Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* CNN…

A federal judge in Boston indicated Thursday that she will intervene in a high-stakes fight over the Trump administration’s decision to not tap into billions of dollars in emergency funds to help cover food stamp benefits for tens of millions of Americans in November.

“Right now, Congress has put money in an emergency fund for an emergency, and it’s hard for me to understand how this isn’t an emergency when there’s no money and a lot of people are needing their SNAP benefits,” US District Judge Indira Talwani said near the end of a hearing, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the formal name for food stamps.

Though the judge’s options vary, one possibility is that she issues an emergency order that essentially compels the administration to tap into the emergency funds. While she indicated from the bench that she was likely to issue a ruling favorable to a group of Democratic attorneys general and governors who sued the administration earlier this week, she acknowledged that benefits, which should start being sent to recipients on November 1, will be delayed.

***************** Advertisement *****************

Illinois families can’t afford a new delivery tax.

Delivery services are a lifeline for millions of Illinois residents helping seniors, families, and those with limited mobility get the essentials they need, when they need them.

Delivery isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.

Learn how a delivery tax could affect your household and why we must STOP THIS TAX today.

*************************************************

*** Statewide ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | More Illinois students are proficient, new test scores show. But the cut scores changed.: State officials unveiled the new cut scores in August after gathering input from teachers, school leaders, and advocates. They then applied the new benchmarks to tests students took this past spring. But in releasing a trove of data known as the state report card, the Illinois State Board of Education did not provide data allowing the public to compare proficiency rates from previous years when the cut scores were different.

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois school report card continues to show wide achievement gaps: The 2025 report card shows more than half of all students (52.4%) scored proficient or better on English language arts exams, but only 38% met grade-level proficiency standards for math. Those numbers are based on standardized tests that students from third grade through high school took in the spring 2025 semester. They reflect a new scoring system the Illinois State Board of Education approved in August that established new benchmarks for proficiency.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Press release | Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown: The loans will be issued through participating banks and credit unions across Illinois with money made available through the Treasurer’s linked-deposit program. An estimated 153,000 federal employees live and work in Illinois. It is uncertain how many are not receiving their salaries since Oct. 1, when the shutdown began.

* Press Release | Peters measure to create state-run labor mediation program: Peters’ measure would create the Labor Mediation Services Pilot Program to be used in place of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service when the federal program is not available. The FMCS is a small, independent federal agency that provides mediation, training and facilitation to resolve labor-management disputes – disagreements between unions and employers. These efforts help avoid costly disruptions in production, services and supply chains, ensuring economic stability and growth.

* Crain’s | Pritzker signals transit bailout hasn’t gone off the rails — yet: “The transit bill is not dead,” the governor said this morning. “There’s a whole lot of conversation that’s still going on. The work continues.” Pritzker said he met with leaders of the House and Senate yesterday to talk about ways to shore up funding for mass transit, including rail and bus services operated by Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Aldermen balk at Johnson’s head tax but stop short of outright revolt: The letter signed by 27 aldermen sounds the alarm about the head tax as well as a plan to borrow to pay for operational efficiencies and calls on representatives from Ernst & Young to testify on the firm’s audit of city spending. […] “We are gravely concerned that reinstating the ‘head tax’ would discourage hiring, push employers outside city limits and make Chicago less competitive. We ask your administration to model alternative budget scenarios that exclude the jobs tax,” the letter says.

* Block Club | Judge Orders Release Of Cancer Patient’s Father Arrested By ICE, Citing No Criminal Record: During a bond hearing Thursday morning, Immigration Judge Eva S. Saltzman set a $2,000 bond for Torres Maldonado, saying she saw “nothing in the record” indicating he posed a danger to the community. Saltzman cited Torres Maldonado’s strong family and community ties, lack of criminal history and eligibility to apply for cancellation of removal based on hardship to his U.S. citizen family members.

* Sun-Times | Bovino’s Fox News interview leaves judge ’surprised’ at feds’ opposition to daily check-ins: “I did see Mr. Bovino’s interview on Fox News today, where he did state that he was excited to come to court and that this would not impede his activities or his ability to manage the operation at all,” Ellis said. “So I was a little surprised just to see that the government’s position … was directly contradicted by Mr. Bovino.”

* Chicago Reader | The gravediggers of Rosehill Cemetery: Reyes tells me he recently bought the grounds team new shovels, but Sanchez turned down the offer, opting instead for his old, all-steel shovel. He prefers it; it’s more precise. “It’s important,” Sanchez says, “because we’re trying to do it perfect and not make mistakes. We have to do right for the family.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Cook County tax bill delays cause headaches for homebuyers: The roughly 17,000 people in Cook County who’ve bought homes since July 1 may all be feeling the same minor headache, sparked by a months-long delay in property tax bills that could stretch into the new year. The buyers are waiting for reimbursements that, although typically small, usually come three weeks or less after the date the sale closes. Because Cook County officials have yet to announce when the latest tax bills — which were to be mailed July 1, with an Aug. 1 payment deadline — will finally be mailed, there’s no telling when the reimbursements will come.

* CBS Chicago | Scuffle between federal agents, adults spills into Warren Township High School in Gurnee, officials say: Woestman said that he believes the incident happened with an off-campus encounter between federal agents and adults who are not related to the school district. He said the adults then came onto WTHS’s O’Plaine campus, with federal agents following. The agents followed one of the adults through a door into an O’Plaine campus building. The door was open as it was being “used appropriately” by students and staff coming as part of a normal school day, Woestman said.

