPIL. Welch led PPIA’s successful advocacy to pass state legislation to codify protections for patients and providers in Illinois to maintain access to reproductive healthcare in light of the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision.

“On behalf of the board, we thank Jennifer for her years of service and steadfast dedication to Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ mission during such a fractious, difficult time for our organization and our affiliates,” PPIL Board Chair Arielle Rodriguez Maffei said. “We are committed to an efficient but thorough search process to ensure we identify the most capable candidate to take on the leadership role at this time of great adversity. In the interim, I know Tonya, with her financial acumen and extensive organizational management skills, is well suited to take on this role and ensure that we remain keenly focused on continuing to deliver the best of care for our patients.”

Maffei added: “I am deeply grateful for our talented, dedicated professionals committed to our critical mission to protect reproductive rights. As we look ahead, I know the next chapter for the organization will continue to be extremely challenging And I know Tonya will provide a steady hand and strong financial stewardship to transition our team amid such a dynamic period. Most importantly, I know our patients will continue to receive the same first-rate care they’ve come to expect from our caregivers.”

“I am honored to take on this leadership role and work with our dedicated staff and Board of Directors to maintain stability and prepare for a seamless transition to permanent leadership,” said Tucker. “As we navigate a challenging operational environment marked by increased demand for services and evolving financial pressures, my priority is to ensure that PPIL remains a strong, resilient organization that continues to deliver high-quality essential care to our patients.”

To conduct its search, PPIL’s Board of Directors has enlisted Koya Partners, a renowned search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership, to partner with its CEO search committee. Interested candidates should direct their inquiries to the Koya team at PPIL_CEO@koyapartners.com.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WCIA | Legislators inaugurated for 104th Illinois General Assembly: Senators gathered in their newly reopened chamber in the Capitol after being closed for renovations for years. The new and returning members of the Illinois House of Representatives have convened on UIS’s campus. The four leaders of each caucus have remained the same.

* Capitol City Now | IL Senate passes warehouse work rules bill: A labor-related bill is a step away from the governor’s action. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), covers warehouse workers by requiring their employers to notify them of the daily production quote and also provide adequate break and meal times.

*** Statewide ***

* NPR | Lunch and Learn Series explains how Illinois rejected slavery but wasn’t free for all: The UIS Alumni SAGE Society and the Illinois State Historical Society recently hosted a presentation titled “Illinois Rejects Slavery,” featuring Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Dr. Caroline Kisiel. The presentation discussed the summer of 1824 in Illinois when the Illinois General Assembly was on the brink of changing the state constitution to permit slavery outright. Dr. Kisiel explained the sentiments at the time from both abolitionists and enslavers. She also shared how despite Illinois being a free state, slavery found its way within the state’s borders.

*** Chicago ***

* Illinois Answers Project | Chicago is Debating Lowering its Speed Limit. Other Cities Aren’t Waiting: In Chicago, though, council members are debating the safety benefits of lowering the speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour versus the economic impacts on drivers. The measure passed out of committee in October but has been held from a vote from the full City Council while proponents whip support. Some cities have rolled out their lower limits gradually, others all at once. Some tied their policies with other tools to slow traffic, like speed cameras or curb extensions. Others simply changed the signs and watched what happened.

* ABC Chicago | CPS Inspector General investigated 300 cases, including sports fraud, annual report says: The CPS watchdog investigated more than 300 complaints beginning July 1 2023, ending June 30 2024. They involved sports fraud, sexual misconduct cases and improper conduct from former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s campaign. Highlights of the CPS Inspector General’s annual report include ongoing fraud involving high school sports.

* CBS Chicago | CTA trains require a lot of power, but only 11% is currently from renewable sources: And while the average CTA commuter may not think about it, all that power has to come from somewhere. And it turns out more of the electricity that powers the trains is generated by fossil fuels that warm the climate than by renewable sources like wind or solar power. Primarily, the CTA’s power comes from nuclear power plants—a total of 67%. Another 22% comes from fossil fuels, while only 11% comes from renewable sources.

