[Comments now open.]
* From the legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability…
Incorporating June’s figures, FY 2023 finished the year with a base General Funds revenue total of $50.707 billion. This is $373 million higher than the FY 2022 base General Funds revenue total of $50.334 billion. When including the one-time reimbursement and transfers received in FY 2023 associated with pandemic-related federal dollars, the overall FY 2023 total rises to $53.134 billion, which is $2.064 billion higher than the $51.070 billion receipted in FY 2022. The FY 2023 General Funds revenue totals, in terms of both base receipts and total receipts, become the highest on record for the State of Illinois.
* Good news from the Daily Herald…
If you’ve noticed new company headquarters in your town or a new manufacturing facility, you aren’t alone.
Site Selection has taken note, too, and ranked Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will among the Top 20 counties in the nation for economic development.
Cook County came in second, followed by DuPage at No. 9, Kane at 14 and Will at 19. Illinois is the only state with four contiguous counties on the list.
Though the magazine has ranked the Chicago metro area as the top region for business growth the last 10 years, this is the first time the magazine has ranked individual counties based on economic development.
* Reuters looks at the UAW negotiations by centering the Stellantis plant in Belvidere. It also breaks news that the state has purchased some nearby land…
A shuttered Illinois Jeep assembly plant will be at the center of a power struggle between the United Auto Workers union and Detroit’s automakers as the manufacturers double down on cutting costs to fund an accelerated transition to electric vehicles.
When the Stellantis (STLAM.MI) factory in the northern Illinois town of Belvidere was idled in February, it left union members in shock as they had not expected the shutdown until June. […]
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has also stepped up efforts to salvage the 58-year-old Belvidere plant that once employed 4,500 union workers.
A spokesperson for Stellantis said the state recently purchased 170 acres of land next to the idled plant in Belvidere. The governor has not confirmed the land purchase or whether it is related to tax credits to sway the company to bring in a new product, or repurpose the facility for EVs.
UAW Regional Director Brandon Campbell said the incentive package that Illinois is offering Stellantis is comparable to deals offered in Michigan and Indiana.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) headquarters today to announce the largest multi-year program to fix and repair infrastructure in state history: $40.99 billion over six years, showcasing the reach and impact of the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The new multi-year program is the first time in more than a decade that IDOT is releasing a comprehensive approach to invest in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
“Over the next six years, we’re investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state. That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Rebuild Illinois has increased safety, efficiency, and opportunities for residents all over the state — and over the next few years, we will keep building on that progress, with all 102 counties of Illinois included in the multi-year program.”
The Fiscal Year 2024-29 Proposed Highway and Multimodal Improvement Program aims to invest $27.03 billion in roads and bridges, with $4.6 billion identified for the current fiscal year. A total of $13.96 billion is programmed for other modes, which includes $9.85 billion for transit, $2.67 billion for freight and passenger rail, $1.25 billion for aviation and $190 million for ports and waterways. Projects are spread out across state and local transportation systems, touching each of the 102 counties in Illinois.
* Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson deliberately balanced the membership of some of his transition committees and subcommittees to the point where consensus could not be reached on some hot-button topics like a renewed head tax…
The report says Johnson should reopen the city’s shuttered mental health clinics in “phases”, recreate the city’s Department of the Environment, recruit and train 200 new police detectives, and support an increase to the city’s tax on high-end property sales that “are in line with the Bring Chicago Home campaign.”
But the report is silent on whether Johnson should implement a corporate head tax, a tax on jet fuel or a financial transactions tax — all floated by Johnson during the campaign as part of a plan to raise $800 million in new revenue — instead advocating for him to create a “more equitable” tax system.
While the Economic Equity & Vitality subcommittee recommends Johnson “make the city’s tax system more equitable, including by reducing the dependency on property taxes,” it does not champion any of the tax measures Johnson campaigned on, forecasting the difficulty he’ll have pushing new revenue proposals through the City Council.
