| | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos and Maria Carrasco | Presented by Uber | Happy Thursday, Illinois. Whoever said the news cycle slows down after the election doesn't know anything about Illinois politics. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Illinois Playbook will not publish on Thanksgiving or Nov. 27. |  | TOP TALKER | | EXPLOSIVE: Federal prosecutors leveled corruption charges at four key players in House Speaker Michael Madigan's orbit, including lobbyist Michael McClain and former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore. Read the 50-page indictment. Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and businessman Jay Doherty, who was president of the City Club, also are named. The charges echo the details revealed in July when ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine and spelled out some of the feds' allegations in what's called a deferred prosecution agreement that could see charges dismissed against ComEd. The crux of the indictment: For nearly nine years, ComEd says it awarded jobs and lobbying contracts to Madigan's associates in an attempt to curry his favor for legislation benefiting the company. ComEd even supported an internship program in Madigan's 13th Ward in an effort to ingratiate itself, according to the court filing. The Sun-Times' Mark Brown says there's a sense of entitlement throughout the court filing. Tribune's Jason Meisner and Ray Long report: "The charges against McClain signal federal prosecutors have now cracked Madigan's innermost circle and pose the most imminent threat to the speaker's decadeslong grip on power." Though ComEd's $200 million payment may confirm that the company was part of the scheme to bribe Madigan, it doesn't mean the speaker knew about it. The indictment, which was released a day after vote counting wrapped for the general election, seems designed to prove Madigan's involvement by getting one of the defendants to connect the dots. McClain, Madigan's confidante, has so far balked at turning on his friend. His attorney, Patrick Cotter, said in a statement to Playbook that the charges are "the result of a misguided investigation and misapplication of the law driven by an obvious desire to find some way to criminally implicate" Madigan. | 
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is seeing four allies come under federal scrutiny. | Associated Press | Madigan, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing, saying he has no personal knowledge of a bribery scheme or jobs being offered in exchange for his actions in the General Assembly. The looming indictment has reverberated through every realm of Democratic politics over the past four months. It's been the elephant in the room of discussions about ethics. It's been blamed for election losses. It has prompted Democrats to call for his resignation as party leader, and some House reps have said they won't vote for him again as speaker. Looking ahead, Democratic insiders worry Gov. J.B. Pritzker will have a difficult re-election campaign in two years with Madigan hanging on like an albatross. Still, there are fierce advocates who say Madigan's experience and expertise have never been more needed in state government than now as Illinois faces a fiscal crisis in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats also want an experienced hand dictating the remap of districts in the coming months. And while the Democratic hand-wringing continues, Republicans have pounced — not because of politics, they say, but because it maligns the integrity of the General Assembly. "Democrats have enabled Madigan and his corruption for decades," said incoming state Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie. "They must finally and irrevocably reject the machine that controls this state." There's buzz that Madigan might hold a press conference today, but a spokeswoman confirmed this morning that is not so. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, however, already has one lined up. RELATED Background on the four political insiders indicted in the scandal, by WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos, Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold Timeline of how the investigation has unfolded, by the Tribune | | THE BUZZ | | GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS: Republican Rep. Darin LaHood is holding a fundraiser for Sen. Kelly Loeffler, the Georgia Republican headed to a Jan. 5 runoff that could determine which party controls the Senate next year. LaHood sees it as helping a constituent as Loeffler is originally from Stanford, Ill., near Bloomington-Normal, where her family farms corn and soybeans. The town is in LaHood's 18th Congressional District — he tweeted pictures from a visit with her family a few weeks ago on the farm. Loeffler graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned her MBA from DePaul University. She also worked in the Chicago trading industry before working for Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange in 2002. LaHood is hosting the virtual event for Loeffler on Dec. 8. Details here Lahood's fundraiser comes as Loeffler, and fellow Republican Sen. David Perdue turn to Fox viewers to fund their pricey runoffs. POLITICO's James Arkin reports the price tag for the Georgia Senate runoffs has already cleared $100 million — "and it's climbing fast." The Peach State runoff is getting support from Illinois Democrats, too. Indivisible Chicago is pivoting to Georgia after working to flip Michigan and Wisconsin in the General Election. "We're following the same course in Georgia," Indivisible board member Marj Halperin told Playbook. That means as many as 2,000 Illinois volunteers will help support local phone banks to get out the vote and to write postcards to inform Georgians about the runoff. Halperin says her organization has already received requests for nearly 400,000 postcards to Georgia voters. Union leader Clem Balanoff is headed to Atlanta today to direct the "Amalgamated Transit Union Ridin" to help Democrats in the two Senate races. Balanoff told Playbook this will include an effort to get 90 percent of ATU members to Vote by Mail, Advance Vote (early vote) or to vote on election day. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: skapos@politico.com | | A message from Uber: CA voters & app workers voted overwhelmingly to protect workers' flexibility and provide new benefits. Time for Illinois to follow, see how here. | | |
