Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes the creation of a United States Space Force special license plate. Provides that the design, color, and format of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State
* The Question: Your design suggestions for the proposed United States Space Force special license plate?
* As is often the case, the Sangamon County GOP didn’t go along with the program. Instead of appointing someone favored by the Senate Republicans who would use the time in office to set up a run against Democratic Sen. Doris Turner this year, they chose Sandy Hamilton…
When asked why she applied, Sandy Hamilton, the newly sworn-in representative for the Illinois 99th District, turned the question around.
“A friend called me and asked me about it and after a couple of days of talking it through with my husband, Bob, the real answer was why not? Why not do this?” said Hamilton, a real estate broker at RE/MAX Professionals and former volleyball coach at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
Hamilton emerged from a group of 20 candidates to claim the vacancy created by the resignation of Rep. Mike Murphy, a Republican from Springfield. […]
Hamilton said she would be open to running for reelection. Barghouti Hardwick previously said “it would be good” if the candidate was interested in running for that office again or interested in seeking another office.
Hamilton, who lives on the west side of Springfield, would be in the 95th district if she ran in 2022.
Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, who also attended the swearing-in, said he planned to run for reelection, but hadn’t made a formal announcement.
Um.
* Press release…
Today the Villegas for Congress campaign released a preliminary estimate of the total funds raised in the 4th Quarter of 2021, the first fundraising quarter since Alderman Gilbert Villegas entered the race for the newly created Third Congressional District of Illinois. Villegas announced his candidacy on the Marine Corps birthday, November 10th, 2021.
The campaign expects to file more than $382,000 raised once all final contributions are received and tallied. The campaign also expects to report approximately $360,000 cash on hand once accounting for expenses.
Campaign manager Magdalena Fudalewicz released the following statement:
“Alderman Gilbert Villegas’s service as as a Marine, working class background driving trucks for the Teamsters, and public service is clearly resonating with supporters across the district. We’re thrilled that in just seven weeks and with several major holiday breaks, we’ve seen such a tremendous response to this campaign,” said Magdalena Fudalewicz.
* Press release…
Today, Nikki Budzinski announced that her campaign raised over $475,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Budzinski raised an additional $455,000 in the first five weeks of her campaign in the third quarter. Since announcing her campaign 133 days ago, Budzinski has raised over $930,000. Budzinski’s fundraising numbers are fueled by grassroots supporters from across Central and Southern Illinois and put her in a strong position to run an issues-based campaign and win in November.
Budzinski made the following statement: “I am honored and humbled by the support I’ve received since announcing my campaign in August. I am committed to being a champion for working families in Central and Southern Illinois, who for too long haven’t had a voice in Congress. The support I have received allows me to be laser focused on running the kind of issues-based campaign it will take to reach voters and win this district back for working families this November.”
* This is Courtney Parella’s first day on the job as the NRCC’s regional press secretary…
Hi there –
The Chicago Teachers Union is threatening to prevent students from returning to the classroom.
The union’s 25,000+ members are voting today to only work virtually, despite the devastating negative effects school closures have on students and families.
Will Sean Casten and Marie Newman stand by their teachers union donors and allow schools to be shut down?
NRCC Comment: “Sean Casten and Marie Newman refuse to stand up to their teachers union donors, despite the well-documented challenges for children and families that come with school closures. When will Democrats end their war on children?” – NRCC Spokeswoman Courtney Parella
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Democratic Congressman Jerry Costello is endorsing Alexi Giannoulias for secretary of state in the Democratic primary. Costello served 12 terms before retiring from Congress in 2013, and before that he served eight years as St. Clair County Board chairman.
— State Rep. Maurice West announced his re-election campaign to the 67th District in the Illinois House. “Since 2019 I have focused my efforts in bringing opportunities and progress to the west, south and southeast sides of Rockford.” West, a Democrat, said in a statement.
— State Rep. Tom Bennett announced his re-election campaign to the 106th District in the Illinois House. “I’m proud to work on issues important to this region, including improving roads and infrastructure, increased funding for K-12 schools, economic development, and supporting public safety,” Bennett, a Republican, said in a statement.
— Former state Rep. Mary Edly Allen announced her run for the newly drawn 31st District seat in the state Senate. State Rep. Sam Yingling, a fellow Democrat, is also running for that seat.
— Grayslake Trustee Laura Dias is running for the IL-62 seat being vacated by state Rep. Sam Yingling.
— Justice Liam C. Brennan of Wheaton has announced his bid for the 3rd District Appellate Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Vicki Wright. Brennan was unanimously appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the 2nd District Appellate Court in March 2020. He is now running for the 3rd District Appellate seat as a result of recent remapping of the appellate districts. The new 3rd District Appellate Court encompasses DuPage, Will, Kankakee, Iroquois, Grundy, LaSalle, and Bureau County.
…Adding… Subscribers know more about Dordek…
Facing one of the most important election cycles in its 33-year history, Personal PAC has named a new chairperson.
Natalie Federle replaces Eileen Dordek, who resigned the post after announcing her candidacy for Illinois’ 13th state House District this week. Federle’s appointment comes as Personal PAC welcomes an unprecedented influx of young volunteers, further evidence of a national trend of Millenial and Gen Z voters galvanizing over restricted access to reproductive rights.
Federle, 38, is a Chicago attorney with a background in employment law. Currently the General Counsel of Sermo, she has practiced law in Chicago since 2011, beginning her career at DLA Piper.
In addition to her legal practice, Natalie has served on the Board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and has volunteered for many years as a voter protection attorney on election days.
Natalie has two daughters, a rescue dog, and is married to Julian Federle, the Director of Government Affairs at United Airlines.
She has been involved with Personal PAC since 2014, joining the board in 2017 before becoming vice chair in 2019.
“My time spent working on behalf of Personal PAC has been some of the most rewarding work of my life and I’m honored and excited to step into a leadership role,” Federle said. “The 2022 elections across the state and down the ballot are crucial in fighting back against the Federal attack on abortion rights. We must ensure Illinois elects a pro-choice Supreme Court, Governor, and General Assembly in November.”
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Mary Miller’s infamous quotation of Adolf Hitler and her vote not to certify electoral college votes - one of the main drivers of the January 6 insurrection – President Kristina Zahorik of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association released the following statement:
“A year ago Mary Miller quoted Adolf Hitler to make a political point, and later could not even unequivocally apologize after being repudiated by both Republicans and Democrats for it. A day later, she acquiesced to the demands of the insurrectionists who attacked police and the U.S. Capital, and voted against certifying electoral college votes lawfully electing President Joe Biden.”
“While the news cycles may be shorter, our memories must remain long – Mary Miller is unfit to serve in Congress.”
* So, I asked the governor’s office for Illinois deaths per 100K since May 1. They sent along some other regional states as well for comparison…
Man, Indiana and Ohio. Whew. But they’re still not as bad as Florida and Texas. Get your shots so the trend stays more favorable.
* Also something I looked into during the break…
Some relatively good news: At one point in April of 2020, about a quarter of all covid cases were in long term care facilities. That's bad because the old and infirm are particularly vulnerable. This month, it's been less than 1%. Vaccines + experience https://t.co/emqqFL9Jhd
The government is encouraged by statistics showing that the recent jump in coronavirus-related hospital admissions hasn’t led to a similar increase in the number of patients needed mechanical ventilation, Blain said.
“We know that admissions and occupancy are increasing significantly at the moment, we’re not seeing that same jump in beds requiring ventilation, which is pleasing, and almost certainly a function of both the nature of omicron and our successful booster program,'’ he said.
While number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in England has more than doubled over the past two weeks, the number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds has remained relatively stable, according to the latest government statistics.
That is not happening in Illinois, where ventilator use has almost doubled in the past couple of weeks. The English, however, are ahead of us in the omicron timeline. So, fingers crossed and get your shots.
* In other news, this presser is about the new Cook County requirement that people show proof of vaccination to get into bars, restaurants, etc., which is similar to the City of Chicago’s requirement…
MEDIA ADVISORY: House Republicans Stand Against Recent Cook County Mandate
WHO: State Representative Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), State Representative Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich), and State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills).
WHAT: House Republicans to discuss the burden left on Cook County residents, local governments and businesses amid the new mandate effective this week.
WHEN: 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022.
The only people I feel sorry for are the workers who have to deal with irate, unvaxed fools.
They’re not requiring vaccinations. That is not a vaccine mandate. What they are requiring is that if you go into a certain kind of establishment, they have a category of them, that you have to show that you’ve been vaccinated. … I think that the city and the county are doing the right thing for the people of the city and the county. I encourage local leaders to do what’s right in their communities. Every community is a bit different, as you know, some counties have very few restaurants, they’re, you know, quite far apart from one another. They don’t have huge crowds in those restaurants. And so it’s hard for them to have exactly the same kind of mitigation that the City of Chicago might have. And so it’s been my view that we need leaders locally to step up and do the right thing for their communities. But again, anybody who’s willing to step up and make the tough calls, and we’ve been making tough calls at the state level as well, at the city level at the county level, I applaud.
Arguments continue in cases brought by teachers challenging the governor’s vaccine mandates in schools and parents challenging mask and exclusion mandates on students.
Earlier Monday in Springfield, Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow heard arguments from defendants to have a different judge oversee the teacher’s case. That case has dozens of teachers and school staffing suing 22 districts. The judge said the issue has been delayed long enough.
“We’ll run out of judges before it’s heard and that causes a prejudicial effect to the plaintiffs,” Grischow said. “We’ve been dealing with this COVID issue, it needs to be decided and I’m going to deny the motion.”
Attorney Thomas DeVore argues on behalf of parents and teachers in separate cases the issue is about individual due process rights to challenge quarantine orders.
* No link because this is yet another salacious hit job…
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker was urging Illinois residents to cancel their New Year’s Eve plans, his daughter Theodora “Teddi” Pritzker rang in 2022 with style New Year’s Eve in a nightclub environment without a mask in the Bahamas.
The eldest child of billionaire Gov. J.B. Pritzker posted photos of herself in a bar-hopping dress, holding arms alongside her friends flaunting her luxurious lifestyle in a New Year’s Eve celebration untouched by the Covid-19 protocols imposed by her father.
Except all the photos Prairie State Wire ran are of her outside. There is no requirement to wear a mask outside in this state. The governor asked people to use caution on NYE and be aware who they were with. There is zero news value to the piece.
Basically, this is just another excuse to whack the governor while catering to the creepy urges of incels living in their mom’s basements. Great target audience, dudes.
* I went over this race with subscribers this morning, so here’s the press release…
John Milhiser today announced that he is running for the Republican nomination to replace retiring Jesse White as Illinois Secretary of State. Milhiser has dedicated his life to public service as Sangamon County State’s Attorney and United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, where he received unanimous bipartisan confirmation from the United States Senate, including support from Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
“It is a privilege to run for this office and continue to fight to make our state a better place to live. I am running because we can do better in Illinois. We can have good government. We can have safe communities, and we can rebuild trust in our leaders,” says Milhiser. “As the next Secretary of State, I will continue to work to end the culture of corruption that has been fostered for decades in this state. Together we can forge a new future for Illinois unencumbered by the last half century of back room deals that have led our state down the wrong path. We must move forward, not backward, and away from the corruption that has plagued our state for so many years.”
Milhiser is not a politician. He is a public servant, who has dedicated his life to improving his community by leading a state prosecutor’s office, a federal prosecutor’s office, and most recently, a classroom. As Secretary of State, Milhiser’s goal will remain the same, to work each day to make a difference and have a positive impact on the citizens of Illinois.
As United States Attorney, Milhiser successfully prosecuted murderers, violent criminals, child predators, drug dealers, embezzlers, and human traffickers. Most recently, he gained bipartisan praise for leading the prosecution of an elected official on charges of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion related to his alleged misuse of campaign money for personal expenses. Milhiser has a long history of investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption and other crimes against the public.