* Tribune | How big could the Chicago Bears candidate list become? Brad Biggs’ 6 thoughts on the end-of-season news conferences: “We’ve been in information-gathering mode,” Ryan Poles said, “looking at data research, making countless calls to make sure that we have everything we need to make a sound decision. We’re looking for clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management — and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Will County judge rejects effort to restore Homer Glen candidates to April ballot: Attorney Alan Bruggeman filed a petition for judicial review with the Will County Circuit Court on behalf of potential candidates Cesar Marin, Ethan Fialko, Jennifer Trzos-Consolino, John Walters, Theresa “Tammy” Hayes, James Roti, Heidi “Hadley” Pacella and Daniel Gutierrez. The Homer Glen Electoral Board in November and December removed each of the candidates from the ballot after a series of hearings. Because 17 candidates initially filed to run for three trustee spots, there would have been a primary in February before the April 1 election.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville D203 board member censured for ‘detrimental’ actions, including disclosing student and closed session information: Naperville District 203 School Board member Melissa Kelley Black was censured by the School Board Tuesday for “unprofessional” and damaging actions, including disclosing private student information, spreading false information and releasing collective bargaining details. “Member Kelley Black has repeatedly acted in such a way that is detrimental to District 203, its students and its staff, specifically as it relates to the unification of the board leadership and ultimately to student achievement,” the board’s 10-page censure resolution said.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | The Rochester schools superintendent is on leave. Letter critical of district may provide details: A memo Monday to Rochester school district parents from the board of education president and acting superintendent about Superintendent Dan W. Cox being placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation is being conducted offered scant details. But a letter to the editor in the Rochester Times last fall from the district’s former director of business services and treasurer raised issues about questionable business trips, budget overspending to the tune of $500,000 and other issues. Robert McDermott spent 22 years in the district before retiring on June 30, 2023, after butting heads with Cox.

* WCIA | Champaign activates sidewalk snow removal ordinance: The City of Champaign is asking residents to remove the snow and ice from their sidewalks before noon on Thursday. The Public Works Director said that the sidewalk snow and ice removal requirement in the Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown areas is now in effect.

*** National ***

* Chicago Mag | John H. White: The Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist, 79, on covering Ali and having a gun pointed at him: My father was a minister who said, “Love those who do evil against you.” But it was hard for me. I’m a visual person, and I’d retain everything I’d see. I remember one time when I was growing up in North Carolina, Daddy said, “Everybody be still and be quiet. Get in that room and don’t look out.” I looked out. The Klan were all in robes. They had burned a cross in our yard and put our car in neutral and made it roll down the road. I saw that.

* The Atlantic | Why Poor American Kids Are So Likely to Become Poor Adults: In a new study published in Nature Human Behaviour, my co-authors (Gøsta Esping-Andersen, Rafael Pintro-Schmitt, and Peter Fallesen) and I quantify the persistence of poverty from childhood to adulthood in the U.S. We find that child poverty in the U.S. is more than four times as likely to lead to adult poverty than in Denmark and Germany, and more than twice as likely than in the United Kingdom and Australia. These findings hold across multiple measures of poverty.

6 Comments

A programming note

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I put Speaker Chris Welch’s acceptance speech into the daily press release post. We’re also adding press releases from members who were sworn in today. Click here to follow along.

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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Wednesday, Jan 8, 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 Ade, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Handful of Republican House members call inauguration ‘political theater,’ stage counter-programming stunt (Updated x2)

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Looks like they couldn’t even get the entire Freedom Caucus to join in on this stunt…

Springfield, IL - Instead of participating in the political theater at the University of Illinois, Springfield, State Representatives Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich), Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) and other like-minded Republicans will be sworn in at the Illinois State Capitol.

Judge Mike McHaney will be issuing the oath of office to them at 12:15 pm at the Illinois State Capitol. The decision to take the oath of office at the Illinois State Capitol is to highlight the fact that many of the problems in Illinois begin with the bad policies coming from Springfield and conversely the need for better policies begins at the State Capitol.