* ABC Chicago | Rich Township employee stranded in Jamaica without life-saving medication after Hurricane Melissa: Trinette Britt-Johnson is chief of staff to Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan. In 2024, Britt-Johnson was the recipient of a successful kidney transplant after being diagnosed with a rare kidney disease years earlier. Officials say Britt-Johnson’s trip to Jamaica a week ago for vacation was the first time she was allowed to really travel due to doctor’s orders. Britt-Johnson is currently stuck in Montego Bay after Hurricane Melissa hit, and is without critical medicine that supports kidney function

*** Downstate ***

* Illinois Times | “It doesn’t look like justice”: “Sean Grayson should be able to get out of jail when my daughter can get out of that burial vault,” Massey’s father, James Wilburn of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, said at a news conference after the verdict. The law would allow the presiding judge, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Ryan Cadagin, to release Grayson and only sentence him to probation, though one of the lawyers representing the Massey family, Antonio Romanucci, said that is unlikely.

* STL PR | Cost of marketplace health plans to soar in 2026, will hit some in southern Illinois especially hard: “Southern rural communities will see much higher increases,” said state Department of Insurance Director Ann Gillespie. “Some [consumers] are going to lose their coverage entirely,” she said. “But everybody is going to be hit by this.” According to data from the nonprofit health organization KFF, a 60-year-old couple making $85,000 annually in southern or western Illinois could see monthly premiums for a benchmark plan increase anywhere from 300% to 535%.

* WJBD | Two more candidates file for Marion County Board seats: Two candidates have filed to run in the Republican primary for Marion County Board seats. Harvey Evans V has filed to run in District One and Jack Riley is running for re-election in District Two. Candidate filing continues through four Monday afternoon at the Marion County Clerk’s office.

* WCIA | State Police squad car struck in ‘Scott’s Law’ accident on I-57 in Arcola: At around 5:50 a.m., a State Police trooper was parked across the northbound lanes of I-57 conducting traffic control for a different crash that involved a commercial motor vehicle, according to a news release from ISP. The trooper had turned on the squad car’s emergency lights and was directing traffic to exit at milepost 203 onto IL 133. The driver of a Chevrolet Trailblazer failed to move over and exit, and it struck the front passenger side of the trooper’s squad car. The trooper was outside of the squad car at the time of the crash, but no one was hurt.

*** National ***

* Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson | The burial of Black genius (A.K.A. D’Angelo lives!): Then came Voodoo. Then came everything. That album remade Black music. There’s a before and an after. Its tour was the greatest soul revue since prime Prince — we spent four years studying him; naturally, we wrote our love letter back. […] I have to say, the last weeks with him were probably the best for our friendship. Music was always the template for our communication. Now here we were in the hospital — no soundproof separation booths, no drums, no keys, no instruments, no musicians. Nothing but just the two of us talking.

* ProPublica | Details of DHS Agreement Reveal Risks of Trump Administration’s Use of Social Security Data for Voter Citizenship Checks: Instead, experts say, the sweeping data-sharing agreement authorizing DHS to merge Social Security data into SAVE could threaten Americans’ privacy and lead to errors that disenfranchise legitimate voters The details of the agreement, which haven’t previously been reported, show it contains alarmingly few guardrails to ensure accuracy and scant specifics on how the data will be kept secure, election and privacy lawyers who have reviewed it say. Further, it explicitly does not bar DHS from deploying the SSA data for other purposes, including immigration enforcement.

* NYT | Candy Companies Are Quietly Cutting Down on Cocoa to Save Money: Almost no one noticed when, sometime over the last few years, the packaging on Almond Joy, Mr. Goodbar and Rolo was updated to remove the words “milk chocolate.” The edits were easy to miss: The description on the front of the Mr. Goodbar wrapper changed from “milk chocolate with peanuts” to “chocolate candy with peanuts.” Almond Joy is now marketed as a “coconut and almond chocolate candy bar.” Rolos are now wrapped in “rich chocolate candy” instead of “milk chocolate.”

Comment

Keep ROFR And Anti-Competitive Language Out Of The Energy Bill

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Voters and the Governor already rejected lawmakers’ push for anti-competitive “Right of First Refusal” (ROFR) bills that handed transmission contracts to incumbent utilities.

Now, the same principles that would raise costs on ratepayers are back. They are trying to rebrand ROFR and pretend it’s about protecting Illinois.

As energy legislation is finalized in Springfield this month, let’s keep ROFR and anti-competitive language out of bill.

Let’s remember Illinois voters:

The message is clear: voters want more competition, not less.

Voters’ concerns about higher energy prices are only on the rise. Since this poll, they’ve endured a sizzling summer with skyrocketing prices, and a new report says the cost of heating a home this winter is expected to jump nearly 8%.

Voters have made their voice clear: Say no to energy inflation. Don’t hand more power and control to ComEd and Ameren. Say no to ending cost-cutting competition. And say yes to policies that provide lower cost to consumers.