Prior to serving as United States Attorney, Milhiser was a prosecutor in the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office for 16 years where he was known as a champion for victims. He prosecuted serious felony cases, including First Degree Murder, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated DUI, and the Attempted Murder of Police Officers.
John Milhiser’s commitment to justice and public service will help to restore faith in state government and our leaders. With a Governor and statewide officials who continue Speaker Madigan’s culture of corruption, Illinois needs someone of utmost integrity. John Milhiser will operate the office with zero tolerance for corruption and demand efficient and effective service to taxpayers.
The Secretary of State employs more than 4,000 employees, with a portfolio ranging from drivers’ services and the Illinois State Archives and Library to motor vehicle theft investigations and the Capitol Police Department.
For over 25 years, Milhiser has called Illinois home and has served our community. He has served on the board of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center, Helping Hands Homeless Shelter, Memorial Behavioral Health Mental Health Centers, Sangamon County Juvenile Justice Council, and the Springfield Public Schools Foundation. Milhiser is a past President of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association and a former adjunct professor at Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University.
Currently, Milhiser is teaching high school government, history, and English at Lawrence Education Center in Springfield. Milhiser met his wife, Gail, at the University of Illinois College of Law. They have been married for 24 years and have two daughters.
Learn more about John Milhiser and his campaign for Secretary of State at johnmilhiser.com.
This is apparently the first candidate in the rollout of the unified “business” ticket. Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) didn’t make the cut. There’s still apparently an open House seat available not far from his home. We’ll see what he does, but he won’t be able to outraise Milhiser.
Also, this Milhiser guy is squeaky clean. No oppo issues. The Democrats should probably keep that in mind.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Dan Brady campaign…
Dan Brady today announced the endorsements of numerous state representatives, state senators, and members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation, including Congressmen Rodney Davis, Darin LaHood, and Mike Bost, for his Secretary of State campaign. These endorsements represent deep statewide support for Brady.
“I am thankful to have the support of so many of my colleagues from the General Assembly,” said Brady.” It has been an honor to serve the people of Illinois and I appreciate the guidance that my colleagues will be able to share with me about how Secretary of State services can be improved in their parts of the state. I am looking forward to campaigning across the state with my House and Senate colleagues to share my vision for a more efficient and effective Secretary of State office.”
“Having Republican lawmakers’ support and guidance behind me is significant,” Brady said. “Their support will allow us to build an effective campaign infrastructure from Cairo to Waukegan as I prepare to share my message with voters in the months ahead.”
Illinois lawmakers who endorse Rep. Brady in his Secretary of State campaign include:
Representatives:
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin
State Rep. Michael Marron
State Rep. Amy Grant
State Rep. Norine Hammond
State Rep. Brad Halbrook
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst
State Rep. Brad Stephens
State Rep. Paul Jacobs
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer
State Rep. Randy Frese
State Rep. Charles Meier
State Rep. Seth Lewis
State Rep. Chris Bos
State Rep. Steve Reick
State Rep. Chris Miller
State Rep. Tim Butler
State Rep. Dan Swanson
State Rep. Tom Bennett
State Rep. Dan Ugaste
State Rep. Tom Weber
State Rep. Dave Severin
State Rep. Tony McCombie
State Rep. David Friess
State Rep. David Welter
State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi
State Rep. Jackie Haas
State Rep. Jeff Keicher
State Rep. Amy Elik
State Rep. Joe Sosnowski
State Rep. Keith Sommer
State Rep. Mark Luft
State Rep. Martin McLaughlin
Senators:
State Senator: Brian Stewart
State Senator Chapin Rose
State Senator Don DeWitte State Senator Dave Syverson
State Senator Jason Barickman
State Senator Jil Tracy
State Senator Neal Anderson
State Senator Sally Turner
State Senator Steve McClure
State Senator Sue Rezin
State Senator Terri Bryant
U.S. Congress:
Representative Darin LaHood
Representative Mike Bost
Representative Rodney Davis
*** UPDATE 2 *** DPI…
Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Abby Witt released the following statement regarding the announcement that Republican John Milhiser will run for Secretary of State:
“John Milhiser is the first pawn in the latest political game from Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin. Rauner and Griffin are most famous for waging a disastrous four-year war on good government in Illinois, decimating our social safety net and nearly plunging our state into junk status. Rauner and Griffin are now back, choosing their own slate of handpicked puppets instead of letting voters to have their say.
“Of course, Rauner and Griffin’s first failed adventure in state government ended when they were overwhelmingly rejected by voters, but we know that won’t stop them from picking a slate of candidates to do their bidding — like Milhiser and their rumored gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin. Unfortunately for Milhiser, Irvin, and any others, Illinois voters are smart enough recognize a Rauner-Griffin reboot when they see it.”
* Back in 2016, while newspaper editorial boards and conservative groups throughout the land were clamoring for the elimination of townships, the Daily Southtown took a look at a township in its own coverage area…
Everywhere Frank Zuccarelli goes in Thornton Township, people approach him for a handshake or a hug and kiss on the cheek.
At the senior center in Calumet City, where the township hosts lunches and events, including line dancing classes. Outside a township food pantry in Harvey, which Zuccarelli boasts is one of the state’s biggest. In Dolton, while one of Zuccarelli’s youth work crews mow a resident’s lawn. Zuccarelli greets everyone warmly.
“I really do love the people,” says Zuccarelli, Thornton Township’s supervisor since 1993. “I don’t have to fake it.”
Zuccarelli heads the largest township in Cook County. Thornton Township includes parts of at least 17 communities in Chicago’s south suburbs, including some of the state’s poorest towns. He’s also a powerful political player in Cook County and Democratic circles.
Frank Zuccarelli, a south suburban power broker who ran one of the state’s most influential political organizations, died Monday. He was 70.
Zuccarelli was Thornton Township supervisor since 1993, where he ran public assistance programs that helped some of the state’s neediest people. He also headed a powerful political machine that inspired countless visits from political hopefuls looking to get a boost at the ballot box and drew criticism for waste and patronage. […]
He also was chairman of South Suburban College’s board of trustees since 1987 and was active in the Cook County Democratic Party, where he controlled the most votes within the party. […]
In an interview this week, party chair Toni Preckwinkle praised Zuccarelli as “a real heavyweight in the south suburbs” and noted he retained his electoral popularity even as the region changed demographically.
“He was a white person who was responsible for an overwhelmingly African American constituency in Thornton Township and was beloved by everybody. If he’d run for committeeperson again, (he’d have won),” Preckwinkle said. “That says something about the way in which he served the people he was responsible for and their regard to him.”
Calumet City Mayor and State Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) was among those paying tribute to Zuccarelli on Monday.
“He was my mentor, my friend, my brother,” Jones said. “The south suburbs lost a warrior. … He left a trail of service to others.”
Jones said one of his earliest political memories was of walking around his neighborhood as a 13-year-old, knocking on doors in support of Zuccarelli.
“Even though we had our battles, we understood each other,” Jones said. “We fought, but we came together not only for each other but for the people of Thornton Township.”
* Well said…
Frank Zuccarelli was a friend, and not just to me. He delighted in being a friend to many. His legacy reflects his life as he lived it: in service and friendship to the South Suburbs community and the students, families, and seniors who shape it.
According to Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, the township has 60 days to call a meeting and make an appointment. The board can appoint any qualified candidate that does not have a felony. They do not have to call a special election.
However the statute also states “if a vacancy exists in any township office and the vacancy is not filled within 60 days, the electors at a special township meeting may select a qualified person to fill the vacancy and to serve until the expiration of that term.”
During his most recent swearing in ceremony which took place in May, Zuccarelli said he respected the people he served and that it was important to always work for the community. At that time, he said he was not looking to retire anytime soon and had more work to do to help the Thornton Township community.
And the same is true in Peoria, Joliet and all over Illinois.
Our government should act that way too.
But for years in Illinois, they left bills unpaid, ruined our credit, and racked up over a billion dollars in interest penalties.
As Governor, I was determined to help fix the financial mess.
Now, Illinois is keeping its promises by passing real balanced budgets.
We’re cutting costs, paying bills on time and paying down our debt––saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
And our credit rating has been upgraded for the first time in twenty years.
We’re on the right track, and I’ll work every single day to keep it that way.
Because you deserve nothing less than a state that works as hard as you do.
*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…
As crime and COVID-19 surge across Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker’s focus is on politics, launching a new political ad that laughably tries to convince Illinois families “we’re on the right track.”
The new ad conveniently ignores three years of Pritzker/Madigan corruption and policies that are driving people out of Illinois in droves including:
• Claiming credit for paying bills while ignoring the massive federal bailout that rescued the state from years of Democratic mismanagement.
• Signing a disastrous crime bill that puts criminals onto the streets while tying the hands of law enforcement.
• Attempting to pass the largest tax hike in Illinois history, while committing to do it again.
• Breaking promises and partnering with Mike Madigan to keep insiders in control of Springfield.
“Not even a week into 2022, and JB Pritzker is already attempting to rewrite history hoping voters forget he signed a disastrous crime bill that lets criminals onto our streets, pushed for the largest tax hike in Illinois history and partnered with Mike Madigan to keep Springfield insiders in power,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Joe Hackler.
Illinois senior United States Senator Dick Durbin announced today his endorsement for Anna Valencia in the 2022 race for Illinois Secretary of State.
“Anna Valencia is ready to make history as the first woman to be elected as Illinois Secretary of State,” said Senator Durbin. “She is part of the newest generation of Democrats who are critical to our future in this state. In 2014, she worked tirelessly to ensure my re-election by uniting our party faithful with Democrats who were new to the party and just emerging. Anna is an exceptional candidate, and I trust her to effectively lead an office which touches all of our lives.”
“I am proud to have the support of Senator Dick Durbin in my campaign for Illinois Secretary of State,” said Anna Valencia. “Senator Durbin has worked hard to invest in the next generation of Democratic leaders and has always gone to bat for working families like my own. I was honored when he trusted me to run his re- election campaign back in 2014, and I am thrilled that he has once again put his faith and trust in me by endorsing me in this race.”
With Senator Durbin’s endorsement, Valencia now has the support of both U.S. Senators in her bid for Illinois Secretary of State.
In addition to the endorsements of Senator Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth, Valencia has built a strong statewide coalition of support, including Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), Illinois Nurses Association - The Nurses Union (INA), Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Administrative District Council 1, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 14 and Local 58, Illinois Association of Heat and Frost and Allied Workers Local 1, Unite Here Local 1, and other legislative, local elected, and community leaders from across the state.
More news on this open slot in a bit.
* Video…
🚨 ENDORSEMENT NEWS 🚨
I’m honored to have the resounding endorsement of Senator @DickDurbin in the race for IL Secretary of State!@SenatorDurbin has worked hard to invest in the next generation of Democratic leaders & has always gone to bat for working families like my own. pic.twitter.com/FKReQKfUpR
Durbin said in a campaign video he made, to be released Tuesday, that there are four “fine” Democrats running, but Valencia was “exceptional.”
Valencia managed Durbin’s reelection campaign in 2014, with Durbin entrusting his political future to a then-28-year-old.
Durbin said she worked “tirelessly” to ensure his win “by uniting our party faithful with Democrats who were new to the party and just emerging. Anna is an exceptional candidate, and I trust her to effectively lead an office which touches all of our lives.”
Duckworth already held two fundraisers for Valencia — August in Springfield and another in October in Chicago — and has called labor leaders on her behalf, Valencia’s spokesperson said.
Durbin will also be doing fundraising for Valencia.
* I tipped subscribers to the possibility of some of this happening earlier today, but I’m told it came down to the wire…
The House and Senate Redistricting Committees today released updated Cook County Judicial Subcircuit boundaries that reflect suggestions gathered during the public hearing in December. Additionally, the Committees released proposed redrawn subcircuits for the 16th and 19th Circuits, as well as the proposed creation of subcircuits in the 3rd, 7th, 17th and 18th Circuits to allow for greater opportunities for diversity on the bench. Redrawn subcircuits for the 12th and 22nd Circuits will be forthcoming.