| | WHERE'S LORI | | No official public events. | | WHERE'S J.B. | | At the Thompson Center at 2:30 p.m. for the daily Covid-19 update. Watch live | | Where's Toni | | Online presiding over a virtual meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Watch live | | THE LATEST NUMBERS | | The Illinois Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 140 additional deaths and 8,922 new confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus disease. That's a total of 11,014 deaths and 606,771 cases in Illinois. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from Nov. 11 through 17 is 11.9 percent. Chicago's positivity rate is at 15.5 percent. | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | — MILESTONES: Illinois surpasses 11,000 deaths due to coronavirus... and U.S. Covid deaths exceed 250,000 as cases continue to surge: "Hospitals warn they're running low on beds and staff as the pandemic spikes across the country," by POLITICO's Tucker Doherty. — Only heart disease and cancer killing more Illinoisans than Covid-19: 'The virus is back with a vengeance': The latest 140 deaths marked just the third time since the end of first wave of the pandemic in the spring that the state logged 100 or more deaths in a day. 'These are our family members,' Dr. Ngozi Ezike said. 'These are our coworkers. These are our loved ones that may be here now and won't see 2021,'" by Sun-Times' Mitchell Armentrout. — Chicago to open Midway Airport testing site as Covid-19 cases surge: "Chicago's seven-day average case-positivity rate was close to 16 percent as of Monday, according to the city's most recent available data. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the Midway site will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in Parking Lot B," by WBEZ's Becky Vevea. — Seven governors: Americans need to stay home this Thanksgiving: "With Thanksgiving around the corner, we urge all Americans to stay smart and follow recommendations from medical experts: Get together with your family via Zoom to ensure your loved ones stay safe. If you are planning to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, we urge you to reconsider," by Govs. J.B. Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.), Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Tony Evers (D-Wis.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Eric Holcomb (R-Ind.), and Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) | | | | DON'T MISS NEW EPISODES OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS PODCAST: The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded in 2020 amid a global pandemic. Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, unpacks the roadblocks to smart policy decisions and examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. Subscribe for Season Two, available now. | | | | |
| | ELECTION ROUNDUP | | — With vote counting completed, Underwood declares victory. But Oberweis wants a recount: "If results from a discovery recount differ, the result of the election would not automatically change, but the recount could be used as the basis for an election challenge in court," writes Tribune's Rick Pearson. — Immigrant groups tout election triumphs: "The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights played host to a news conference on Facebook featuring state Rep. Karina Villa, who won election to replace Jim Oberweis in the Senate, and state Rep.-elect Dagmara Avelar, a former ICIRR staffer who is set to become the first immigrant to represent her district and the first former undocumented person to be seated in the General Assembly," by One Illinois' Ted Cox — COMMENTARY: If the Dems are smart, they'll draw Underwood a better map: "IL-14 was designed as a Republican 'vote sink' to corral as many red votes as possible into a single district. Then, a promising young Democrat won it," writes Edward McClelland for Chicago magazine. | | CHICAGO | | — Lightfoot's proposed property tax hike plan clears City Council hurdle: "Members of the Finance Committee pushed back against Lightfoot's tax hike plan to balance the budget, calling on her administration to find other ways to close a projected $1.2 billion deficit. But it still passed the committee by a 21-12 vote….The City Council could vote on Lightfoot's overall budget as soon as Tuesday. If Wednesday's tallies hold, the mayor needs to find five more yes votes to get to a majority of the 50-member body to back her spending plan," by Tribune's John Byrne and Gregory Pratt. ... Lightfoot offers details on proposed $3.7B capital projects spending plan: "The city would borrow $1.4 billion to fund projects over the next two years before borrowing more later," reports Tribune's Gregory Pratt. — Chicago nears 700 homicides in 2020, a milestone reached just one other time since 1998: "Chicago has seen more murders