Comments Off

Pritzker on Tier 2 pension bill: ‘whole lot more work that needs to be done’

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We Are One Illinois press release from yesterday…

Today, the Illinois House of Representatives Executive Committee voted to pass SB1937 as amended out of committee by a vote of 8 in favor to 4 opposed. The legislation reforms the state pension funding ramp to address Illinois’ long term pension funding problems and the IRS “safe harbor” concern while making modest improvements to pension benefits for Tier 2 public employees. Because the legislation taps expiring bond funding, along with generating savings via a modified funding schedule, it will not significantly impact the state’s budgetary situation and does not require additional revenue increases.

We Are One Illinois spokesperson Pat Devaney responded to the news of committee passage:

“For years, public sector unions, lawmakers, and watchdog groups have sounded the alarm about the long-term financial stability of our state’s pension systems. Today, state lawmakers took the first step toward addressing these concerns once and for all by passing SB1937 out of the House Executive Committee. This is a critically important bill to strengthen our state’s finances, address the ticking ‘safe harbor’ time bomb, and help ensure we can recruit and retain the public employees necessary to provide high quality services to Illinoisans statewide.

“This legislation is the result of years of study, discussion, and negotiation with state lawmakers, the governor’s office, and interested parties. It includes Gov. Pritzker’s pension funding reforms to save taxpayers millions and makes modest improvements to benefits for Tier 2 public employees like teachers, firefighters, and nurses, who provide the same vital services as their Tier 1 colleagues while receiving a diminished pension that does not provide an adequate retirement.

“SB1937 taps into a portion of expiring bond funding to ensure our promises to state employees are kept in a fiscally responsible, credit neutral manner that does not require new revenues or damage the state’s budgetary situation. The bill also addresses the so-called ‘safe harbor’ issue, which could be weaponized by Trump’s IRS at any moment.

“Our members have made their voices clear through more than 100,000 calls and emails in the past year: this issue must be addressed, and it is not going away. We will continue to meet with lawmakers and Gov. Prtizker’s office to address their questions as we seek their support. We applaud lawmakers for making important progress during the veto session, and we urge them to finish the job and pass this bill through the General Assembly during the 2026 Spring session.”

BACKGROUND:

SB1937 makes a number of improvements, including:

• Improving the Tier 2 final average salary calculation to the average of the highest 6 of an employee’s final 10 years on the job.
• Lowering the Tier 2 retirement age to age 62 if the employee has maxed out their pension, 65 with 20 years of service, or 67 with 10 years of service.
• Improving the Tier 2 cost of living adjustment to 3% simple interest per year.
• Adjusting the Tier 2 pension salary cap to match the Social Security Wage Base, addressing the so-called “Safe Harbor” problem.
• Reforming the pension funding ramp to reach 90% funding by 2045 and 100% funding by 2049.

Click here to read the COGFA financial analysis of the legislation (please note this analysis lists the bill number as HB2540, a prior vehicle for the legislation).

* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the bill today…

It’s still being worked on. There was a committee hearing it, and, no, there’s nothing that that’s going to be signed in this or passed in this legislative session.

[Is the current language good enough for you?]

Oh, I think there’s a whole lot more work that needs to be done. Remember, I’m not going to sign anything that’s credit negative for the state. We are making a lot of progress in the state. Many of you know, we just got our 10th credit upgrade. It’s more credit upgrades than any state has received anytime in the last 25 years, than we received in the last five years. We need to keep on with that progress, and so whatever it is that we end up doing needs to make sure that isn’t taking us back.

12 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Quick session updates

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Credit Unions Step Up During Government Shutdown

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

When the federal government shuts down, thousands of workers face missed paychecks and mounting stress. Illinois credit unions are stepping in to help. During the shutdown, credit unions across the state offer emergency relief to impacted federal employees - proving once again that they put people before profit.

From skip-a-payment programs and low-interest emergency loans to waived fees and financial counseling, credit unions provide a lifeline to those caught in the crossfire of political gridlock. These not-for-profit financial cooperatives are owned by their members, not shareholders, which means their focus is on service - not earnings.

The Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) coordinates these efforts statewide, ensuring that federal workers - from TSA agents to postal employees - have access to compassionate, practical support. This response reflects the credit union philosophy of “people helping people,” especially in times of crisis.

As policymakers debate financial regulations, remember that credit unions are more than lenders - they’re community partners. Their proactive support during the shutdown is a powerful example of how member-owned institutions can respond swiftly and humanely when their communities need them most.

Learn more at: https://www.icul.com/advocacy/2025-government-shutdown/

Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.

Comments Off

Noem to Pritzker: No

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times…

Gov. JB Pritzker is asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and top ICE officials to suspend immigration enforcement operations throughout Chicago for three days so children can safely celebrate Halloween.

The request, obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, comes four days after ICE agents fired tear gas in the Old Irving Park neighborhood as families and children walked to a Halloween parade. And it came a day after U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Border Patrol commander-in-chief Gregory Bovino on the stand that a “sense of safety was shattered” for children who witnessed the deployment.

“Illinois families deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear,” Pritzker wrote in the letter sent on Wednesday. “No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood.”

Pritzker said he is “respectfully requesting” the pause from Friday to Sunday in and around homes, schools, hospitals, parks, houses of worship and other community gatherings where Halloween celebrations are taking place.

* Response…

Q: Gov. Pritzker has asked for Operation Midway Blitz to be paused for the holiday weekend. Are you willing to do that?