Noteworthy revisions to the Cook County boundaries include consolidating Niles Township and extending greater Chinatown further south down to Pershing Road. These improvements, offered through public testimony, will better reflect the population and demographics in these communities.
The creation of new subcircuits in DuPage, Sangamon and Madison counties will give minority communities a better opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and influence elections. These new subcircuits will help improve the diversity of opinion and background of judges, while giving everyone a voice in electing a bench of judges they feel best represent their communities.
The proposed drawing of subcircuits will not impact the tenure of current circuit court judges.
Members of the public may provide testimony or offer suggestions through email at redistrictingcommittee@hds.ilga.gov and redistrictingcommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov. If anyone wishes to submit their own proposals, they may do so through the online map portal located on the House and Senate redistricting websites. For that tool and to view the proposed maps, visit www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting or www.ilsenateredistricting.com.
The 3rd includes Madison (click here and here to see how they’ve divvied it up), 7th includes Sangamon (click here and here, 17th includes Winnebago (here and here) and the 18th is Dupage (here and here). There was a push for Champaign and Peoria as well, but those apparently didn’t make the cut
Legislative Democrats have released proposed maps that would carve the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which includes Sangamon and several neighboring counties, into three subcircuits… one made up of Springfield’s inner city, the second comprised of the rest of Sangamon County, and the third that consists of the remaining counties in the circuit. Democrats say the creation of an urban subcircuit will improve chances for minority representation on the bench.
But GOP Representative Tim Butler thinks it’s a move to “pack the courts” with Democratic judges, and wants more details on the plan, including how much extra it would cost to implement.
Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., the former Black Panther, ex-Chicago alderman, member of Congress and a minister, told the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday that he will not seek another term.
Rush, first elected to Congress in 1992, said in an interview he intends to stay active in his ministry and find ways to use his remarkable life story — a trajectory from a 1960s radical to House member — to inspire younger generations. […]
Rush told me he finalized his decision not to seek another term in the last several weeks and it came after a conversation with a grandson, Jonathan, 19, who said he wanted to hear more about his grandfather.
“I don’t want my grandchildren . . . to know me from a television news clip or something they read in a newspaper,” Rush said.
…Adding… Also, as I told subscribers this morning, be wary of stories like this one which float endless names of people who may or may not actually be interested. It’s not news. It’s pure speculation, particularly about those who would have to give up their gigs to run in a potentially crowded primary.
Illinois State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), who shares his district with U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Chicago), released the following statement in response to Congressman Rush’s announcement today that he will not seek re-election:
“As a kid on Chicago’s South Side, I had the privilege of growing up with Bobby Rush as an example of a fearless and righteous leader who helped make our city and our country a better place for everyone.
“Congressman Rush – and his impact on advancing racial justice – will endure far beyond his nearly 40 years in public office. He helped found the movement that’s made a half century of progress toward civil rights possible – a movement that has grown across communities, at all levels of government, and continues today.
“With this news, we can all benefit from starting the new year by taking a step back to reflect on – and find inspiration from – Congressman Rush’s lifetime of work toward fairness, and equity. We know the work isn’t done, but Bobby Rush has shown us there’s nothing that we collectively cannot do.”
…Adding… DPI…
Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Rep. Robin Kelly released the following statement regarding the announcement that Rep. Bobby Rush will not run for re-election:
“Bobby Rush has dedicated his entire life to serving his community. An instrumental figure in the civil rights movement, his passion and determination in the fight for justice serves as an inspiration to us all. As a 15-term congressman, Rep. Rush has worked selflessly for the people of the South Side of Chicago and beyond, passing numerous pieces of critical legislation to strengthen public safety and promote equality in American society. On behalf of all Democrats in Illinois, I thank him for his years of service and wish him well as he begins his next chapter later this year.”
Illinois state Sen. Kimberly Lightford and her husband were carjacked Tuesday night in suburban Broadview, police said.
No one was hurt, but at least one of the suspects fired gunshots at Lightford’s husband, according to police.
Lightford, a Democrat from Maywood, and her husband were in a black Mercedes SUV and were in the near west suburb to drop off a friend, according to Broadview police Chief Thomas Mills.
Three masked individuals in a Dodge Durango SUV blocked the couple’s Mercedes in the 2000 block of South 20th Avenue about 9:45 p.m. The suspects ordered Lightford and her husband, who was driving, out of the Mercedes, said Mills.
“I begged them not to shoot my husband, not to shoot me,” Lightford told reporters Thursday morning at a Christmas present giveaway for children in Proviso Township. “They took everything off me that I had of value.”
Lightford said her husband gave the carjackers the keys to the car.
“They had separated me and my husband,” she said on WGN-TV. “After they got the guns off of us, my husband told me to run. I ran, reluctantly, because I didn’t want to leave him there. And it was a scary run because now shots are being fired. I thought for sure they were going to shoot me.”
Lightford said her husband is a concealed-carry permit holder. He fired at the carjackers, she said.
At an event on Thursday, Lightford, a Maywood Democrat who has been in the state legislature since 1998, said she was “doing much better today” and that she “didn’t realize what a traumatic event could do in an adult.”
* Meanwhile, Sun-Times crime reporter Frank Main recently interviewed a West Side, 30-something carjacker…
Q. To your knowledge, is this generally a random crime? Or is there a lot of planning that goes into this?
A. Mostly a random crime.
Q. Is there somebody that everybody knows in a particular neighborhood that you can sell [stolen car parts to]?
A. Through social media, you’ll hear where people want car parts. People know that’s where to take the cars.
Q. What’s your impression of [Cook County State’s Attorney] Kim Foxx and whether [prosecutors] are lenient or tough on this crime?
A. They’re not playing on carjackings. They are not being lenient on this crime.
Q. So it sounds to me that you’re saying you don’t believe that this giant increase in carjackings has to do [with] prosecutors or police going easy on carjackers or that the criminal justice system is going easy on people who commit these crimes. Is that right?
A. True.
* Maya Dukmasova at the Chicago Reader pointed to her own research earlier this year to back up this claim…
When it comes to the felony carjacking charges—for which, according to [Chief of Detectives Brendan] Deenihan’s presentation, only 178 people were arrested [in 2020] —the State’s Attorney’s Office seems to be functioning as expected. In 2020, according to the office, felony carjacking charges for adults were approved 97 percent of the time, and resulted in convictions 93 percent of the time. For juveniles, the State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges 89 percent of the time and convictions resulted in 90 percent of cases.
* But while the carjacker claims that fast, expensive vehicles are mainly targeted, Dukmasova found that the numbers show otherwise…
Though there’s been much speculation about the types of cars being targeted—in particular popular Dodge Chargers and Challengers because of anecdotal reports that they can be hacked—CPD’s data showed that most often carjacked cars are the most common economy vehicle makes: Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Honda, and Chevrolet.
A Cook County judge was carjacked at gunpoint along with her 3-year-old son late Thursday in Humboldt Park.
Judge Anna Loftus was robbed of her 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, her purse and a cellphone, according to a memo shared with 14th District Chicago police officers. No one was physically hurt.
The toddler was in the back seat as the 52-year-old pulled the vehicle into a residential garage about 11:30 p.m., according to police news affairs.
That’s when two males walked up, and one of them, carrying a gun, ordered her and the boy out of the car.
As much as people may complain about lawlessness today, 1974 remains Chicago’s official benchmark for the most murders in an annual period.
This is not to be confused with “murder rate,” a calculation comparing crime data with a city’s population. Chicago’s worst “per capita” homicide year was 1992, when 940 people were slain but when the city had 600,000 fewer residents. The murder rate then was 34 victims per 100,000 people.
If you are talking about sheer volume of homicides, 1974 is it.
“More killings here than Belfast,” a pessimistic Sun-Times editorial headline read in late December, after police officer Harl Gene Meister was killed in a robbery attempt that left his 8-year-old son seriously wounded. Meister was off-duty and doing some last-minute Christmas shopping when he and the boy were confronted by a group of juveniles in a store parking lot on the Southwest Side. […]
Officials of the day blamed the usual suspects for so many killings: easy access to firearms, including the cheap but lethal “Saturday Night Special,” and a court system that critics said treated offenders too leniently.
James Rochford, Chicago’s $34,500-a-year police superintendent, complained that thousands of suspects his officers arrested in the past year were out on bond for similar crimes. He said the average hardened offender was wise to this revolving-door system.
* I was exposed to covid twice over the two-week break. I had mild symptoms that went away quickly both times. I’ve been tested three times so far (both rapid and PCR) and all came back negative. That was great news for me, but the experiences gave me an up close and personal look at the national testing shortage and it’s bad. Really, really bad. I was also kinda grumpy because I had to isolate Christmas eve and New Year’s eve.
The whole world saw how fast this omicron variant was spreading. “Everybody has it,” was a constant refrain I heard from friends all over the state last month - and these are people who generally try to be careful about their behavior.
And since so many people seem to have it, even more are getting tested far more often as they either feel symptoms or learn that someone they’ve been in contact with has tested positive.
So, basic arithmetic dictates that as this virus inevitably spreads ever wider, many more tests are going to be needed. The 500 million tests promised by President Biden will be too little and very likely way too late to deal with this need. To say the feds dropped the ball bigtime would be a massive understatement. I ordered four rapid tests through the mail early on, used two, gave one to a friend and have just one left. I’m hoarding that one.
* I happen to believe that fully vaccinated and boosted people (like myself) should not have to suffer consequences for following the rules. Unfortunately, a small and stubborn and ignorant minority is jamming up our local hospitals to the breaking point. From the governor’s office…
From the end of November to end of December about 91 percent of hospital admissions for COVID were those who are not fully vaccinated.
"Hospitals cannot end this pandemic on their own. They need the continuing help and support of the public. The best way to support your hospitals is to get vaccinated." AJ Wilhelmi, IHA President & CEO. https://t.co/SEWikto586
* And while we’re on the topic of those who “reject all of the measures to reduce this disease,” here’s a Champaign News-Gazette editorial…
State Sen. Darren Bailey, a leading Republican candidate for governor of Illinois, thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker should stop haranguing Illinoisans to get vaccinated.
State Sen. Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor from Clay County, thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “rhetoric is abhorrent and has no place in any civil discussion.”
Pritzker’s sin? He urged Illinoisans who are unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine so that they don’t take up a hospital bed that could be used by a cancer or heart attack patient.
“The role of government is not to coerce and control residents, but to educate them and provide them with resources to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” Bailey charged.
Which is exactly what Pritzker, health care professionals and even other Republican governors are doing.
Thousands of COVID tests for Chicago Public Schools students and staff members have been deemed “invalid” as the district prepares for a return to classrooms following the winter break.
With cases across the state and within the district surging, CPS reported 35,590 tests were completed between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1, but 24,843 were ruled “invalid,” according to data posted on the district’s website.
According to the Chicago Teachers Union, many parents received emails from the company handling the tests saying some samples were deemed “unsatisfactory” after being delayed in transit to the lab because of holiday shipping issues and weather.
“Delays between sampling and actually processing those samples ended up spoiling test results,” the union said in a release.
* Some of us talked about this on Twitter over the weekend…
* Mary Miller then announced that she’ll run against fellow Republican Rodney Davis in the 15th Congressional District…
“President Donald Trump inspired me to run in 2020 because our country needs principled conservatives in Congress who always put America First,” said Congresswoman Miller.
“Today, President Trump is endorsing me because I am a conservative fighter who is not afraid to take on the DC swamp.”
“I am not a career politician, and running for office is not my life’s ambition,” said Miller. “My life is spent in the real world, on my small family farm with my husband Chris, where we were blessed to raise our seven children and welcome our seventeen grandchildren. I bring those values to Washington, not the other way around.”