so far this year than during the same period in 2016 — Chicago's most violent year in recent memory," by Sun-Times' David Struett. — Boeing 737 MAX cleared to fly again, but Covid-19 has sapped demand: "The U.S. on Wednesday approved Boeing Co.'s 737 MAX jets for passenger flights again after dual crashes took 346 lives, issuing a set of long-anticipated safety directives and notices to airlines globally that will help resolve the plane maker's biggest pre-pandemic crisis. The Federal Aviation Administration's official order to release the MAX, grounded since March 2019, came as the Chicago aerospace giant grapples with a host of new problems in the midst of the continuing health crisis," by the Wall Street Journal. — Joe Mansueto: billionaire owner of Chicago Fire soccer team, Wrigley Building and Waldorf Astoria hotel: "Mansueto announced he is investing in a $50 million office campus in West Humboldt Park. That project, called The Terminal, is being developed by Chicago's IBT Group. It is part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's Invest South/West program, which aims to revitalize communities on the city's South and West sides," by Tribune's Ryan Ori. — Drive-ups, delays, and a trickle of voters mark unusual school council election in Chicago: "Yates' Principal Israel Perez sent robocalls, text messages and emails to the families of his 330 students about the biennial elections. Perez said he hoped he'd still get mail-in ballots — parents have until Nov. 30 to drop off ballots at schools — but so far he hadn't received a single one," reports Chalkbeat Chicago's Cassie Walker Burke and Yana Kunichoff. — CPS students getting more A's — but also more F's as remote learning continues: "District officials say they worry they'll "lose a generation of students" if they can't return to in-person learning soon," by Sun-Times' Nader Issa. — In fall attendance and grades, Chicago officials see a case for reopening: "Chicago district officials presented attendance and grading data to their school board Wednesday — and argued that widening academic disparities are a key reason to push for reopening school buildings in early 2021 despite rising coronavirus infections in the city. Chicago's rolling seven-day positivity rate is nearly 16 percent," by Chalkbeat Chicago's Mila Koumpilova. — Ousted principal who oversaw controversial merger of two schools reaches settlement with CPS: "Chicago Public Schools agreed Tuesday to pay $80,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a principal who was ousted two years ago while overseeing the controversial merger of a Gold Coast school serving mostly affluent white and Asian students with a low-income school of Black students nearby," reports WBEZ's Sarah Karp. | | A message from Uber: In order to raise the standard for independent work for all, government and business need to work together. That's why Uber created our Working Together Priorities, which can help people who earn through app-based work receive more security, protection, and transparency. This work is already underway in California, where voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 22. | | |
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — COOK COUNTY COULD DELAY PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN: "It looks like Cook County property owners will get a Covid-related break again on when they can pay next year's taxes without penalty. County Treasurer Maria Pappas has formally requested that with Covid still raging, billions of dollars that normally would be due March 1 and Aug. 1 instead could be paid up to 60 days late without interest or other penalty charges," by Crain's Greg Hinz. In her letter to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Finance Committee Chairman John Daley, Pappas wrote: "I commend the president and the board for passing the first waiver ordinance, which gave property owners some assistance when they needed it...But they need more today. A pandemic is wreaking economic havoc like nothing we've seen before." — DuPage allocates $2.5M to help bars, restaurants: "During a special call meeting Tuesday, the DuPage County Board approved $2.5 million in additional CARES Act funds to help bars and restaurants that are financially struggling due to the mitigation measures ordered by the State of Illinois," the county said in a statement. | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Two more deaths of veterans with Covid bring total to 23 at Illinois Veterans' Home in LaSalle: "The outbreak at LaSalle, which was first reported this month, also has resulted in 75 veterans currently testing positive for the virus, plus 48 staff members who are positive, with the state Department of Veterans Affairs counting 191 cases since March. The home is near Starved Rock State Park," by Tribune's Robert McCoppin. — 10 lawsuits over Covid-19 restrictions merged in Sangamon County court: "The AG's lawyers note that all of the cases raise the same question about the governor's authority to issue multiple, successive disaster proclamations under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act," reports NPR Illinois' Sarah Mansur. | | DAY IN COURT | | — Lawsuit accusing city of 'towing without telling' granted class-action status: "Lisandra Velez said the city metaphorically crushed her mother's legs when they towed her wheelchair accessible van in 2018," by Sun-Times' Manny Ramos. — Mother accuses CPS of covering up security guard's alleged abuse of 4-year-old son: "Shanece Williams alleges in a federal lawsuit that the security guard at John T. McCutcheon Elementary School in Uptown dragged her son down a hallway March 2, inflicting "severe emotional distress" on him in an incident she said she didn't learn about for weeks," by Tribune's Kelli Smith. — Onetime observatory manager at the former Hancock Center who offered 'perv play' tours gets 15 years in child porn case, by Tribune's Jason Meisner | | | | TRACK THE TRANSITION, SUBSCRIBE TO TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: As states certify their election results, President-elect Biden is building an administration. The staffing decisions made in the coming days, weeks, and months will send clear-cut signals about his administration's agenda and priorities. Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to what could be one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, it tracks the appointments, people, and the emerging power centers of the new administration. Stay in the know, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | POT-POURRI | | — Tinley Park to tweak rules on recreational marijuana sales after vendors couldn't find suitable locations: "The shop has to operate from a free-standing business rather than an in-line space, partly for security reasons. However, according to the village, there are no available properties that would be suitable," reports Tribune's Mike Nolan. — Buffalo Grove seeking policy change on recreational pot sales: "Frustrated Buffalo Grove officials are urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reverse a state policy preventing the Sunnyside medical marijuana dispensary from adding recreational pot to its offerings," writes Daily Herald's Steve Zalusky. | | HIGHER-ED | | Traveling home for the holidays? Stay there, Illinois colleges say: "In response to the surge in Covid-19 cases as Thanksgiving break approaches, many schools are moving their few remaining in-person classes online. They've also asked those who travel for the holiday not to return," reports WBEZ's Esther Yoon-Ji Kang. | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | Rep. Adam Kinzinger criticized President Donald Trump's firing of Christopher Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, after he debunked the president's baseless voter fraud claims. "Chris Krebs said the election is secure … and of course, that is counter to what the president is trying to say," Kinzinger told CNN. "There's like a loyalty purge going on in the last month of the White House… It's bad." ... A U.S. Air Force veteran and lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, Kinzinger also condemned Trump's order to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, saying it should be Joe Biden's decision on the future of Afghanistan. And he said it's time Trump accept that he's lost: "We have a tradition in this country of looking at the results, congratulating the president-elect, starting the transition process and going forward ... that is essential to the passage and the strength and the survival of democracy." ... 'Confusion and chaos': Republicans denounce Trump's latest purge, by POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio and Burgess Everett | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden mounts lobbying blitz to crack GOP resistance to his transition, by POLITICO's Natasha Korecki and Christopher Cadelago — Because Trump won't concede, many conservatives can't open up about plans to counter Biden's agenda, by POLITICO's Gabby Orr — Could GOP states ignore voters and send Trump delegates to the Electoral College? By POLITICO's Zach Montellaro — Pelosi suggests she'll serve her last term as speaker, by POLITICO's Sarah Ferris and Heather Caygle | | EVENTS | | — Today at 6:30 p.m.: Rep. Jan Schakowsky, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, and Cook Political Report's Amy Walter join Sun-Times reporters to talk about the results of the 2020 election. Details here — Friday: Journalists will gather virtually to honor David Jackson, a former Tribune reporter now with the Better Government Association, and former Sun-Times editor Chris Fusco. The Dorothy Storck Award will also be presented. Details here | | JOB CHANGES | | David Prosperi has retired as senior VP of communications for Options Clearing Corporation, the equity derivatives clearinghouse. He will be replaced by Michael Shore who joined OCC in January. Shore is leading the communications function and reporting to Julie Bauer, who oversees the entire OCC external relations team… Prosperi's more than three-decadelong career in senior communications roles took him from the Reagan White House, through two presidential campaigns, and three Cabinet-level agencies, before he arrived at the Chicago-based clearinghouse in 2015, by Securities Finance Times. | | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY's GUESS: Congrats to Nick Roberts Mathiowdis, press secretary to the Cook County president, for correctly answering that Patrick Eugene Prendergast gave himself up at the Desplaines Street Police Station after assassinating Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison in his home in 1893 at the time of the World's Columbian Exposition. TODAY'S QUESTION: Who is considered the father of Jefferson Township (now Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood)? Hint: he also was the township's first clerk and founded its first church. Email your answer to skapos@politico.com. | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Sarah Hamilton, a managing director at Kivvit public affairs firm and former comms director for Rahm Emanuel; Robert Marcus, CoS to Rep. Jan Schakowsky; and Rebecca Shi, executive director of American Business Immigration Coalition. -30-
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