WHO: State Reps. Adam Niemerg, Blaine Wilhour, Chris Miller, and Brad Halbrook

WHAT: House swearing in ceremony

WHERE: 3rd Floor of the Illinois Capitol in front of the Grand Staircase painting

WHEN: 12:15 pm, January 8, 2025

The press and media are invited to attend.

* Flashback on Judge McHaney…

“The State will appeal immediately,” @GovPritzker’s Chief of staff says.

Judge Michael McHaney clearly wanted an audience. He asked, “How about the states who never shut down in the first place?” And said this EO robbed him of his constitutional right to fish on a lake. https://t.co/WojHgqSZeW

— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) April 27, 2020

…Adding… Upon further consideration, I’m wondering if this publicity attempt is more about getting out of voting for Tony McCombie in the House Speaker’s election.

…Adding… Speaker Welch’s speech had a message for the folks above…

Everyone who is ready to do the work and meet the challenges of this moment will have a partner in me—always.

But know this: We were sent here to foster compassion, not division.

We’re expected to make the path to a bright future wider, not narrower.

And our mission is to build something better, not tear it all down.

So cruel and regressive policies that dehumanize our neighbors or strip away fundamental freedoms will have no home in Illinois.

Those whose goal is simply performative outrage and provocation will find that this House will not waste the people’s time on their games.

And those who wrongly believe their job here is simply to say ‘no’ will find that decisions are made by those with the sincere desire and the moral clarity to get to ‘yes.’

Because that’s what this moment, unlike any other, demands of us.

41 Comments

CUB urges rejection of Nicor’s $309 million rate hike request

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Tribune…

As President-elect Donald Trump extolled the virtues of natural gas during a post-certification speech Tuesday, details emerged about a proposed $309 million Nicor Gas rate increase that seeks to raise delivery charges for Chicago-area customers by more than 20% next year.

Filed Friday with the Illinois Commerce Commission, it is the fifth rate hike requested by Nicor since 2018. Regulators have 11 months to review the new proposal, which, if approved, would be the largest gas rate increase in Illinois history.

In a statement Tuesday, Nicor said the proposed record rate increase is needed to replace aging infrastructure and update technology to serve its 2.3 million customers in suburban Chicago and across northern Illinois.

“Many Americans are facing challenging times, and no one wants to see rising energy bills,” Jennifer Golz, a spokesperson for Naperville-based Nicor, said in the statement. “We want our customers to understand their bills and why the company is requesting to adjust rates that would allow Nicor Gas to meet those energy demands, especially during extreme weather.”

* Sun-Times…

Nicor gas customers could see their monthly natural gas bills rise by about $7.50 next year if state regulators approve rate hikes totaling $309 million as the utility company requested last week.

Nicor, which delivers gas to more than 2 million people in the suburbs and the rest of northern Illinois, filed the request with the Illinois Commerce Commission on Friday. If approved, the hike would be a state record, consumer advocates say.

Nicor is asking for permission to raise rates, including the monthly customer charge from $19.48 to $23.41, in order to fund projects to replace aging infrastructure and help maintain a secure energy supply through the completion of those projects.

“The company has carefully identified projects that will ensure uninterrupted natural gas service, such as the Dubuque Line Main Replacement Project, which replaces sections of steel pipeline installed in 1959, and replacement of an aging compressor at the Lake Bloomington storage facility, which will ensure 24/7 on-demand energy is available to our customers on the coldest days of the year,” the utility said in a statement.

* Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz…

Nicor Gas’ campaign for a state-record rate hike of about $308.6 million–which is closer to $325 million when including taxes–is unjustified, and CUB will fight it. Illinois’ largest gas utility has now asked for five brutal rate hikes in less than a decade, causing hardship for customers by increasing gas delivery charges by a staggering $724 million since 2018 and helping the utility’s parent company roll in outrageous profits. Heat is a human necessity, not a profit tool–but Nicor’s push for a ridiculous 10.35 percent Return on Equity (ROE), or profit rate for shareholders, exposes this rate-hike request for what it is: A money-grab meant to benefit shareholders to the detriment of customers who just want to keep their homes warm in an Illinois winter. CUB will challenge this unfair rate hike– we urge state regulators to slash Nicor’s reckless spending and hold the company accountable. Gas is unsustainably expensive and it threatens our health and climate. State officials must begin to plan for the long-term transition away from gas to heating alternatives that are cheaper, safer and more reliable.