Elected in 2020 with President Trump’s support as an America First conservative, Congresswoman Mary Miller received 73.4% of the vote in the 15th District. She has been a strong supporter of President Trump and opposed efforts by Nancy Pelosi, Adam Kinzinger, and Liz Cheney to attack President Trump through the political “witch hunt” January 6th Commission.
“I voted against Joe Biden’s red-flag gun confiscation efforts, which violate the Second Amendment rights of American citizens,” said Miller, who has the most conservative voting record of any member from Illinois. “I was endorsed by the NRA in 2020 and I’m the only member from Illinois with an A rating from the Gun Owners of America for always supporting the Second Amendment.”
“I’m proud to be the only member of Congress from Illinois who is fighting to impeach Joe Biden and the lawless Biden Cabinet for leaving our border exposed to an invasion of illegal immigration,” said Miller. “I am the only member from Illinois who has fought every effort by Joe Biden to use COVID vaccine mandates to fire Americans from their jobs and I opposed funding COVID vaccine databases that share information with the federal government.”
As a Pro-Life mother and grandmother, Congresswoman Miller serves as an advocate for the unborn, giving a voice to the voiceless in the womb. “When Democrats pushed for taxpayer-funded chemical abortion, I led the fight to ban taxpayer-funded chemical abortion with the Protecting Life on College Campus Act,” said Miller.
Congresswoman Miller is in a strong position to win re-election in the new 15th Congressional District, which gave President Trump 68 percent of the vote in 2020.
“I won’t allow corrupt Democrats like JB Pritzker to cut backroom deals to draw me out of the district I represent, because conservative voters who stand with President Trump deserve a Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Life, America First voice in Congress,” said Miller.
“With hard work, prayer, and faith in our country, conservatives will take back the House and Make America Great Again.”
* There were some problems with some of her claims. For instance…
Mary Miller is claiming she's the "only Republican from Illinois" to vote against red flag laws for military members. Except even the NRA says that never became law, and the bill Reps. Davis, Bost, LaHood, and Kinzinger voted for on 12/7 did not include it. https://t.co/ozqagryrNa
* Anyway, Rep. Davis seemed to be ready for this and fired off a blistering response…
Rodney Davis’ campaign for Congress released the following statement after Mary Miller announced she’s running for Congress in the 15th District. The statement is attributed to Davis campaign spokesperson Aaron DeGroot:
“Mary Miller is only an outsider in the sense that she doesn’t live in the 15th District. She’s a carpetbagger and Chicagoland native. Miller is so desperate to stay in Congress she’s running in a district she doesn’t live in, just like her husband. The Millers are taking a page out of the Springfield political insider playbook. Politics is their family business.
“Even worse, Miller supports the Never Trump ticket for Illinois Governor and refused to vote against Nancy Pelosi’s sham, partisan 1/6 Select Committee. All Mary Miller has to show for her time in Congress is quoting Hitler and voting with Democrats like AOC and the far left squad to defund our military and block a pay raise for our troops. That’s shameful. It’s clear that Mary Miller is all talk, no action.
“Rodney Davis is a conservative who gets things done. He’s already been hard at work highlighting his conservative accomplishments and work with President Trump during his time in office. That’s why he’s earned support from countless grassroots Republican leaders in the district. Our campaign looks forward to educating voters on how Rodney is an effective conservative member of Congress and Mary is not.”
Um, Rodney has been involved in Illinois/US politics most of his adult life. Politics is definitely his business. And what’s he gonna do in the fall if the “Never Trump ticket” of Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell wins the primary? One campaign at a time, I suppose.
A “conservative who gets things done” with the endorsement of almost every major elected official in his new district means he’s going to run a traditional Illinois Republican race. He’ll work it hard. She has Trump. Should be interesting to watch.
* News media roundup…
* Controversial Downstate freshman GOP Rep. Mary Miller to primary veteran Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis after Trump endorsement: Davis has already been endorsed by 32 of the 35 GOP county chairmen in the new 15th District, as well as by two of his neighboring Illinois Republican congressional colleagues, Darin LaHood of Peoria and Bost, and more than a dozen GOP state lawmakers in the new district. Davis also has been a strong supporter of Trump and co-chaired his 2020 reelection campaign in Illinois. Davis also has backed House Republican leadership under Kevin McCarthy of California.
* Trump endorses Rep. Mary Miller against Rep. Rodney Davis despite pleas from leadership not to get involved in primary: Miller, a member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, recently caused a stir within the Republican conference for spreading misinformation about a vaccine records bill and an annual defense policy bill that many House Republicans voted for. As CNN first reported last month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — another controversial firebrand who is close with Miller — had been lobbying Trump to throw his weight behind Miller, while House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had urged Trump not to get involved, concerned it could make things even messier for party leaders.
* Trump endorses Illinois Rep. Mary Miller over Rep. Rodney Davis: Trump’s move comes as he is looking to spark intra-party primaries in order to increase the numbers of Trump-loyal MAGA Republicans in the House in advance of his anticipated 2024 White House comeback bid.
Matt Chapman, a self-described data nerd who runs a not-for-profit group called “Free Our Data,” recently filed Freedom of Information Act requests with Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office. He wanted everything received by the Chicago Tribune this year via their FOIA requests.
Chapman’s trove included text messages sent back and forth between Lightfoot and state leaders, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Most of the conversations were innocuous or polite. The governor thanked the mayor for sending him a bottle of tequila, for example.
But some of the conversations are revealing. On July 14 of last year, Lightfoot informed the governor that the city was “toying with a mandatory mask order for Chicago.”
The governor responded: “Just want you to know we already have a statewide mandatory mask order. It is the law right now during the emergency.”
Pritzker had, indeed, issued a mask order more than two months before Lightfoot was kicking the idea around.
I thought that was weird, but then last week Lightfoot introduced a city ordinance that was basically a copy-and-paste of a bill Pritzker had recently signed into law. Oops.
In August of 2020, during violence and looting, Pritzker sent Lightfoot a text message saying the two should talk about the situation. An hour later, Pritzker sent her another text saying, “I’m hearing reports of activity downtown and want to reiterate my offer of assistance of state police tonight.”
There was no reply. Billionaire Ken Griffin has heaped scorn on Pritzker for not intervening in the city’s violence, but that message shows he was at least trying to convince the mayor to accept state help on one occasion.
In late September, Pritzker told Lightfoot that the state police and the National Guard were “coordinating closely” with the Chicago Police Department through the weekend. “Hopefully we are all over-prepared,” he wrote. “Thanks so much for your leadership,” she told the governor. “I hear from lots of folks that they like to see us working together. Gives them confidence.”
“Agree and also I like working on the same page with you. So there’s that.” Pritzker wrote.
In January of this year, before vaccinations became widespread, Chicago resident Pritzker sent the mayor a Block Club Chicago story about a massive indoor party in the Old Town neighborhood. “How brazen?” he wrote. “This looks ripe for a visit by CPD. !!!”
“On it,” Lightfoot replied.
But there were clearly moments of tension. “Just hearing from one of my city council chairmen that your team is trying to move something on [the sale of the] Thompson Center without presenting a plan to me and my team,” Lightfoot told Pritzker. “We should discuss because that will not happen.”
Instead of replying to Lightfoot’s text, Pritzker sent a link to an online opinion piece written by a political enemy that trashed both him and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike. The piece was believed at the time to have been generated by Lightfoot or her allies because it also heaped praise on Lightfoot’s public health director.
“Thank you,” was all Pritzker wrote. There was no reply.
Organized labor worked last spring to kill a proposal by Pritzker and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association for a statewide mandated paid sick leave law. Lightfoot was also opposed, and she made that known in a text to the governor in late May. “I would like to talk about the paid sick leave bill. We strongly oppose. Let me know when you can talk.” There was no recorded reply.
Senate President Don Harmon often didn’t reply to the mayor’s texts, although that doesn’t mean he didn’t pick up the phone or talk to others.
Lightfoot sent several terse but one-way text messages to Harmon this year, including these in January of 2021: “Don, my folks are bringing me comments that are concerning. If there is no personal issue, you want to address, then let’s have the discussion. … Correction: if there is a personal issue that is of concern, let’s put it on the table.”
A few days later: “A courtesy call regarding the fire pension bill would have been helpful, particularly since there is no funding for it. When that pension fund collapses, I will be talking a lot about this vote.”
And then in May: “It is important that we talk early. The direction things are going is totally inconsistent with what you committed to.”
All of Lightfoot’s texts with House Speaker Chris Welch were cordial. Former House Speaker Michael Madigan didn’t do texts.
In spring 2020, for instance, Lightfoot texted Pritzker a news report analyzing tensions between their administrations as the city was negotiating for a Chicago casino and criticized his employees.
“Gov, this is petty and unnecessary and why we have serious issues with your staff,” Lightfoot texted. “Not smart.”
The next morning, Pritzker responded, “I woke up and saw your text. Texting probably not the best way to communicate. You should call me when you can.”
A day later, Lightfoot texted Pritzker a Sun-Times opinion piece with the headline, “Mayor’s gaffes won’t help Chicago get a lift from Pritzker and Springfield.”
“Super helpful,” she wrote.
Pritzker responded: “Mayor. I didn’t write this nor did I foster it. I get bad press too. Call when you would like.”
* Dan Petrella and Jeremy Gorner at the Tribune have a very comprehensive and well-researched preview of the coming legislative session…
With elections looming and another coronavirus surge underway, Illinois lawmakers are due to return to Springfield Wednesday with the goal of crafting next year’s state budget and wrapping up much of their other work for the year by early April — nearly two months ahead of the usual schedule.
Whether the Democratic-controlled legislature will be able to meet that deadline remains to be seen, as the skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases forced the General Assembly to cancel the other session days during the first week of the new year and likely the entire second week. But with primaries set for June 28 and all 177 seats in the Illinois House and Senate up for election in 2022, lawmakers will be eager to avoid controversial issues and get back home to campaign. […]
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside, who along with Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park controls the legislative calendar, says the schedule for the upcoming spring session is not shortened but condensed. Lawmakers were originally slated to be at the Capitol for roughly the same number of days as in a typical year, but it’s unclear if that will happen with the big surge in COVID-19 cases. […]
Senate GOP leader Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods expressed similar frustrations with his caucus’s superminority role, noting that members introduced several anti-crime proposals in the fall that were ignored by Democrats.
“At the end of the day, the biggest question is whether we’re going to have robust debate in an election year on key issues that the public seems concerned about,” McConchie said.
There will likely be a very robust debate about that issue, but it’ll likely be confined to private Democratic caucus meetings.
Anyway, go read the rest. They clearly put a lot of work into it.
* From Politico, but with a big caveat that the petition filing deadline was already shortened to March 14 last May…
“We’ve proven an ability to use remote hearings in particular for committees, which much of the front end of the session will likely be,” Senate President Don Harmon told Playbook. “I’m confident we’ll be able to get our work done. But I would not be at all surprised if much of the committee work happens virtually.”
On Wednesday, lawmakers are expected to adjust language on legislation that would change the deadline for getting petitions signed for the state’s June primary. Democratic lawmakers who control both houses and the governor’s office want to allow for 60 days to acquire signatures instead of 90 days. The filing deadline would be March 14. […]
For Gov. JB Pritzker, the “No. 1 priority” of the session “is balancing our budget, making sure that we’re doing the right thing to put our state on firm fiscal footing, to continue to get credit upgrades as we have, and to make sure that we’re providing the services that people need,” he told reporters at last week.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch echoed that in an interview with Playbook, saying, “We want to build on last year’s success.” Lawmakers this year will also weigh how best to spend another portion of federal American Rescue Plan dollars “to help people deal with the everyday issues that they’re facing, like paying rent, paying mortgages and keeping a roof over their heads or saving their businesses,” he said.