NOEM: No, we're absolutely not willing to put on pause any work we will do to keep communities safe. The fact Gov. Pritzker is asking for that is shameful. pic.twitter.com/bQSIDN02r1

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 30, 2025

* Full transcript…

Question: Governor Pritzker has asked for Operation Midway Blitz to be on pause for the holiday weekend. Are you willing to do that? And if you’re not, why not?

Noem: No, we’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe.

The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and I think unfortunate that he doesn’t recognize how important the work is that we do to make sure we’re bringing criminals to justice and getting them off our streets, especially when we’re going to send all of our kiddos out on the streets and going to events and enjoying the holiday season. We want to make sure that they’re safe. And if you see even up here, we have individuals that we picked up off the streets with our ICE officers and CBP officers that have assault against a child, child pedophiles, rapes. Those individuals don’t deserve to be on our streets, and we’re certainly not going to let our kids be victimized by it.

27 Comments

US Supreme Court requests more information regarding Trump’s deployment of National Guard in Illinois

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Sun-Times…

President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops within Illinois will likely remain on hold through mid-November after the U.S. Supreme Court sought more information from lawyers Wednesday.

The request ended 12 days of silence from the justices. The Trump administration asked the high court on Oct. 17 to undo an order from U.S. District Judge April Perry that’s blocked the troop deployment since Oct. 9.

Perry’s order was originally temporary and set to expire after two weeks. However, Justice Department lawyers agreed last week to let it stand until a final judgment in her courtroom, and pending the Supreme Court’s review.

Litigation around National Guard deployment in Illinois, Oregon and California has centered on a federal law that allows the president to call into federal service members of any state’s National Guard if there is an invasion or rebellion — or if the president is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”

* SCOTUSblog…

Although the court had directed the challengers to respond in just three days, suggesting that it might act quickly, nine days passed before the justices issued an order in the case – but they did not rule on the government’s request. Instead, they ordered both the Trump administration and the challengers to file new briefs discussing whether, for purposes of the federal law on which Trump relied to call up the National Guard – which allows him to do so when (among other things) he cannot “with the regular forces … execute the laws of the United States” – “the term ‘regular forces’ refers to the regular forces of the United States military, and, if so, how that interpretation affects the operation” of the law.

The new briefs, the court said, should be no more than 15 pages long and should be filed by Nov. 10, with 10-page reply briefs to follow a week later – a much less expedited timeframe than the court had set for the original briefing.

* Reuters…

The administration has said that the words “regular forces” mean that the president can call up the National Guard if non-military federal agents who regularly enforce federal laws cannot properly do so.

In an October 10 written ruling, [Judge April Perry] said that historical sources indicate that “regular forces” means only members regularly enlisted in the military, including the Army and Navy, as opposed to the National Guard.

Perry wrote that “in order for the President to call forth the militia to execute the laws, the President must be incapable with the regular forces - that is, lacking the power and force with the military alone - to execute the law.”

Trump’s administration “made no attempt to rely on the regular forces before resorting to federalization of the National Guard,” Perry said, adding that there are other limits on the use of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.

* Related…

* The Guardian | Revealed: Pentagon orders states’ national guards to form ‘quick reaction forces’ for ‘crowd control’: The memo, signed on 8 October by Maj Gen Ronald Burkett, the director of operations for the Pentagon’s national guard bureau, sets thresholds for the size of the quick reaction force to be trained in each state, with most states required to train 500 national guard members, for a total of 23,500 troops nationwide. As authority, Burkett cited Donald Trump’s August executive order that deployed the guard to fight crime in Washington DC. The same order required the secretary of defense to create “a standing National Guard quick reaction force … available for rapid nationwide deployment” in “quelling civil disturbances”.

* Politico | Trump’s National Guard DC deployment extended into 2026: National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., will stay in place until at least February, a defense official said — but the extension is open-ended until the mission is considered complete. The orders to stay in Washington were likely to lapse in November, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the extension this week, said the official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the orders.

* The Hill | DOJ admits National Guard was briefly sent to Portland despite court order: “We’ll discuss later whether that’s contempt and in direct violation of my TRO, but we’re moving on,” the judge said. It was not clear how many soldiers were sent or what they were tasked to do. Lin said they “completed the shift.” U.S. Northern Command, which oversees the National Guard troops who have been federalized, declined to provide additional information or comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

* The Texas Tribune | Majority of Texans oppose National Guard deployment to cities out of state, poll finds: The survey, conducted by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, Austin between Oct. 10 and Oct. 20, found that 43% of Texans “strongly oppose” the move and 8% “somewhat oppose” it. Forty-one percent of Texans supported the move.

6 Comments

Clean And Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SB25) Is The Only Bill This Veto Session That Can Slash Skyrocketing Electric Rate Increases

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

This fall veto session, only one bill can reduce spiking electric rates – the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act.

If enacted, CRGA would direct the state to procure battery energy storage and finally implement the kind of long-range planning that will help stabilize the grid and lower costs for ratepayers. Government (Illinois Power Agency) and private sector (The Power Bureau) studies agree CRGA will save consumers on monthly bills and slash tens of billions in costs.

Want more proof? Look to Texas where consumers saved an estimated $750 million in 2024, sheltering them from demand-induced price spikes and preventing blackouts in the process. These are benefits Texas saw from storage even as the state reduced its gas generation capacity by 166 MW last year.