Thoughts?

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Roundup: Madigan takes the witness stand

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Courthouse News Service…

Ex-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan took the stand in his own federal corruption trial on Tuesday. The surprise move came in the middle of Madigan’s defense case, and upturned estimates of when jurors might begin deliberations.

Several family members attended Madigan’s testimony, including his daughter, Lisa Madigan, who once served as Illinois’ attorney general. Before he took the stand, the family gathered for a meal in the federal courthouse cafeteria.

It can be risky for criminal defendants to testify in their own defense, as, among other concerns, it opens them up to cross-examination under oath. Madigan nevertheless told the court he understood his right to testify and his duty to testify honestly. He took the stand despite the risks involved with waiving one’s Fifth Amendment rights. […]

Before placing Madigan under oath, the [U.S. District Judge Robert Blakey] told attorneys he was “pushing the pause button on the bench trial,” referring to those potential forfeiture proceedings.

* Captiol News Illinois…

Did you ever trade your public office for private gain?” Madigan attorney Dan Collins asked his client almost immediately after beginning his line of questioning early Tuesday afternoon.

“No,” Madigan said, turning to the jury as he gave his answer.

“Did you ever demand a thing of value in exchange for a promise to take official action?”

“No,” Madigan replied again before giving the same answer when asked if he’d ever accepted a “thing of value” in exchange for such a promise.

* Tribune…

Former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez testified earlier in the trial that the hiring was done so that Madigan would look favorably upon ComEd’s legislation.

But Madigan testified there had been no such deal. He said he merely agreed to help friends find work and passed their information along to McClain, and expressed anger that some of them, including Olivo and Nice, had apparently not lifted a finger.

“Frank knew I worked all the time and I expected people associated with me to work all the time,” Madigan said of Olivo. “He should have worked. He should have done his job.”

As for Nice: “My reaction, again, is anger,” Madigan said.

* Sun-Times…

Mike Madigan grew up with an alcoholic father, never heard the words “I love you” from either parent and later helped shield his adopted daughter Lisa Madigan from a biological father he said reduced her to tears.

For more than three hours on Tuesday, jurors in the former Illinois House speaker’s federal bribery trial heard intensely personal revelations from a tight-lipped 82-year-old man who had previously kept those sorts of details private for decades.

“In that house, why, the word ‘nurturing’ did not exist,” Madigan said in describing his childhood Southwest Side household as cold and dominated by his father.

“My parents never told me that they loved me,” Madigan offered. “They never embraced, never hugged. That was just the condition that existed at the time.”

* Related…

* Fox Chicago | Ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan takes stand in his own corruption trial: Such a move by a defendant to take the stand is rare in criminal trials and comes with risks. “It’s really a high-risk, high-reward situation,” said Ron Safer, partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP.

41 Comments

Open thread

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* It’s only Wednesday! How are things in your part of Illinois?…

20 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Hemp regulation bill stalls amid Democratic infighting. Capitol News Illinois…

* Related stories…

∙ WTTW: Pritzker, Johnson Clash Over Hemp Regulation as Bill Stalls in Springfield
∙ Crain’s: Johnson defends Springfield relationships, handling of CPS
∙ Tribune: Feud over hemp bill dominates final days of Illinois legislative session

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Citizens Utility Board vows to fight Nicor’s $309 million rate hike request: The Citizens Utility Board calls the proposal a “money-grab.” If approved, the hike would be a state record, consumer advocates say. A typical monthly bill would rise by about $7.50. Nicor serves more than 2 million customers in northern Illinois and the suburbs.