The goal is to avoid creating new programs that will then be unfunded after the federal money runs out. Instead, Democrats want to see federal monies available over the next three years to be spent on “one-time expenditures that can help bend the curve on a complicated, difficult issue or bolster our economic fundamentals,” Harmon said.
Building on efforts to protect state employees and people in the State’s care or custody from the threat of COVID-19, Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the Arbitrator in the State’s Vaccine Mandate Interest Arbitration determined that the State can and should require vaccinations for Illinois Department of Correction (IDOC) guards and Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) staff
This decision will ensure employees in State Correctional Centers and Juvenile Justice facilities are protected with the COVID-19 vaccines. Employees subject to this decision will be required to get their first shot by January 31, 2022 unless they are approved for a religious or medical exemption.
“The recent surge of cases brought on by the Omicron variant has brought a serious threat to our state, and I’m glad that this ruling will protect nearly 10,000 state workers and all of the people at these facilities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Protecting the health and safety of workers and residents across the state remains a top priority for my administration and I look forward to continued discussions with our labor partners as we move forward with the task of keeping our employees and residents of our congregate facilities safe.””
Vaccination is the key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. All Illinois residents over the age of 5 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost and proof of immigration status is not required to receive the vaccine.
The administration has taken extensive measures to make the COVID-19 vaccine equitable and accessible. Governor JB Pritzker recently directed the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to enhance its partnerships with local health department mass vaccination operations throughout the state to help meet the growing demand for the COVID-19 vaccine booster.
Individuals can visit http://www.vaccines.gov to find a nearby location to receive a vaccine or booster dose. Testing locations can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/testing.html, including information on the days and hours for free Community-based Testing Sites.
* Meanwhile…
To prepare for a likely surge of post-holiday Omicron COVID-19 cases and to prepare for a potential shortage of staffed ICU beds, Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association are urging hospitals to take every possible measure to maintain and expand bed capacity, including postponing non-emergency surgeries and other procedures as needed and without risking patient harm.
The state and hospitals throughout Illinois are continuing to work in concert to prevent the state’s healthcare infrastructure from being overwhelmed by the ongoing Omicron variant surge of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. By working closely together over the course of this pandemic, this partnership has prevented Illinois from exceeding capacity, unlike other states.
Throughout Illinois, hospital admissions are rapidly increasing, further diminishing ICU bed capacity. Holiday gatherings are anticipated to drive an increase in the coming weeks, placing an additional strain on Illinois’ hospitals and healthcare workers.
In particular, hospitals should continue to follow the Illinois Department of Public Health’s guidance on when to consider postponing elective surgeries and procedures that physicians believe can be rescheduled without risking patient harm. Some hospitals have already delayed non-emergent procedures to increase capacity, and the Governor and hospital leaders urge all hospitals to take needed steps to ensure sufficient capacity in the coming weeks.
“We are preparing for a continuing post-holiday surge, and with hospital staff already working so hard, I appreciate the work hospital leadership is doing to assure capacity, including postponing non-emergency surgeries and procedures to ensure their ability to handle serious COVID cases and other emergencies without putting patients at risk,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “To all Illinoisans: please understand that the nation is experiencing high COVID transmission rates, and some surgeries in Illinois will be postponed. We’re asking our residents to temporarily hold off on important medical care like tonsillectomies, bariatric surgeries and hernia repair. As we work to keep ICU beds open, I continue to applaud the efforts of our hospitals and healthcare workers across the state, who have been heroes for us all.”
“We are currently seeing approximately 500 new admissions a day to Illinois hospitals due to COVID-19, and approximately 90% of those are unvaccinated,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “There is a health care worker shortage in Illinois, in the U.S., and across the world. We’re seeing health care workers leave the profession because they are burnt out after watching people suffer severe illness and even death for almost two years now. We want to make sure that there is a hospital bed available for anyone for any reason - cancer complications, appendicitis, stroke, heart attack, car crash, or COVID-19. Please get vaccinated and get boosted, for all of us.”
With the Governor’s encouragement, hospital leaders continue implementing other strategies to further free up availability in Illinois hospitals. This includes utilizing telehealth technology, reallocating staff resources, and expanding ICU capacity. In an effort to increase staffing to ensure care is available, the Governor has already extended state waivers to allow out-of-state healthcare professionals to work in Illinois. The State of Illinois has invited hospitals to participate in its staffing contract so that they can bring in additional available staff when needed to ensure capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. The Governor also supports hospitals and healthcare facilities that choose to implement new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance accelerating return-to-work timeframes. The Pritzker administration is also working with Illinois’ federal partners, seeking federal assistance to address healthcare staffing shortages.
However, healthcare experts emphasize that getting vaccinated, boosted and following recommended social distancing and masking guidelines remains critical.
“Hospitals continue to be on the front line of this fight, and are doing everything in their power to maintain access to healthcare for all patients. But we need your help. Wear a mask. Social distance. Avoid large gatherings. And please get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccination remains the best way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death,” said Karen Teitelbaum, President and CEO of Sinai Chicago Health System and Chair of the IHA Board of Trustees.
“I want to thank Governor Pritzker for his continued partnership and collaboration with the hospital community during this pandemic. The overwhelming majority of the 5,000 COVID patients currently in our hospitals are unvaccinated. Hospitals cannot end this pandemic on their own. They need the continuing help and support of the public,” said AJ Wilhelmi, President and CEO of the IHA. “The best way to support your hospitals is to get vaccinated.”
Ted Rogalski, Administrator at Genesis Medical Center in Aledo and incoming 2022 Chair of IHA’s Board of Trustees, appealed to the public.
“Healthcare workers need your help,” Rogalski said. “This pandemic has taken a mental and physical toll on those who see the worst side of this virus every day. They are exhausted, but still standing tall. Please support your community healthcare workers and all frontline responders by taking all precautions to prevent sickness.”
On December 29 Arbitrator Edwin Benn ruled against AFSCME members in the interest arbitration regarding the State’s plan to require COVID vaccinations for employees in IDOC and IDJJ (see below). AFSCME had invoked the right of security employees to interest arbitration when the State broke off negotiations with the Union over the mandate and was prepared to unilaterally implement its terms.
In the arbitration, as at the bargaining table, AFSCME opposed the State’s rigid vaccine mandate, arguing that employees who do not wish to be vaccinated should have the option of testing weekly for COVID—a protocol in place for all school districts in the state. Benn did not agree and instead affirmed the State’s position that a crisis exists that requires the most robust possible response. He set January 31 as the date by which employees must receive a first vaccination shot.
Interest arbitration relies on a tripartite panel which in this instance includes the neutral arbitrator (Edwin Benn) who serves as chair; a union representative (Ed Caumiant, AFSCME Council 31 Regional Director) and an employer representative (Ed Jackson, DHS Labor Relations). The panel effectively functions as a sole arbitrator, since the employer and the union panel members invariably vote in opposition to each other, leaving the neutral arbitrator to be the deciding vote. The AFSCME representative on the panel has filed a formal dissent from the decision at the Labor Board (see below).
The arbitrator’s initial ruling only pertained to the core question of whether the mandate could proceed. He remanded all related issues—e.g. time off for COVID-related quarantines—to the parties to resolve by January 7. He retained jurisdiction to rule on any outstanding issues that cannot be resolved within that timeframe.
* In November of 2020, Illinois hit its all time peak of 6,175 covid hospitalizations. If you’re keeping track, we’re only 486 away from that number right now…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 128,246 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 386 deaths since December 23, 2021.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 2,149,548 cases, including 27,821 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since Thursday, December 23, 2021, laboratories have reported 1,260,179 specimens for a total of 44,469,630. As of last night, 5,689 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 1,010 patients were in the ICU and 565 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from December 23-29, 2021 is 10.2%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from December 23-29, 2021 is 14.4%.
A total of 19,176,277 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 46,046 doses. Since Thursday, December 23, 2021, 322,324 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 72% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 64% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
Also in November of 2020, ICU usaged peaked at 1,224, so we’re not too far away from that, either.
Plaintiffs in these three consolidated cases, McConchie, Contreras, and East St. Louis NAACP, challenge Illinois’ legislative redistricting map1 and ask this Court to order alterations that would create additional districts featuring majorities of either Latino or Black voters. All Plaintiffs bring statutory claims, arguing that the redistricting map impermissibly dilutes minority votes in violation of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 52 U.S.C. § 10301, et seq. Contreras and East St. Louis NAACP Plaintiffs also present constitutional claims, contending that several legislative districts were racially gerrymandered in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
On § 2 Voting Rights Act claims, the Supreme Court has admonished that “[f]ailure to maximize cannot be the measure of § 2” because “reading § 2 to define dilution as any failure to maximize tends to obscure the very object of the statute and to run counter to its textually stated purpose.” Johnson v. De Grandy, 512 U.S. 997, 1016–17 (1994). Nearly three decades later, those principles animate this Court’s analysis of these three challenges to Illinois’ legislative redistricting map. Many of Plaintiffs’ proposed districts barely surpass the 50% mark. For all but one of the districts in SB 927, Latino voters maintain a census voting age population of 42.7% or higher, which Legislative Defendants insist allow for additional opportunities to form coalitions with voters of other races to elect their candidate of choice, enhancing the overall political power of Latinos in Illinois.
In light of these figures, these three cases are not about “the chance for some electoral success in place of none.” Johnson, 512 U.S. at 1012–13. Rather, for many of the challenged districts, these cases are about “the chance for more success in place of some.” Id. at 1013. This disagreement also reflects competing views about how to guarantee Latino and Black voters, in their respective districts, equal opportunity to elect their candidate of choice when minority voters could form different permutations of majority-minority, coalition, and opportunity districts.
Although there is debate about how to achieve the guarantees of the Voting Rights Act, one thing is clear: A federal court is not the arbiter of that dispute unless Plaintiffs carry their burden to prove that an elected legislature’s approach violates the law. […]
As to the constitutional claims, Contreras Plaintiffs allege that House District (“HD” or “House District”) 21 and Senate District (“SD” or “Senate District”) 11 constitute racial gerrymanders, and East St. Louis NAACP Plaintiffs allege the same for HD 114. But neither set of Plaintiffs has proved that race predominated in the configuration of any of the challenged districts. Indeed, the record could not be more clear that partisan politics—a legally acceptable criterion—controlled that decision. The second part of this opinion lays out our evaluation of those constitutional claims.
For the reasons that follow, we uphold the General Assembly’s redistricting map under SB 927 and reject in full all three Plaintiffs’ remedial proposals, denying Plaintiffs any further injunctive or declaratory relief.
…Adding… Press release…
House Speaker and Senate President Statement on Federal Court Decision to Uphold Fair Map
“From the beginning we have been guided by the goal of creating a fair map that recognizes the true diversity of the people of this great state. We appreciate that the court recognized and affirmed our efforts to ensure all communities across Illinois receive equal representation,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.
We would like to thank Chairs Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez and Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice Chairs Rep. Curtis Tarver and Sen. Elgie Sims and the bipartisan Redistricting Committees for their work, as well as members of the public who offered testimony and insight throughout this redistricting process.”
* And…
Leader Hernandez’s Statement Regarding Federal Court Decision on Legislative Map
“From the beginning of this redistricting process, we have sought to reflect the diversity of this great state. Today’s ruling confirms that our map is constitutional, adheres to the Voting Rights Act and preserves Illinois’ reputation as a model for the nation when it comes to minority representation,” said Rep. Lisa Hernandez, Chair of the House Redistricting Committee. “I want to thank our bipartisan Redistricting Committee, community organizers, advocacy groups and the general public for their participation in this long but important process.”
…Adding… From the plaintiffs…
“This ruling is a disappointment, but that does not mean we will ever stop fighting for independent maps in Illinois,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). “While we didn’t get the outcome we believe the people of Illinois deserve, the fact remains that Gov. Pritzker and his cronies broke their promises and failed Illinois families.