“We discussed specifics of the mayor’s tax policy and tax incentives for corporations but did not reach consensus. Ultimately, we reached agreement that the mayor should work to grow the tax base and reduce reliance on property taxes,” the report says.
News media reports initially focused on the far-left members of the Economic Equity & Vitality subcommittee, but Michael Sacks, John Rogers, Michael Fassnacht, Andrew Bluhm, Meg George, Lynn Osmond and Ken Bennett were also put on that subcommittee.
The full transition report is here.
* While we’re on this topic…
To some, the Johnson transition committee’s unusually slow process raises broader concerns about the administration’s pace in its early days and questions about its organization. The new mayor has not rushed to fill some key positions and other priorities have gone unfulfilled.
Saying he is the opposite of his predecessor isn’t the slam some might think. I mean, the city endured four years of brashly rushed snap decisions and course changes. It didn’t work out too well.
* Dan Brady won’t run for any office…
Dan Brady statement regarding his decision to not seek elected office in 2024
After much consideration, I will not be a candidate for either the Illinois 17th District Congressional seat or the Illinois House of Representatives in the 88th District.
My style of public service has been driven by service to my constituents and that has become lost in today’s political rhetoric, where politics by personal destruction has become the norm.
I express my sincere appreciation to my supporters, donors, friends, former colleagues and family for their opinions on my possible campaign for either the Congressional or State House seats. I have always valued their input throughout my political career.
Returning to a more active status in the Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Funeral Home firm has reminded me why I chose the profession, to help people in their time of need. I want to continue focusing more of my attention on the funeral home business.
Thank you for the confidence that many have bestowed upon me in the past, present and future. God Bless the State of Illinois and God Bless America. Thank You.
* SIU…
Decisions on moving to another state used to be based on the prospects of a better job, retirement or family. But a fairly new component — politics — is also becoming a factor, according to political experts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
John Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, notes “persuasive research” that shows that many Americans “are attracted to states in which state laws on issues such as abortion and guns reflect their values and preferences.”
Kenneth Mulligan, associate professor of political science, notes academic research confirming Americans “are sorting themselves out politically, including where they choose to live.”
And John Jackson, a visiting professor with the Paul Simon Institute, says choosing where to live based on politics, which is highlighted in a recent Associated Press report, is another sign of the nation’s polarization. “This trend will only be abated when we vote for leaders who will stress the crucial importance of what unites us as a nation.”
* The only big surprise with Bailey’s announcement is how quickly the oppo dump happened (click here)…
* The recent big storm showed everyone that CWLP’s technical and communications infrastructure is a disgrace…
* The new Threads app needs more work to make it business-friendly (there’s no desktop version, and timelines can’t be limited to only those you follow), but it appears to be on the right track and I can be found there @CapitolFax…
Instead of the #twill hashtag, I propose #thrill (whenever it adds hashtags, that is).
* More…
* Press Release | Pritzker pleased with tentative AFSCME deal: Governor JB Pritzker says he’s pleased to have tentative contract agreement with the state’s largest employee union, AFSCME. Details of the contract won’t be released until AFSCME members review and ratify the deal. Governor Pritzker says it was important to find a balance between what’s good for state workers, and Illinois taxpayers.
* Sun-Times | With little fanfare, Shakman era ends as Cook County clerk’s office is released from court oversight of hiring: Yarbrough sat silently beside attorneys for her office during the hearing, and left the Dirksen Federal Courthouse without speaking to reporters. In a statement issued after the hearing, she said her office had spent $3 million on compliance, including fees paid to lawyers for both sides and the compliance monitor, since 2020.
* Sun-Times | Chicago police investigating whether cops had improper sexual contact with immigrants, including teen who was allegedly impregnated: One of the officers, assigned to the Ogden District, covering Lawndale and Little Village, has been accused of impregnating a teenage girl, law enforcement sources said Thursday. Multiple other officers are accused of engaging in sexual acts with immigrants.