* Journal Gazette | Pritzker: Illinois ‘fighting like heck’ to support Rivian, Stellantis amid EV uncertainty: “I feel like Rivian is very much on its feet and doing well,” said Pritzker, who visited the Normal plant in May to announce $827 million in tax incentives to support the company’s expansion. “And I don’t want the federal government to interfere with the success of any business in Illinois.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Sun-Times | State lawmakers send Karina’s Bill to Gov. Pritzker’s desk to address domestic violence: Karina’s Bill passed the Illinois House by a vote of 80-33 in the waning hours of the General Assembly’s lame duck session, advancing the measure that would require police to confiscate guns within 96 hours of a judge’s order from people whose FOID cards have been revoked due to emergency restraining orders. “Our hope is that this important change will give strength to survivors everywhere and help ensure no family ever has to experience this type of tragedy again,” Manny Alvarez, Gonzalez’s son, said in a statement after being invited to the House floor by state Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, D-Chicago, to urge an “aye” vote.

* Sun-Times | Lawmakers pass nursing home retaliation bill as lame-duck session wraps up in Springfield: Illinois lawmakers passed a measure making it easier for nursing home residents to sue facility owners over claims of retaliation, following more than a year of legislative efforts that advocates had claimed were stalled by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon at the behest of the nursing home industry. A compromise bill cleared the Illinois House 89-16 late Monday, following a 48-2 Senate vote on Sunday, paving the way for more civil suits against nursing homes accused of punishing residents or employees for reporting complaints about facilities — an issue that advocates say is widespread.

* WAND | Plan improving Illinois drinking water quality heads to Pritzker’s desk: The Illinois House unanimously voted Monday night to require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to conduct statewide samplings of certain community water supplies to assess the levels of dangerous chemicals. Sponsors and advocates said the state should test and create action plans to address these harmful contaminants in drinking water.

* WIFR | Bill that returns Shabbona Lake land to Potawatomi Nation heads to Illinois governor’s desk: Senate Bill 867, which was passed by senators last May, essentially honors an agreement made in 1829 between the federal government and the Potawatomi Nation. The land, which includes Shabbona Lake and State Park, was gifted to the tribe but illegally sold years later. The state of Illinois purchased the land in the 1970s.

*** Chicago ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | The mayor’s on ‘union leave’ from CPS despite leaving CTU. Does that undermine contract talks?: Mayor Brandon Johnson taught for four years at Chicago Public Schools before going on leave in 2011 to work for the Chicago Teachers Union and ultimately launch a career in politics. But even though he no longer works for the union, Johnson remains on “union leave” from the school district. That means, after all these years, he could return to the classroom — and earn a six-figure salary as if he never left.

* Block Club | Chicago ‘Should Explore’ Congestion Tax To Reduce Traffic, Mayor Says: During a brief interview with Block Club on Tuesday afternoon, Johnson also defended his handling of the protracted and often bitter 2025 budget process while looking ahead to what he hopes to accomplish this year — if he can find the necessary backing from an increasingly defiant City Council.

* Block Club | ‘Stomach Flu’ Hitting Chicago Harder Than Usual As Norovirus Cases Surge Nationally: Rates of norovirus infection – often referred to as the stomach flu – have been noticeably higher this winter than in previous years, said Dr. Alfredo Mena Lora, Saint Anthony Hospital’s director of infectious disease. The virus has surged across the United States, with 91 individual outbreaks recorded in the first week of December, the highest spike in cases since at least 2012, according to the CDC.

* Rick Morrissey | Raise your hand if you’re bone-tired of the Chicago Bears: Bears general manager Ryan Poles stood at a lectern Tuesday at Halas Hall and did what too many other team officials have done the past four decades: He tried to explain where a season went awry and how the Bears were going to get it right this time. I’m exhausted by my belief that they won’t, that they’ll pick the wrong coach and that we’ll be doing this all over again in two or three years.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Bald eagle’s death from bird flu in Chicago suburb part of spike in cases in Illinois: The increase in cases in the state comes as a Louisiana man with underlying health conditions died from the disease on Monday. Experts stress the disease should not be of huge concern to the general public, but say those who come into contact with wild birds or other animals like cattle should take precautions.

* Daily Herald | Ahoy, suburbs: Chicago Boat Show sails into Rosemont after 93 years in city: The Midwest recreational boating industry’s largest and longest-running annual boating event opens Wednesday afternoon for a five-day tour of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont — regarded by organizers as geographically closer to boat dealers and their core customers who live in the suburbs.

* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect resident critical over handling of attack by teenagers on men using an LGBTQ dating app: A Mount Prospect resident called the village’s delay in sharing information about an attack by mobs of teens on two men over the summer a betrayal of the community. […] “The gay community was not protected,” said resident Carole Martz, who delivered her remarks at Tuesday’s village board meeting.

* Crain’s | Developer plans 31-story tower in downtown Evanston: A 31-story apartment tower proposed in downtown Evanston would be the suburb’s tallest building and a pivot from a previous plan to build offices. Chicago-based Vermilion Development has submitted a zoning analysis application for a 447-unit, 330-foot-tall building at 605 Davis St., with ground-floor retail space, according to a report from the city manager.

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Sangamon County Lifts Winter Weather Emergency: This declaration applies only to county highways. Road crews made significant progress clearing the roads this morning. Drivers should still proceed with caution, maintain reduced speeds, and give plows and first responders the space they need to continue their work safely.

* WICS | Chuck Redpath nominated and confirmed as new Springfield City Clerk: Tonight’s Springfield City Council special meeting ran for two hours and ended with the confirmation of Chuck Redpath as the new city clerk. Redpath’s nomination comes just six days after the former city clerk, Frank Lesko, resigned after winning the Sangamon County Recorder’s office.

* WCIA | Decatur eyes potential new casino, horse race track; Springfield officials to decide next steps: Right now, details are limited and a lot of plans have to do with decisions being made in the capitol. Tim Gleason, Decatur’s City Manager, said he’s familiar with plans for a “racino.” “The City awaits to discuss potential next steps after necessary action is taken in Springfield,” he added.

* WCIA | Is Bird Flu headed to Central Illinois?: Douglas Kasper, an infectious disease doctor at OSF said people shouldn’t be too worried. […] “There’s testing, there’s monitoring, there’s isolation, there’s a variety of things that’s recommended for the animal populations. And anyone that’s working with those populations is getting special instructions,” Kasper said.

* WCIA | UIS to start another Cannabis education class: “They were needing to stand up a workforce, but there was very little in the way of credentials to for someone to be able to pursue legitimate credentials and put that on their resume and say, hey, look, I’ve had this this kind of training. I’m ready to be a successful employee,” Dr. Robert Kerr with the University of Illinois said.

* Rockford Register Star | Back-to-back bowl wins and a win over CFP semifinalist Notre Dame puts NIU in spotlight: For years, NIU hung its hat on beating Alabama in 2003. No one seems to remember that win having more to do with the Crimson Tide being ordinary—4-9 that year, 2-6 in the SEC—than about the Huskies being extraordinary. Yes, NIU won all three of its games against the SEC, Big 12, and ACC, but only Maryland (10-3) lived up to its pedigree, with Iowa State (2-10) collapsing even worse than Alabama. That pales in comparison to this year. A 16-14 win at No. 5 Notre Dame in the second week of the season was truly history-making. Not just for NIU. For its entire conference. The Mid-American Conference had been 0-51 lifetime against top-five teams before NIU rolled into South Bend.

*** National ***

* 404 Media | Researcher Turns Insecure License Plate Cameras Into Open Source Surveillance Tool: Will Freeman, the creator of DeFlock, an open-source map of ALPRs in the United States, said that people in the DeFlock community have found many ALPRs that are streaming to the open internet. Freeman built a proof of concept script that takes data from unencrypted Motorola ALPR streams, decodes that data, and adds timestamped information about specific car movements into a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet he sent me shows a car’s make, model, color, and license plate number associated with the specific time that they drove past an unencrypted ALPR near Chicago. So far, roughly 170 unencrypted ALPR streams have been found.

* The Atlantic | The Truth About NIMBYs: On today’s episode of Good on Paper, I talk with the political scientist David Broockman about the limits of using self-interest as a lens for understanding people’s opposition to new development. His research, with the scholars Chris Elmendorf and Josh Kalla, points to symbolic-politics theory, a framework that de-emphasizes personal impacts and financial self-interest and instead looks at how people feel about symbols such as cities, developers, and affordable housing.

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Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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