The solutions offered in CRGA are nimble enough to address growing data center power demands and meet other electrification-related power needs. It’s the only bill in Veto that can lower rates for consumers and ensure economic development efforts are set up for success. After all, if we lack power and capacity, we can’t add the jobs that come with new data centers and other large power users.

Without action, prices will continue to rise with no end in sight. It’s time for the General Assembly to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act.

Comments Off

Pritzker leaves door open for RTA sales tax hike

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Governor Pritzker was asked about the House transit bill during an unrelated press conference this morning…

Reporter: Governor, you met with Speaker Welch and President Harmon last night, was there any agreement to hold off on some of the revenues in the House transit bill?

Pritzker: It’s clear that both the Senate President and the Speaker and I want to come together around a bill that will work for the state of Illinois. Most importantly, for funding a world-class transit system. And so that’s what many discussions that took place yesterday were really all about. And there was progress there.

Reporter: Did you give them any guidance or leadership on what revenues you wouldn’t like not to be in the bill or to be in the bill?

Pritzker: Well, each of us had views that were brought to the table and put in the middle of the table and worked on together to make sure that there was an understanding about what could pass. That’s the important thing. In the end, you’ve got to get members of both chambers behind it. And to make sure that we can do it as expeditious of fashion as possible.

* On if the bill can get done during veto session…

Reporter: Governor, is the transit bill effectively dead now for the veto session in your mind?

Pritzker: The transit bill is not dead. I can tell you, there’s a whole lot of conversation and collaboration is still going on. And so the work is continuing.

Reporter: What about a special session? If it doesn’t happen now would that be called for that? And would you also include remapping?

Pritzker: We’re going to do what’s necessary to get a transit bill passed. We all understand how important to fund transit throughout the state of Illinois. And so we’re going to attempt to get it done ASAP.

* On what qualifies as a broad-base tax increase…

Reporter: In the spring, you said you wouldn’t support broad-base tax increases. Does that remain true to this day and include the transit bill?

Governor: When we talk about broad base, [there’s] pretty much three big broad-based taxes that exist in Illinois. That’s what I’m referring to when I talk about broad-base taxes. There’s individual income taxes, corporate income taxes and sales tax, right? That applies to the whole state. Those are the things that I think we should stay away from and indeed I’ve expressed that. And like I’ve said, everybody’s thrown on the table thinks it’s the best way to go about paying for a world class transit.

Reporter: So the RTA sales tax increase, is that off the table?

Pritzker: If you want to talk about that particularly, that is not a statewide broad-based tax. That isn’t something I talked about. I just spoke about three big buckets I said I’d like to avoid. There are lots of things that have been brought up, you’re asking about one in particular. There are really a lot of, a long list of ideas that have been put on the table and you’ve got to get some work. I realize that the Republicans don’t want to pay for anything and they would love to make everything world class but they think it doesn’t cost any money.

And so from my perspective no one likes to have to find revenue to pay for things, but it’s the only way you can actually get something done.

39 Comments

Big Pharma’s Greed Is On Full Display — And Illinois Patients Are Paying The Price

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

When pharmaceutical giants worth hundreds of billions of dollars go after hospitals that serve low-income families, it isn’t compassion driving them—it’s greed. These companies, earning over $112 billion in profits in just one year, are running a multimillion-dollar misinformation campaign in Illinois to block hospitals from accessing federal drug discounts, just so they can keep overcharging hospitals and patients.

The federal 340B program allows hospitals caring for large numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients to purchase outpatient drugs at a discount—savings they reinvest into patient care. As Congress enacts deep Medicaid cuts threatening healthcare for nearly 500,000 Illinoisans, Big Pharma is doubling down on deception.

Drugmakers are misleading lawmakers about Illinois’ 340B legislation. Let’s be clear: Illinois hospitals aren’t asking for anything new.

• HB 2371 SA 2 preserves the status quo requiring drug discounts that hospitals pass onto patients and use for essential new service lines.
• Multiple courts have upheld similar laws in 20 states.
• HB 2371 SA 2 expands transparency requirements so the public and lawmakers can see exactly how hospitals use 340B savings.

For Safety Net and Critical Access Hospitals, 340B savings are lifelines funding free and discounted prescriptions, mental-health and substance-use treatment, cancer care, maternity services, and clinics.

Reject Big Pharma’s lies and stand with Illinois hospitals, who deliver care, create jobs, and strengthen communities. Learn more.

Comments Off

Appeals court pauses order requiring CBP Chief Bovino to meet with judge daily

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Sun-Times…

The federal appeals court in Chicago put a temporary hold Wednesday on U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis’ requirement that the Border Patrol’s commander-at-large appear in her courtroom every weeknight until Nov. 5.

But the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also gave plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit a chance to respond by the end of business Thursday. So there’s still a chance Bovino could be spending more time in Ellis’ courtroom.

* Tribune…

Ellis’ unusual request came as allegations have mounted that agents under Bovino’s command are indiscriminately throwing tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods and using inappropriate force against residents and reporters during protests over Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement push.

During a remarkable hourlong session with Bovino on the witness stand Tuesday, Ellis also instructed the 30-year Border Patrol veteran to get his own body camera and send her every use-of-force report — and accompanying bodycam footage — filed since the operation began nearly two months ago.