* The Southern | Bailey looks to paint Bost as a political insider in Southern Illinois congressional race: Even at Bailey’s campaign launch, it was difficult to find attendees willing to say something negative about Bost or able to identify a policy position about which they disagreed. Bailey also avoided specifics when asked about the differences between them on the issues. State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, said he would support Bailey, despite describing Bost as “a good guy.” “When you get into politics for too long, you do start to get a disconnect, you do start to get a lot more different people in your ears that aren’t the people on the ground that actually have to live with the policies that are put forth,” Wilhour said. “So, I think it’s always important to turn that over and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”
* Chalkbeat Chicago | Johnson wipes school board, replacing nearly all Lightfoot appointees: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his appointees to the Chicago Board of Education Wednesday, naming Jianan Shi of the parent advocacy group Raise Your Hand to lead the board and replacing all but one of the members appointed by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Shi, a former high school teacher in Boston and Chicago, will replace former state lawmaker Miguel del Valle. He is resigning from Raise Your Hand to take on the new role.
* WBEZ | Abortion bans in other states fuel rise in high-risk patients at Chicago hospitals: ‘Doctors told me the baby could die tomorrow’: Even in states that allow abortion if the life of the mother is in danger, doctors say fear of prosecution is leading many to send high-risk patients to Illinois.
* Daily Herald | Metra train service from Chicago to Rockford back on track: Trains will start accommodating passengers in late 2027 with $275 million in state capital funds earmarked for improvements such as new stations in Huntley and Belvidere, bridge upgrades and additional track.
* The Patch | Rep. Jonathan Carroll Not Running For Reelection In IL 57th District: Saying it was the best decision for his family, Illinois State Representative Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) announced Monday he is not seeking reelection next year. Carroll, who was facing a primary challenge from attorney Tracy Katz Muhl in 2024, has been a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 57th district since first being elected in 2017.
* Sun-Times | Walgreens cuts 400 jobs, closes distribution center in Edwardsville: The layoffs come six weeks after the drugstore chain said it would trim 504 corporate positions in Chicago and Deerfield.
* Crain’s | Attorney Qasim Rashid launches primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Bill Foster: Rashid has run for office before, in Virginia. He ran in 2019 for the Virginia Senate and in 2020 for a congressional seat in eastern Virginia, losing both races to Republicans.
* Illinois Times | Illinois Commerce Commission official blasts pipeline proposal: An Illinois Commerce Commission staff member’s blistering criticism and recommended denial of Navigator CO2’s proposed carbon-dioxide pipeline has encouraged opponents of the project. Navigator’s request for ICC approval for the Navigator Heartland Greenway pipeline “is not a benefit to the citizens of Illinois nor in the public interest,” ICC case manager Mark Maple said in testimony filed June 15. Opponents also hope ICC officials are swayed by a Sangamon County official’s statements that Navigator would leave emergency responders ill-prepared for a pipeline rupture.
* Daily Beast | Twitter Star Journos ‘Cautiously’ Move Over to Threads: Of those who’ve joined have been scores of journalists who previously made names for themselves on Twitter and perhaps fall under all three categories. While Twitter-aping revivals including Bluesky, Mastodon, Post News, Hive Social, Substack Notes have sputtered out of relevance, Threads has garnered an astonishing 48 million sign-ups within 24 hours, according to The Verge. Its rise has even prompted Twitter to send a cease-and-desist letter to the company, arguing Threads is predicated on Twitter’s trade secrets.
* Obituary | Jim Runyon: The funeral service for James Allen “Jim” Runyon, age 59, of Robinson, will be held Wednesday morning, July 12, at 10:30, at the Pulliam Funeral Home in Robinson. The visitation is Tuesday evening, July 11, from 5:00 until 8:00, at the Pulliam Funeral Home in Robinson.
* Obituary | Rich Bradley: Richard A. Bradley, 83, of Springfield, died at Country Lane Memory Care on July 3, 2023. Richard was born May 13, 1940, in Champaign, the son of Fred and Lillian Miller Bradley. He graduated from Ogden High School and from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Richard retired in 2009 after thirty five years as the news director of WUIS.