“It didn’t have to be this way. Gov. Pritzker could have kept his promise to support independent redistricting, but instead signed a map that was ruled unconstitutional and another that was opposed by voting rights groups throughout Illinois. Gov. Pritzker and his Democratic allies have made their allegiance clear: they are more committed to protecting the same political insiders who have been wrecking our state for decades than defending voting rights in Illinois.”
“We are disappointed at the three-judge court’s decision today,” MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz said in a statement. “In particular, we believe that the court reached conclusions about the extent of crossover voting by non-Latinos to support Latino-supported candidates that are not accurate under the law. Nonetheless, the legislatively-drawn districts will be in effect as a result of today’s decision, and MALDEF will be carefully monitoring electoral outcomes in the districts we have challenged.” […]
MALDEF staff attorney Ernest Herrera said the decision means Latino voters will continue to be underrepresented in Springfield.
“The Court unfortunately agreed with Illinois’s legislative leaders that their map was just good enough for Latino voters for technical reasons, despite the facts that Latinos remain underrepresented in the General Assembly and continue to be left behind in education, housing access, healthcare, and income,” Herrera said in a statement. “Rather than provide Latinos equal opportunity to choose candidates who best represents their interests, today’s decision signals to the Latinos of Illinois that they remain significantly dependent on the purported munificence of the current majority political party.”
* From House Speaker Chris Welch’s chief of staff Tiffany Moy…
Members,
I hope everyone is having a nice holiday break and that you and your families are healthy and well. This email contains several important announcements relating to session activity over the next few weeks:
1) The House and Senate will convene on Wednesday, Jan. 5. Session will be canceled on Tuesday, Jan. 4 and Thursday, Jan 6. We will continue to monitor the public health emergency and will make a final decision on the week of January 11-13 in the very near future. The attached joint release will be sent to the media shortly.
2) Please hold Tuesday, Jan. 4 at noon for a virtual caucus. Additional information will follow.
3) SHIELD Illinois testing will be available in the Stratton Building on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning next week. The available dates/times and the registration information for those who have not previously registered for testing is below: [Redacted]
House Members will not be required to test, but I very strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of the SHIELD testing upon arrival to/departure from Springfield during session weeks. If testing upon arrival is not feasible, I strongly encourage obtaining a PCR or rapid test before coming to Springfield.
Additional information on testing and protocols are in the attached memo, and will also be reviewed in Tuesday’s caucus.
4) There is no intention to extend any of the existing deadlines. As a reminder, the deadline to submit legislation for drafting is Friday, January 14. The deadline to file legislation is Friday, January 28. Your Issues/Legislative staffer will be following up to ensure your drafting requests are submitted and processed before the deadline.
Thank you all for your patience as we work through this, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
For the week of January 3rd ONLY, evening testing on Monday will be canceled and instead take place on Tuesday, January 4th from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
* Press release…
The Illinois General Assembly will be in session Wednesday, Jan. 5, but the Tuesday (Jan. 4) and Thursday (Jan. 6) session days are being canceled, legislative leaders announced.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon also said the following session week (Jan. 11-13) is likely to be canceled amid the ongoing global pandemic.
“In the past 2 weeks, Illinois’ daily average of COVID-19 cases increased 130% and hospitalizations have risen 50%. This pandemic is not over,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “We must take necessary precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus, reduce the burden on our health care systems and keep each other as safe as possible. We know how important the people’s work is and we are committed to getting that work done in a safe way. Please take advantage of the free and widely available vaccines and boosters because we know it is our best tool in this fight.”
“We continue to monitor the situation in an effort to protect our colleagues, our staffs and everyone else who is part of a legislative session day,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. “We have work to do, and we’ve proven that we can do it, minimize exposure and keep people healthy and safe. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the vaccines and booster shots available to protect themselves and those around them.”
* Meanwhile…
Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases statewide, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is announcing that all Secretary of State departments will not conduct in-person transactions – including Driver Services facilities – from Jan. 3, 2022, through Jan. 17, 2022. All departments and Driver Services facilities will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 18. White is encouraging the public to visit ilsos.gov for online services. Online transactions will remain open for all departments to conduct office services, including, but not limited to the following:
• Renewing a license plate sticker.
• Renewing a driver’s license or ID card for those who qualify (individuals may call 217-785-1424 to confirm their eligibility or to obtain their PIN).
• Obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card.
• Obtaining a driver record abstract.
• Filing Business Services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports.
In addition, the Drivers and Vehicles Services hotline phone number will remain open at 800-252-8980. Customers with issues involving administrative hearings may email adminhearings@ilsos.gov or call 312-793-3722 or 217-782-7065.
…Adding… It’s pretty widespread, but mostly mild for those who are vaccinated and boosted…
I have tested positive for COVID-19. I have mild symptoms and will isolate as I recover.
I’m so relieved to be fully vaccinated and boosted. If you have yet to do so, please get vaccinated, your booster and wear a mask.
* We sure had our ups and downs this year. It’s depressing that we’re ending the year on such a negative note as far as the virus goes. But with new treatments just over the horizon and the greatest scientists this world has ever seen, maybe we really can return to some semblance of normalcy in 2022. I hope we can all recharge ahead of the new year and what’s likely to be a grinding “spring” session.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best State Agency Director goes to Alicia Tate-Nadeau…
IEMA has had to do a ton of work on COVID and vaccinations, and while IDPH has been more the public face of the response…well, that’s how IEMA would prefer it, and a testament to the fact that they’ve screwed up very little. As a bonus, I thought the response to the tornadoes last week was textbook how state government is supposed to do it.
Dr. Ezike should probably own this award, but Tate-Nadeau received some really strong nominations, including that one.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Spokesperson goes to Jordan Abudayyeh…
Jordan is a force and beyond that you can count on her to solve just about any problem, not even just a communications one. She works around the clock, always has a cynical joke ready and truly understands the inner workings of everything she deals with on a daily basis. JB is lucky to have her in his corner because I would not want her on the opposite team.
* The 2021 Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.Com Commenter goes to Candy Dogood…
She’s engaging, thought provoking, and always has a little gem to throw in at the end to make you think.
Oswego Willy got a lot of nominations, but he also nominated Candy Dogood, so that tipped the scale.
He’s taking a giant pile of institutional knowledge with him that will take decades to replicate. I’d also consider his leadership during the Speakership transition to be really underrated right now. There was a real threat that the caucus would turn into Lord of the Flies and he stepped up as an honest broker. That remarkable display of leadership capped a lifetime of it.
* Congratulations to everyone who won this year…
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - House Republicans: Cheri Hermes
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - House Democrats: Mika Baugher
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Democrats: Mavilen Silva
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Republicans: Tracy Weiters
Best House Democratic Campaign Staffer: Jon Maxson
Best Senate Democratic Campaign Staffer: Magen Ryan
Best House Republican Campaign Staffer: Ryan Tozer
Best Senate Republican Campaign Staffer: Roxanne Owens
Best Senate Republican Non-Campaign Staffer: Whitney Barnes
Best House Republican Non-Campaign Staffer: Joe Sculley
Best Senate Democratic Non-Campaign Staffer: Mary Hanahan
Best House Democratic Non-Campaign Staffer: Erik Lowder
Best House Democrat: House Speaker Chris Welch
Best House Republican: Rep. Seth Lewis
Best Senate Democrat: Sens. Elgie Sims and Rob Martwick
Best Senate Republican: Sen. Don DeWitte
Best Contract Lobbyist: Bukola Bello
Best In-House Lobbyist: Adrienne Alexander
Best Do-Gooder Lobbyist: Khadine Bennett
Best Legislative Liaison: Laura Vaught
Best Statewide Staffer: HW Devlin
Best State Agency Director: Alicia Tate-Nadeau
Best Spokesperson: Jordan Abudayyeh
Best CapitolFax.com Commenter: Candy Dogood
Lifetime Achievement: House Majority Leader Greg Harris
Building on efforts to make Illinois a national leader in safeguarding reproductive rights, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 370, repealing the harmful Parental Notification Act (PNA). Rescinding the PNA ensures that while a pregnant minor can choose to involve a family member or legal guardian in their decision to have or not have an abortion, vulnerable youth – such as victims of rape, incest, and domestic abuse – are not compelled to do so under the law.
“With reproductive rights under attack across the nation, Illinois is once again establishing itself as a leader in ensuring access to healthcare services,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This repeal was essential, because it was the most vulnerable pregnant minors who were punished by this law: victims of rape and physical abuse in unsafe homes. I thank Representative Anna Moeller, Senator Elgie Sims and the lawmakers and advocates who have fiercely fought to repeal this law and keep vulnerable young people safe. I’m proud that Illinois continues to be a national leader in protecting reproductive rights.”
The Parental Notification Act of 1995 required doctors to notify a pregnant minor’s parent within 48 hours prior to an abortion procedure. This obstruction harmed the state’s most vulnerable youth, including victims of rape and domestic abuse, by preventing young people from accessing all of their healthcare options without fear.
“With reproductive rights under attack around the country, today we are once again affirming that in Illinois, access to reproductive healthcare will be available to those who need it,” said State Representative Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). “With the signing of the Youth Health and Safety Act, we are protecting the most vulnerable young people in our state- young people who live in such dangerous family situations that they fear abuse, homelessness or forced pregnancy and marriage when they face an unplanned pregnancy and need to access reproductive healthcare. I am grateful to Governor Pritzker for signing this legislation, my colleagues in the Illinois House who voted for this bill, House Speaker Chris Welch, House Chief of Staff Tiffany Moy and Brigid Leahy at Planned Parenthood, Khadine Bennett at the ACLU and Terry Cosgrove at Personal Pac for their tireless advocacy on this issue.”
“While several states are denying women access to reproductive health care, Illinois has again stepped forward to protect that right,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims (D-Chicago). “Current law causes harm by placing barriers to care for young women in unsafe family situations. Personal decisions about reproductive health care will now rightfully be up to individuals and their health care providers.”
“After years of work, the Youth Health and Safety Act successfully repeals the last anti-abortion law on the books in Illinois,” said Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside). “With the Governor’s signature, we are ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, has bodily autonomy and can choose who they involve in their most private and personal health decisions. I want to congratulate Reps. Anna Moeller and Kelly Cassidy for their tenacious advocacy, working alongside organizations like Planned Parenthood, ACLU and many more to ensure Illinois sends the very clear message that we will always protect the right to safe reproductive health care.”
“Access to sexual and reproductive health care starting at a young age is crucial,” said State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake). “By providing resources and education, we are giving young girls vital information to allow for free expression and bodily autonomy. The signing of House Bill 370 signals to young women that we are prioritizing them today and for generations to come.”
“When the Texas legislature, aided by the United States Supreme Court, declared open season on people seeking reproductive health care, it became very clear to me that our state is in a unique position to reach out our hands and offer a safe haven to people from Texas and other states that seek to restrict reproductive rights,” said State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago). “By repealing the Parental Notice Act, we can ensure that the most vulnerable among us are able to safely make the best decision for their own health and safety.”
To ensure lasting change, the bill also creates the Youth Health and Safety Advisory Working Group to identify laws and policies that impact parenting and pregnant youth under the age of 18. Under the purview of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the group will focus on reproductive safety for pregnant and parenting youth as well as preventing human trafficking. The working group will discuss topics around consent to medical care, treatment, pregnancy and post-pregnancy, and healthcare provisions. The Governor will appoint four members with at least two members under the age of 18. The advisory group is required to present a report and any recommendations by July 1, 2023.