While she stopped short of finding any specific violations had occurred, Ellis ordered Bovino to appear before her in open court at 5:45 p.m. each weekday to go over any uses of force from that day. The appearances would be required until at least Nov. 5, when Ellis is scheduled to hold a full hearing on a preliminary injunction.

* Capitol News Illinois…

[A]ttorneys from the Trump administration on Wednesday afternoon appealed the matter to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, calling Ellis’ order for Bovino’s appearances an “extraordinary and extraordinarily disruptive requirement.”

“The order significantly interferes with the quintessentially executive function of ensuring the Nation’s immigration laws are properly enforced by waylaying a senior executive official critical to that mission on a daily basis,” the motion said.

Though Ellis herself said on Tuesday that she didn’t want to “micromanage” Bovino, Department of Justice lawyers accused her of doing just that in their motion, writing that Ellis had “exceeded (her) judicial role by arrogating to (herself) the role of supervising and micromanaging the day-to-day operations of an Executive Branch law-enforcement agency.”

A couple hours later, the 7th Circuit granted the Trump administration’s motion for a stay on Ellis’ order requiring Bovino’s daily appearances. The end-of-day check-ins were scheduled to end on Nov. 4, the day before a hearing on whether to convert the judge’s temporary restraining restricting riot control weapons to a preliminary injunction.

* The AP…

“We are thrilled this act of judicial overreach has been paused,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Attorneys still met with Ellis in the evening to discuss logistics in the evidence-gathering phase of the case. They agreed to a 9 p.m. deadline to submit body camera recordings of federal agents using tear gas on people in the predominantly Mexican American neighborhood of Little Village last week.

* WTTW…

Bovino still remains scheduled to sit for an hourslong deposition on Thursday morning beginning at 10 a.m. in which he’ll face questioning about how his agents are enforcing the law in and around Chicago.

That under-oath questioning will be done behind closed doors, and it’s not yet clear whether a transcript of the deposition will be made public. Beyond Bovino, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials Russell Hott and Daniel Parra will also be deposed this week.

Those depositions come as part of a lawsuit brought by the Chicago Headline Club, Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, Block Club Chicago and other media organizations who’ve alleged immigration agents have engaged in a “pattern of extreme brutality” that’s part of a “concerted and ongoing effort to silence the press and civilians.”

15 Comments

Guard What’s Good: Oppose HB3799

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Comments Off

Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: House passes energy bill amid debate over costs to consumers. Capitol News Illinois…

* More veto session stories…

• WAND: Senate Democrats pass bill to automatically seal nonviolent felony records, send Clean Slate Act to House
• WAND: House Democrats present Chicago transit funding plan, but Pritzker opposes proposed taxes
• WAND: Senate Democrats pass bill to automatically seal nonviolent felony records, send Clean Slate Act to House
• Center Square: Tax proposals draw questions from Pritzker and GOP state rep

***************** Advertisement *****************

Sponsored by Ameren Illinois

The summer of 2025 has been a tough one for residents and businesses in the Ameren Illinois service territory. Supply constraints, extreme hot and humid conditions, and increased energy usage have led to a significant spike in electricity prices and higher-than-normal monthly bills for residential, commercial and industrial energy users. We appreciate and thank legislators, regulators and stakeholders who are working hard to address the energy challenge in Illinois. Energy policy is complex, and we’re encouraged that there are some creative ideas being proposed and a willingness to work together to find answers.

While Ameren Illinois cannot control the price or availability of energy, we can ensure that the system that delivers energy to homes and businesses — electric poles, wires, and technology; and natural gas distribution pipelines and storage fields — is equipped to operate at peak performance to withstand severe weather events, facilitate business expansions that grow local communities, and enable the transition to renewable generation.

We have an opportunity to build an energy system that is smarter, cleaner, reliable, resilient, and affordable for Illinois families and businesses. As discussions on short- and long-term legislative solutions occur this fall, we will continue to advocate for our 1.2 million customers.

If you know of someone who is struggling to pay their energy bill, please encourage them to visit www.AmerenIllinois.com/PathToSavings for information on available financial assistance and energy saving programs.

*************************************************

* Gov. JB Pritzker will hold a 9:30 am press conference highlighting the “worst of the worst” Trump administration actions affecting Illinoisans amid federal deployments. At 1:30 pm, he’ll announce the next round of Regional Site Readiness Program grants. Watch live here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Crain’s | As SNAP shutdown looms, Illinois will provide $20M for food: Illinois plans to provide $20 million to food banks across the state as federal supplemental nutrition assistance funds are set to end Oct. 31 because of the government shutdown. Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to sign an executive order tomorrow to mobilize state resources and work with food banks and food pantries, grocers, universities and other community organizations to help limit the impact of the end of SNAP benefits, which help low-income residents purchase food.

* Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker asks Noem to pause ICE enforcement for Halloween: ‘Please let children be children’: Gov. JB Pritzker is asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and top ICE officials to suspend immigration enforcement operations throughout Chicago for three days so children can safely celebrate Halloween. The request, obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, comes four days after ICE agents fired tear gas in the Old Irving Park neighborhood as families and children walked to a Halloween parade. And it came a day after U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Border Patrol commander-in-chief Gregory Bovino on the stand that a “sense of safety was shattered” for children who witnessed the deployment.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Teachers union pushes Illinois lawmakers for more school funding: Davis Gates said lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker should do more than hold press conferences denouncing President Donald Trump’s policies and she repeated the union’s push to “tax the rich.” “We’re going to spend a lot of time in Springfield creating the lesson plans, the pathways for elected officials to honor the working people, the public servants, and the educators of the state of Illinois,” Davis Gates told a crowd of union members outside the capitol building.

