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Illinois

* Press release…

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will travel to Springfield on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Mayor-elect will deliver an address at a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday and hold multiple meetings throughout his time at the State Capitol.

“I am excited to join our dedicated leaders in Springfield and discuss how we can invest in people to lift up all of our communities,” said Mayor-elect Johnson. “Building a better, stronger, safer Chicago will take all of us, and I look forward to establishing a strong foundation for collaboration.”

“On behalf of the Senate, we look forward to working with the mayor-elect, identifying shared goals, and finding ways to make things better for people all across the great state of Illinois,” said Senate Don President Harmon.

“I look forward to welcoming Mayor-elect Johnson to the State Capitol and the Illinois House next week,” said Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “A strong relationship with the mayor of Chicago is vital in our goal to grow our state’s economy and lift up people in all corners of Illinois. Through collaboration and open dialogue, we can and will build on the progress we’ve made to move our state forward.”

Upon adjournment of the joint session, Mayor-elect Johnson, Senate President Harmon, and Speaker Welch will hold a brief press availability for members of the media to discuss the visit and the importance of a collaborative relationship between the respective leaders. Details on time and location will be forthcoming.

* The Question: Your Statehouse advice for Mayor-elect Johnson?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:26 am

Comments

Keep it short and on point. Remember, this is a game of addition.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:31 am
Ask for a full loaf of bread… be willing to take the best half loaf won.

As a former staffer of the senate (Johnson)… understand the process, utilize the leaders, and make sure a good amount of your wants are wants of the governor

“Governor > Mayor”… that is always true.

Hire great liaisons, make sure they tell you the bad, and also the really bad too… and advocate and cheerlead as they count votes, and do so with all the leaders (Four Tops)

And… likely “Number One”…

Realize here and now, you can’t outmaneuver any of the Dem caucuses or the governor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:33 am
shorter…and smaller…is best. order the pony shoe.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:40 am
Put nothing in writing. Ever.

Comment by Boom Shaka Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:40 am
Find people who know how the GA works. Don’t just hire people who have campaign work on their resumes. You need people who have been in the trenches and know how Springfield works.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:43 am
Don’t text.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:44 am
Remember, if you want to kill something off, get a Freedom Caucus member to co-sponsor it.

Comment by James Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:44 am
It doesn’t hurt to be kind and to try and make friends…

Comment by Nick Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 10:57 am
Hire people who understand the statehouse and state government that will will give it to you straight and may not agree with your policies.

Comment by crazy gonna crazy Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:09 am
===this is a game of addition. ===

There are a lot of ways to say this, and I was just going to say it a different way.

=== You need people who have been in the trenches and know how Springfield works. ===

This is less true today than it was five years ago. There are a lot of new faces in the last five years. There’s also a cynical way to interpret the “how Springfield works” component of your advice — Springfield shouldn’t work that way anymore.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:09 am
The biggest difference between Johnson and Lightfoot is that Johnson’s allies have boots on the ground in legislative districts throughout the city.

When Lightfoot threatened legislators, no one took her seriously because she had no organization that could mount primary challenges to incumbent legislators. It was all bluster and insults. Emanuel had this problem too.

Johnson’s friend and allies, including United Working Families, have already gotten a dozen or more legislators elected. So given that he already has a big stick, my advice for him is to speak softly.

Also, to the extent he can connect Chicago’s needs to what the State needs, he should be able to find a lot of common ground. Expanded day care, mental health services and education should be among them.

If he wants the ability for new or expanded taxes, I think he’s going to run into some trouble.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:17 am
===There are a lot of new faces in the last five years===

Yes, there are. But you need someone who knows nuts and bolts and history really well.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:18 am
Don’t eat a horseshoe before any substantive meetings you need to stay awake for.

Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:21 am
Concur.

Institutional Knowledge should be sought not an afterthought

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:21 am
“Your Statehouse advice for Mayor-elect Johnson?”

Make allies.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:24 am
=== But you need someone who knows nuts and bolts and history really well. ===

I’d be shocked if he picked a novice, but given the recent history from the Mayoral office and how certain elements of the establishment tripped and fell over their endorsements, I am prepared to defend Johnson’s pick if it surprises people.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:38 am
Resist the urge to give a long, patriotic speech. Keep it short, focused, and realistic.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:39 am
There’s an open table reservation at Saputo’s.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:43 am
===There’s an open table reservation===

lol

That’s a hard table to get.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:49 am
Rub Lincoln’s nose. Grab a beer at Obeds. Invite Dan Caulkins to come to Chicago as a honored guest at your first State of the City address. Do the first two before the Caulkins invite.

Comment by Stormsw7706 Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 11:58 am
Ask questions and listen. Don’t just list the things you need from Springfield.

Comment by Montrose Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 12:50 pm
Get all of Lori Lightfoot’s notes, talking points, and messaging prior to going. Do the opposite of all of it.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 12:58 pm
Get ready to panic when they tell you that your taxation plans ain’t gonna happen, and you will probably have to renege on your No Property Tax Hike promise.

Comment by Old IL Dude Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 2:43 pm
My advice-

Chicago is a big and important part of Illinois, especially when it comes to culture and economics. Without Chicago Illinois is Iowa without the good college sports. Chicago absolutely is our engine.

That said, Chicago is not all of Illinois. Just keep that in mind when you are asking for things.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 4:57 pm
“Speak softly and carry a beagle”. — Peanuts comic strip book title.
And in that vein, don’t pull a Lori and start making all kinds of demands before you even know if you have the votes, or if anybody cares about what you’re ranting about.

Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Apr 17, 23 @ 7:57 pm