“The Parental Notice of Abortion was designed to restrict access to abortion without regard for the harm suffered when essential health care is denied,” said Colleen K. Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois. “We saw that unnecessary harm PNA inflicted on young people, including young people forced to parent, kicked out of their homes, fearing physical and verbal abuse and losing the opportunity to finish high school or go to college. Over the past eight years, we have represented hundreds of young people forced to go to court and share the most personal aspects of their lives with a stranger. Repealing PNA at this critical moment continues the effort in Illinois to ensure that all people have the ability to make their own reproductive health care decisions. With courageous champions the House and Senate – and leadership in the Governor’s office – Illinois can continue to be a beacon for reproductive freedom across the country.”
“As a volunteer judicial bypass attorney who has represented more than 35 young women who face violence, physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and devastating trauma in their homes, Governor Pritzker has my deepest appreciation for signing this repeal and putting an end to this dangerous and unjust law,” said Melissa Widen, Personal PAC Board Member. “We should all be proud of Illinois’ leadership in protecting, rather than harming, the health and lives of our young people.”
“Thank you Governor Pritzker for signing the Youth Health and Safety Act into law,” said Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action. “Together, we’re ensuring that young people can involve whomever they trust in their health care decisions, protecting them from harmful domestic situations and unnecessary judicial interactions. At a time when reproductive rights are hanging by a thread across the country, today’s bill signing means that in Illinois, regardless of age, people now have the full legal autonomy to make reproductive health care decisions that are best for their bodies.”
“It takes a village to make a movement like this,” said the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health. “Youth especially were the game changers every step of the way as a necessary voice and for constantly reminding adult accomplices that to #TrustYouth is to advocate WITH and FOR youth. Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health cannot thank youth organizers enough for putting in the work to get us to this point and believing in us to achieve this repeal. We especially need to give a shoutout and thank you to ICAH Youth Leaders Hannah and Taylor who testified!”
“Thank you, Governor Pritzker, and all of the incredible representatives of Illinois who worked so hard to make this happen,” said the Chicago Abortion Fund. “Having the Youth Health and Safety Act signed into law will be transformative for the young people who call the Chicago Abortion Fund helpline and allow them to have full autonomy over their reproductive decisions. We trust youth! Illinois trusts youth! The repeal of PNA represents an essential step forward in an increasingly hostile abortion care landscape in the United States. Illinois must continue to be a model for abortion access across the nation - so many futures depend on it.”
This legislation builds upon the administration’s commitment to ensure all residents have access to basic health care and family planning with the freedom to make their own choices. In 2019, Illinois established in state law a fundamental right to reproductive healthcare, including abortion and maternity care, through the Reproductive Health Act. In July of 2021, Illinois became the second state in the Midwest to require birth control be available through a pharmacist, without a doctor’s visit.
Amid a wave of legislation and court action across the nation restricting a woman’s right to choose, more out-of-state patients are now traveling to Illinois to receive reproductive care. According to the most recent data from the Illinois Department of Public Health,
7,534 nonresidents received abortions in Illinois in 2019, compared with 2,970 in 2014 and 5,528 in 2017.
HB 370 is effective January 1, 2024.
* Press release…
Below is a statement from State Representative Avery Bourne (R- Morrisonville) on Governor JB Pritzker’s repeal of the Parental Notification Act, a change that will strip parents of the right to be informed when minor children receive abortions:
“Today’s bill signing by the Governor strips parents of their basic right to know what is happening in their minor daughter’s life. Even more concerning, removing this common sense protection will increase the likelihood of sexual abuse, exploitation and allow the trafficking of minor girls to continue unchecked.
This significant change in our law is out of touch with a majority of Illinoisans and puts girls in Illinois—and across the Midwest—in danger. Parents deserve the right to know if their minor child is seeking any major medical procedure, especially one like an abortion where there can be serious short and long term consequences. Instead, today the Democrat majority has chosen to recklessly push those rights to the wayside.”
…Adding… Eric J. Scheidler with the Pro-Life Action League…
J. B. Pritzker has betrayed Illinois parents today by repealing our state’s Parental Notice of Abortion Act, which has saved thousands of young women from making the horrible choice to abort their children. Sexual predators will celebrate, as it will now be easier to have evidence of their crimes swept away by the abortionist. Adding insult to injury, Pritzker signed this bill late on a Friday, just a week before Christmas, avoiding any public protest. Illinois parents will not forget this act of cowardice and injustice in next year’s gubernatorial election.
* Sen. Rezin…
Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued the following statement after the Governor signed House Bill 370 into law, which officially repeals the Parental Notice of Abortion (PNA) Act of 1995:
“By signing the repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion Act, the Governor has made it clear to the parents of our state that he doesn’t care about their rights.
“It’s the obligation of parents to provide for the physical and mental health as well as the safety of their children. This repeal will undoubtedly impede parents’ ability to uphold those obligations and will leave young girls throughout the state without the care and support they need during a critical time in their lives.
“As a mother of two daughters, there aren’t enough words to truly express the anger and disappointment I feel about the Governor’s decision to erode the rights of parents who only wish to be a support system for their daughters.”
…Adding… Leader McConchie…
“I believe parents matter,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). “Legislation that removes parental involvement declares they don’t. This is just another example of the governor’s overreach into the lives of Illinois families to remind them that he, rather than they, knows what is best for their kids.”
* Gary Rabine…
Today, in yet another blow to parental rights, JB Pritzker repealed the parental notification law requiring parents be informed when their child seeks an abortion. Your underage kid can’t get an aspirin at school without parental consent but thanks to JB they can now get an abortion without you knowing. Under Pritzker’s rule, Illinois is now the most pro-abortion state in the country.
This is yet another way JB Pritzker is continuing to limit Illinois parents’ ability to make decisions on how they raise their children. Like losing Democratic Governor candidate Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, who said parents should not be involved in their kids’ educations, JB Pritzker believes parents should be removed from decisions regarding their childrens’ physical and mental health.
Much attention has been paid to Illinois’ enrollment losses during the pandemic and why almost 70,000 public school students left their districts. Less has been paid to students who stay but don’t attend school regularly — a pattern that can cause them to fall behind, miss learning, struggle to catch up, and possibly drop out of school. […]
Statewide chronic absenteeism rose to 21.2% in 2021, up almost 5 percentage points from 2019, when it stood at 16.5%. Students are considered chronically absent when they miss 18 to 20 days of the school year — an average about two days a month — with or without a valid excuse for being absent.
Regulators on Thursday turned down Arlington International Racecourse’s request to operate off-track betting parlors in Illinois next year, citing its shutdown of live horse racing at the track.
The Illinois Racing Board voted 5-5 on whether to issue Arlington a license to operate OTB facilities, meaning that the request was rejected.
The former Illinois State Police Merit Board financial officer charged with theft and forgery for allegedly falsifying overtime reports is now being accused of falsely listing the agency’s top lawyer as her treasurer in a campaign for a local office in Springfield.
Dan Dykstra, the board’s chief legal counsel, asked the Illinois State Board of Elections this month to strike his name as treasurer from political action committee records filed by Jenny Thornley in her unsuccessful 2019 run for a seat on the Springfield convention center board.
Though his signature is on the Thornley campaign paperwork, Dykstra wrote in a letter to the elections board that “it appears Ms. Thornley used a signature stamp to affix my signature to the form.”
Watch for former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti to announce she’s running for DuPage County clerk. […]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is hedging its bets and endorsing both Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman in their bids for the 6th Congressional District.
State Rep. Will Davis (30th) is running for the 2nd Congressional District Democratic State Central Committee seat that opened up when state Rep. Al Riley announced last month he wouldn’t seek re-election for the position.
Controlling the growth of the contagion is critical, making universal vaccination a moral imperative. Receiving the full series of vaccination injections, as well as considering boosters that could augment our protection against the latest variant, is not just about protecting oneself from this scourge. It is also about protecting others from the virus. It is about each of us doing our part to stop helping the virus mutate, and to ensure that this disease will not paralyze our health care systems.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Friday that the expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional three months from Jan. 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. White noted this will be the final extension.
Another name that could pop up is former radio host Mancow Muller. He floated the idea on YouTube, where he said he’ll announce his intention early next month.
“One of the main reasons I got out of radio was to run for governor because I can’t do both,” Muller said. “If elections are fair, I will be the next governor and you will for the first time in your life have freedom.”
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded more than $4 million to three state agencies to reduce the DNA processing backlog, combat internet crimes against children, and improve adult reentry programs. The Illinois State Police will receive $2,596,295 to reduce the DNA processing backlog. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office will receive $550,852 to combat internet crimes against children. The Illinois Department of Corrections will receive $899,941 to improve adult reentry programs
“These funds will be used to make our communities safer by solving crimes, proactively protecting our children, and reducing the amount of repeat offenders,” said Davis. “It is important we continue to adequately fund our law enforcement and give them the tools they need to do what they do best - protect and serve.”
Project Details
Recipient: Illinois State Police
Amount: $2,596,295
Project Title: Illinois State Police BJA FY21 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog (CEBR) Program […]
Recipient: Illinois Attorney General’s Office
Amount: $550,852
Project Title: Illinois Attorney General’s Office ICAC Task Force Program […]
Recipient: Illinois Department of Corrections
Amount: $899,941
Project Title: Expanding Literacy Attainment and Special Education Opportunities in the Illinois Department of Corrections
* I asked the governor’s office whether Davis had anything to do with this money. Jordan Abudayyeh…
These were competitive federal grants that our agencies applied for. Ya know, the agencies that Rodney Davis claims Gov. Pritzker isn’t running effectively.
Today, President Joe Biden announced that he has appointed the following individuals to serve in key regional leadership roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) […]
Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, USDA State Director, Rural Development, Illinois
Betsy Dirksen Londrigan is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and former Director at the University of Illinois Springfield. She brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, working with community, regional and state leaders to effect positive change. She is a lifelong resident of Springfield, Illinois and is proud that her family members still own and operate the centennial farm in Central Illinois where her grandmother was raised. Dirksen Londrigan is committed to working with rural communities to bring investments to every corner of Illinois to support local and regional initiatives to power economic development and grow local economies.
Commonwealth Edison has proposed giving consumers $21.1 million in refunds through credits on their bills to address Illinois Commerce Commission probes into the bribery scandal that led to ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s ouster.
The amount of the refunds is mostly tied to pay and benefits received by former ComEd executives whose misconduct was outlined in the deal struck with federal prosecutors last year in which the company agreed to pay a $200 million fine.
But utility watchdog Abe Scarr of Illinois PIRG called the proposed refund “chump change” for a utility that is soon expected to rake in $1 billion a year in profits and may not offer the credit until the spring of 2023.
* Cases are up about 10K over last week, deaths are up by 50, hospitalizations have increased by 500, ICU usage has increased by around 120 and ventilator usage has increased by over 50….
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 59,312 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 316 deaths since December 10, 2021.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,944,056 cases, including 27,117 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since Friday, December 10, 2021, laboratories have reported 1,222,722 specimens for a total of 42,033,355. As of last night, 3,783 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 787 patients were in the ICU and 353 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from December 10-16, 2021 is 4.9%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from December 10-16, 2021 is 6.2%.
A total of 18,475,621 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 66,816 doses. Since Friday, December 10, 2021, 467,715 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 70% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 63% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Yesterday, CDC endorsed its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation expressing a clinical preference for individuals to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) over Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) vaccine. ACIP’s unanimous recommendation followed a discussion of the latest evidence on vaccine effectiveness, vaccine safety and rare adverse events, and the abundant U.S. vaccine supply. ACIP reaffirmed that receiving any vaccine is better than being unvaccinated.
All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
The most intriguing unknown—the one in which we might like to place our hopes—is whether Omicron could be milder than Delta. But a milder, more transmissible virus can easily sicken so many people that it ends up increasing hospitalizations and deaths on the whole. Here is some simple math to explain the danger: Suppose we have two viruses, one that is twice as transmissible as the other. (For the record, Omicron is currently three to five times as transmissible as Delta in the U.K.—though that number is likely to fall over time.) And suppose it takes five days between a person’s getting infected and their infecting others. After 30 days, the more transmissible virus is now causing 26, or 64, times as many new cases as the less transmissible one. Exponentials are one hell of a growth hack. If we are banking on the idea that Omicron is more mild to get us through winter, then we had better hope that it’s really, really mild.