* Crain’s | Lollapalooza ‘at risk’ if state entertainment tax is approved, organizer says: “Events like Lollapalooza and Sueños fuel Illinois’ economy, creating jobs and boosting local businesses,” a spokesperson for the concert organizer said in a statement. “A new statewide event tax and higher amusement tax would drive up ticket prices, putting these events at risk and adding a nearly 20% total tax burden on fans in a city that already has the highest amusement tax in the nation.”

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson tries to beat state to taxing hemp with plan that adds age limit: Johnson argued that Chicago “did not get its fair share” of revenue when the state legalized the sale of marijuana in 2019. This time, the mayor, who has aired his frustrated belief that Gov. JB Pritzker has repeatedly boxed him out of securing new tax revenue, is trying to beat Springfield to the punch. “I don’t want what happened to the city of Chicago during the cannabis debate to happen around hemp,” Johnson said.

* Tribune | Illinois officials should investigate, charge federal immigration agents for state violations, group says: In letters sent this week to Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, all three of whom are Democrats, and Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling, the Free Speech for People campaign contends “federal agents have repeatedly committed criminal acts that are not immunized by federal law.” “We applaud you for establishing the Illinois Accountability Commission and empowering it to refer” violations to agencies empowered to investigate and enforce such laws, the group’s letter to Pritzker says about the governor’s creation of the new panel last week. “Although the executive order establishing the commission requires it to create an initial status report by Jan. 16, we encourage the commission to immediately refer serious incidents for further investigation by relevant law enforcement officers.”

* WCIA | Governor Pritzker signs new executive order to assist struggling farmers: Pritzker’s new executive order does two things. First, it orders the state to identify and promote domestic markets for Illinois Ag products. It also orders the Department of Agriculture to invest further into the Farm Family Resource Initiative that provides access to mental health resources for farmers. Neither effort will put money in farmer’s pockets right away but Pritzker hopes it is enough to hold them over until trade policy stabilizes.

* WCIA | Darren Bailey announces funeral arrangements for family members killed in Montana helicopter crash: A visitation will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora. A Celebration of Life for the Bailey family will start at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, also at Oil Belt. Private burial will take place in Oskaloosa Cemetery.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Trump taps big City Hall contractors for ICE operation Brandon Johnson opposes: Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33rd) is calling for a city review to determine whether Chicago taxpayer dollars should be going to firms working with the Department of Homeland Security and its on-the-ground agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. “We do have to take this seriously and make sure that we are not collaborating by hiring or benefiting companies that are acting against us,” says Rodriguez, who was born in Puerto Rico and represents one of the city’s most diverse wards.

* Tribune | Former aide admits helping Ald. Carrie Austin get home improvement perks from developers: Chester Wilson, 59, pleaded guilty only to one misdemeanor count involving the unrelated theft of “SNAP” state food subsidies, for which he faces up to a year behind bars. But in his plea agreement with prosecutors, Wilson, who served as Austin’s chief of staff admitted that for a three-year period beginning in 2016, he helped facilitate benefits from three people seeking to influence Austin in her official capacity.

* Crain’s | Bears offer $25M to benefit Chicago as team pushes bill for Arlington Heights move: Team officials and their lobbyists are circulating a letter among the Chicago delegation that was previously sent to Rep. Kam Buckner and Sen. Bill Cunningham. The letter commits $25 million to benefit the city and Chicago Park District if the Bears move to Arlington Heights. Buckner has been among the most vocal critics of the Bears’ potential move, introducing a bill this month that would require extensive public review of stadium deals and potentially force a team to repay subsidies if it relocates before the contract ends.

* Tribune | Grant Park Music Festival president Paul Winberg steps down: The Grant Park Music Festival announced Wednesday that its president, Paul Winberg, will step down in the spring of 2026. Winberg has served as president and CEO since 2011. The festival, which puts on Chicago’s free outdoor classical music series every summer at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, said in the announcement that its board of directors has begun a national search for his replacement.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Immigration enforcement officers arrest at least 7 people in Crete, Chicago Heights: ICE officers detained at least three people, including two customers and one employee, in the parking lot outside of Heights Fresh Market on Chicago Road at about 11 a.m. Monday, according to a store manager, who cited store footage. Yadira Banuelos, a store employee, said officers arrested her coworker as he arrived for his shift Monday. Another man who regularly sold Sabritsa chips outside the store was detained then released, according to a statement the market, posted on Facebook at 11:17 a.m. Tuesday.

* Daily Herald | Batavia moves toward ban on ICE using city property: And while some aldermen were passionate about the idea, some questioned whether the city could actually enforce a ban. Alderman Christopher Solfa also questioned the need for an ordinance, saying it would just be a symbolic gesture. He noted that Batavia already complies with the Illinois TRUST Act, which prohibits local police and governments from aiding immigration agents in civil cases, including use of city property.

* Daily Herald | ‘More challenging’: Naperville budget plan includes fewer new programs: During preparations for the upcoming fiscal year, city departments were told to hold the line on operating budgets because of budgetary pressure from increased personnel and health insurance costs. Officials expect to see an 18.5% spike in health insurance premiums. “To be clear, this was a more challenging budget year than we’ve seen in recent memory,” Finance Director Ray Munch said during the second of three city council budget workshops. Among the few new budget requests? An estimated $150,000 that would allow Naperville police to pilot a “Drone as a First Responder” program.

* Shaw Local | DeKalb County administrator issued rodeo permit to man who pleaded guilty to animal abuse: Records: “I permitted an event to an animal abuser. I did,” interim DeKalb County Administrator Derek Hiland said of an Aug. 2 rodeo in Kirkland. It’s the third time that Hiland signed off on a rodeo permit for Cristofer Perez, and the second time that footage of the event is being investigated by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

* Daily Southtown | Dolton board prematurely settled sexual assault lawsuit, attorney says: Attorney Eric White, who is representing the plaintiffs said Wednesday the village mischaracterized the status of the lawsuit that is still pending. The plaintiffs include a former village and Thornton Township employee who claims Holmes drugged and sexually assaulted her on a 2023 work trip to Las Vegas, The village declined to provide details of the settlement agreements after they were approved Oct. 6, saying they had not yet been finalized or signed. The lawsuit names Holmes, the village, Thornton Township, and former Dolton Mayor and Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard as defendants.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Massey family reacts to Sean Grayson verdict: After nearly a week of hearing testimony and 11 hours of deliberations across two days, the jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder and acquitted him of first-degree murder. Emotions were high as the Massey family spoke, saying that they are not happy with Grayson being convicted of only second-degree murder, not first-degree murder. The next steps they want include Grayson receiving the maximum sentence — 20 years in prison.

* WCIA | Watseka police officers on leave since July; State Police investigating: Multiple officers with the Watseka Police Department are being investigated by the Illinois State Police, officials confirmed with WCIA on Wednesday. Watseka Police Chief Eric Starkey was unable to confirm the identities of the officers under investigation, or how many are being investigated. But, Starkey was able to share that the officers under investigation have been on leave since July.

* Rockford Register Star | Rockford considering use of cannabis funds to close deficit despite pleas to keep promise: The city could rescind its policy restricting recreational cannabis sales tax funding to aiding communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana laws and instead tap the funds to help close a projected $3.7 million 2026 general fund deficit. Rockford has $2.6 million in marijuana sales taxes on hand. Combined with the estimated $850,000 it expects to generate next year, it could be spent to avoid a property tax increase or cuts in city services, city officials said.

* WGEM | Pike County Board debates cuts for fiscal year budget: County Chairman Rita Hoskin confirmed the total deficit was $1.8 million. When the floor opened for discussion, Vice-Chairman Tom Lewis questioned a $350,000 proposed cut to the ambulance department. “If you take $350,000 out of [the ambulance department] budget, [the department] will be broke if an incident that causes us to lose the other $250,000 we might have had saved,” Lewis said.

* WGLT | McLean County rebuts agreement default allegations from Bloomington and Normal: County administrator Cassy Taylor also rebutted the town’s allegations point by point in the letter dated Oct. 24, a few days ahead of the Oct. 27 deadline to respond to the notice. The dispute centers on the accumulation of more than $21 million in the County Mental Health and Public Safety Fund [MHPSF]. That money is supposed to fund new public safety information system technology, behavioral health services in the jail and community, and bond debt incurred to pay for renovation and expansion of the McLean County jail.

* WCIA | IL Extension gets $40k to improve, protect Coles Co. water months after Mattoon algae bloom: One part of the initiative, the Watershed Stewards program, will launch in Coles County in 2026. It’ll be led by Extension Program Coordinator Jenny Lee. Anyone can attend the program to learn how to protect local lakes, a spokesperson with Extension said in a release. In the second part of the initiative, participants will have the opportunity to install native plants under native trees. This will help slow stormwater runoff, benefit pollinators and keep excess nutrients from entering local waterways, according to Extension officials. They attributed the “soft landings” concept to Heather Holm and Leslie Pilgrim.

*** National ***

* NOTUS | USDA Quietly Deletes Its Contingency Plan for Funding SNAP: The U.S. Department of Agriculture had a plan to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program running during a government shutdown by using contingency funds — but the document laying out that plan has now disappeared from the agency’s website. “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown,” the plan that was removed, dated Sept. 30, stated.

* Semafor | British newspaper spoke to the wrong de Blasio, not an ‘imposter’: “I’m Bill DeBlasio. I’ve always been Bill DeBlasio,” DeBlasio said in an interview conducted Wednesday evening through his Ring doorbell in Huntington Station, Long Island, from his current location in Florida. “I never once said I was the mayor. He never addressed me as the mayor,” DeBlasio told Semafor Wednesday evening. “So I just gave him my opinion.”

* WaPo | We checked DHS’s videos of chaos and protests. Here’s what they leave out.: Some videos that purported to show the fiery chaos of Trump-targeted cities included footage from completely different states. One that claimed to show dramatic examples of past administrations’ failures instead featured border crossings and smuggling boats recorded during Trump’s first term.

9 Comments

Good morning!

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Kinks…

There’s a rat under my bed
And there’s a little green man in my head
And he said, “You’re not going crazy, you’re just a bit sad
‘Cause there’s a man in you, gnawing you, tearing you into two”

Holding up so far?

6 Comments

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

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Comment

Live coverage

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…

Comment