Vaccines will lower the proportion of hospitalizations quite a bit in those extra cases, especially because Omicron is infecting lots of vaccinated people. But it’s a long climb down that exponential curve. Moreover, when so many cases pile up all at once, their effects start spilling over into the lives of those who aren’t sick. If Omicron runs through a workplace it may present a temporary inconvenience. But if that workplace is a school, then the school will have to close, disrupting the lives of every child and parent. If that workplace is a hospital, then doctors and nurses are unable to work. This has been an issue in South Africa, where Omicron is already dominant and nearly 20 percent of the health-care staff have COVID. Even if most of these cases are mild, huge numbers of people getting sick all at once will alter everyday reality.
* None of the lobbyist nomination tallies were even close this year. The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Contract Lobbyist goes to Bukola Bello…
Bukola got the midwife bill passed after years of work, and made what other contract lobbyists weren’t able to get make happen, possible. She’s kind, determined, dependable and a joy to be around. She has a vast array of relationships across the aisle and both chambers. She works hard for her clients, no matter their budget.
Honorable mentions go to Liz Brown-Reeves and Dave Sullivan.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best In-House Lobbyist goes to Adrienne Alexander…
(I)n the past session she helped win a badly needed wage increase for direct-service personnel who serve people with developmental disabilities in community agencies, successfully navigated both criminal justice reform and the budget, and did all that while also winning the biggest investment in a decade in public mental health services in the City of Chicago budget, staying on top of Cook County issues, and proving instrumental in assisting with political and legislative relations adjacent to organizing new members such as at the Niles and Oak Lawn libraries and the Art Institute of Chicago. She did all that by being brilliant, trusted and respected, and a tireless worker who’s always on. Those qualities enabled her to tackle the sizable challenges of the past year of lobbying virtually, which often meant monitoring hearings via Zoom and talking to legislators and staff by phone and text. Finally, while many people are familiar with Dri’s authoritative Twitter persona, those lucky enough to know her IRL respect her devotion to her family and friends, her faith and her union. Adrienne not only deserves all the awards she is an inspiration.
Honorable mention to Litesa Wallace.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Do-Gooder Lobbyist goes to Khadine Bennett…
(A)n incredibly hard, focused worker. She works on a range of issues and doesn’t stop until the bills cross the finish line. One of the big bills she got done this session was the PNA repeal bill that didn’t make it over the finish line until veto. She never gave up and kept working it until the vote, including on the sex ed bill. She works well with opposition and allies alike.
Honorable mentions to Randy Witter and Mike Ziri.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Liaison goes to Laura Vaught…
I don’t wish working at IDPH during a pandemic on anyone, and having to be the main point person with legislators during that time is basically impossible, but Laura has handled it wonderfully. She’s pleasant to work with and is somehow responsive even in the midst of the craziness.
Honorable mention to Ashley Wright.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statewide Staffer goes to HW Devlin…
Always helpful and kind to everybody. Very responsive and seems to really care about public service. SOS will be going through a change in the near future and I bet it will be a smooth transition because of staffers like HW who will make sure we don’t miss a beat and keep SOS heading in the right direction.
Honorable mention to Sydney Holman.
* OK, on to today’s final categories…
Lifetime Achievement
Best CapitolFax.com Commenter
Make sure to nominate in both categories. Also, make sure to explain your nominations. Lifetime Achievement is open to anyone connected to state government and politics. Thanks!
And keep in mind that I’m shutting things down at 4:30 today for the holidays. So, let’s get on it.
* Darren Bailey does a Facebook Live broadcast just about every morning. From today’s…
I’ve just got to one word of wisdom to the people out there who who, you know, the names that are being mentioned, Mr. Griffin and others: You guys are smart. You’ve worked hard for your money. You’ve got common sense. And I know you know all about taking risks. And I’m here to tell you that I’m a farmer. I won’t give up. I’m a hard worker. I have common sense. I’ve been the only one standing up for the state of Illinois and the people there and our friends in Chicago are realizing the same thing. So I hope you don’t waste your money and you put it to good work and that would only obviously be behind me.
So how’s that for a sales pitch because I know you’re watching.
I think he said that knowing he had no chance of success, but to make sure his followers knew he’d at least tried.
The head of a dark money group that helped defeat last year’s graduated income tax measure is behind a campaign to elect a Republican candidate to run against Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022. And the money behind the effort will come from billionaire Ken Griffin.
Mike Zolnierowicz, who was former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s first chief of staff, is working the levers of this operation, according to two Playbook sources. The former governor, however, is not involved. Zolnierowicz, or Mike Z, did not return a request for comment.
Interviews with potential candidates have been held in secrecy with Zolnierowicz. Word got out, however, that there’s interest in Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin to run for governor and state Rep. Avery Bourne to join the ticket as lieutenant governor. Neither returned requests for comment.
It’s part of a plan for Griffin to bankroll a slate of GOP candidates, reports Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore.
A source familiar confirmed that Irvin is among multiple candidates being considered for the top of the ticket, but no final decisions have been made.
Griffin, who is Illinois’ wealthiest person, denied that he has settled on a specific gubernatorial candidate to take on Pritzker, whom he has pledged to go “all in” to defeat next year.
“We have real problems in Illinois with violence, corruption and profligate spending and I look forward to supporting candidates — be it Republican or Democrat — who will address these issues that plague our state,” Griffin said in a statement.
A source close to Griffin said that “the field for next year’s election hasn’t fully formed yet and Ken hasn’t made a decision” and reiterated that “there is also no spending number as there is no candidate.”
Besides Irvin, who was elected as Aurora’s first Black mayor in 2017, the tentative ticket also includes state Rep. Avery Bourne as lieutenant governor. Bourne, 29, a three-term lawmaker from Downstate Morrisonville, is widely viewed as a future star in the party. […]
But some Republicans are questioning the strategy of a Griffin-backed slate being pushed through a cash-hungry state GOP.
“These Griffin people behind the curtain, we don’t know. Is it like the Wizard of Oz?” said one prominent Republican who asked not to be identified because he didn’t want to anger Griffin.
“I’m not saying they don’t have any credibility, but it’s a little bold to say to the Republican State Central Committee, ‘OK boys and girls, line up. This is what we’re going to do,’“ the source said.
The Republican said he also didn’t see the existing candidates for governor dropping out of the race, opening the door to further divisions within the state GOP.
It isn’t really all that bold. The state party has no money, no real organizational ability and little credibility with Republicans on the ground. They’ll do what they’re told. And the division already exists. That’s what open primaries do.
Irvin was raised by a single mother in Aurora’s public housing, according to a bio on the city’s website. The East Aurora High School grad enlisted in the Army and served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
He was also an assistant state’s attorney in the office of the Cook County State’s Attorney and a prosecutor in the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Should he decide to enter the Republican gubernatorial field he’ll likely be made to answer for his voting history.
His voting record shows he’s pulled Democratic ballots for the 2014, 2016 and 2020 primaries, according to Kane County officials. Irvin requested a Republican ballot in 2018 when then-Gov. Bruce Rauner was facing a challenge from then-state Rep. Jeanne Ives.
* Natalie Edelstein at the Pritzker campaign…
Ken Griffin’s insistence on bringing Bruce Rauner’s failed style of leadership back to the governor’s office is a disservice to working families everywhere. Mr. Griffin has been transparent about his desire to install someone in Springfield that will do his bidding, and this latest announcement is further proof that Ken will stop at nothing to push his pawns in this radical, out of touch game of GOP chess.
Governor Pritzker is focused on putting working families first and will always have their backs, no matter what.
A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit from an Oak Lawn school board member and Republican congressional candidate who sought to overturn Gov. JB Pritzker’s mandate on masks inside school buildings.
Rob Cruz, who sits on the board of Oak Lawn Community High School District 229, is a Republican primary candidate for Illinois Sixth Congressional District, a seat held by Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove. On Aug. 19, Cruz and another parent, Scot Jones, sued Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois State Board of Education Director Carmen Ayala, as well as his own school board, challenging an Aug. 4 executive order requiring masks for anyone older than 2 years, inside an Illinois school, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
The state moved to dismiss the complaint, which argued the mask mandate violates the 14th Amendment’s due process clause as well as parents’ “fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody, education and control of their children.”
In an opinion issued Dec. 14, U.S. District Judge Sharon Coleman agreed to dismiss the complaint.
In essence, plaintiffs argue that their liberty interest in raising their children and making medically-related decisions for them extends to the context of mask mandates during the COVID- 19 global pandemic. “To allege a viable substantive due process claim, [plaintiffs] would need to allege conduct under color of state law that ‘violated a fundamental right or liberty” and was so ‘arbitrary and irrational’ as to ‘shock the conscience.’” Nelson v. City of Chicago
Here, plaintiffs have failed to plausibly allege that the mask mandate in schools, which was enacted to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus among students, teachers, faculty, and visitors, is so egregious and outrageous as to shock the conscience. Indeed, the Court would be hard-pressed to conclude that the Governor’s executive order, which is intended to save lives during an ongoing public health crisis that has taken at least 800,000 American lives, amounts to egregious or outrageous conduct. The Court is not alone in this conclusion. […]
In Count II, plaintiffs seek injunctive relief arguing that Governor Pritzker exceeded the emergency powers granted to him under the Illinois Constitution and IEMAA when he enacted EO21-18. Because the “Eleventh Amendment immunizes state officers from federal injunctions based on state law,” plaintiffs cannot seek to enjoin Governor Pritzker for allegedly misusing his emergency powers.
Cruz was represented by an attorney at appellate court candidate Tom DeVore’s firm, Silver Lake Legal Group.
Despite the chilly weather and winds reminiscent of those that damaged the Midwest the previous night, approximately 60 individuals gathered Saturday afternoon at the courthouse bandstand in Waterloo for We the People of Southern Illinois’ “Mental Health and Constitution” rally.
Six speakers addressed the crowd, including U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Hubbard of Belleville and attorney Thomas DeVore, who has challenged the legality of schools’ masking mandates in several courts across the state.
Judging from his lawsuit failure rate and his vitriolic outbursts, I’m not sure he knows much about either mental health or the Constitution.
Before attending Stanford and Oxford, Sullivan attended St. Louis University, where he founded a controversial, Anti-Israeli magazine called “One World.” […]
Most troubling though, are the multiple pieces of Anti-Israeli propaganda published during his tenure as Editor and CEO, including an article he wrote personally.
The third issue of One World was published in spring of 2007, while Sullivan was a Senior at the school, and Editor-In-Chief of the magazine.
The issue included photographs of The West Bank in Israel that had been taken By Brendan Kottenstette, from “SLU Solidarity With Palestine.”
One caption says: “The Wall Has Completely Cut Some Off From Their School. For Others, The Many Hours At The 316 Checkpoints In The West Bank Has Become An Obstacle That They Cannot Overcome. Some Even Lose Entire Semesters Because Of Absences Due To Checkpoint Closures.”
Another caption says Israelis view all Palestinians as terrorists: “On Their Side Of This Wall, As Their Entire Lives Are Controlled By Martial Law, All The Palestinians See Of Israel Are The Soldiers, Tanks And Guns… All The Israelis See Are Terrorists.”
The magazine viciously attacked Israel yet again In Spring 2009, when One World published an article titled “Obstructing Freedom In The Occupied Territories,” by Saint Louis University student Sharifa Barakat.
Barakat attacked Israel’s “occupation” of Palestine, and called for boycott and divestment campaigns targeting Israel.
I mean, he was basically a kid when he founded that magazine. But, man, it has sure proved to be target-rich.
