News : POLITICO Illinois Playbook: DAVIS, LaHOOD MISSED the VOTE — LIGHTFOOT HIRE ED

Thursday, May 13, 2021

POLITICO Illinois Playbook: DAVIS, LaHOOD MISSED the VOTE — LIGHTFOOT HIRE ED — COUNTING on THE COUNCIL

May 13, 2021

Presented by Illini for Affordable Rx

Happy Thursday, Illinois. In a roller-coaster world of news, today's vaccination report from the governor will be coming from Six Flags.

TOP TALKER

The voice vote to bump Rep. LIz Cheney from leadership happened moments after Republicans said "amen" in a morning prayer. The action was so quick that numerous members, including Illinois Republican Reps. Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood missed the vote.

"I actually wasn't there," Davis told POLITICO's Congress reporter Olivia Beavers. "I had a meeting that went long." Davis remembered the last time Cheney ran for the leadership spot. "I whipped for her," he said, recalling that the discussion went on for "four hours."

Pressed on how he would have voted this time, Davis said, "I am a big supporter of Liz. I am a big fan. ... there was no vote but I would've been there as a supporter of Liz."

LaHood, who was seen arriving late to the vote, wouldn't answer how he would have voted. He issued a statement saying, "I am grateful for Congresswoman Cheney's leadership as Conference chair."

Whether Republicans were there or not, the voice vote has given them some cover as they try to manage their support for Cheney while not alienating Donald Trump's base, an electorate that is essential in a GOP primary in Illinois.

Given the state is losing one congressional seat and Democrats in the General Assembly control the map-making, Davis and LaHood are mulling their political options for 2022.

LaHood could be interested in the 3rd District Supreme Court seat now held by Justice Robert Carter , a Democrat who was appointed to a two-year term after former Justice Thomas Kilbride lost his retention vote last year. Carter has stated that he won't seek election to the upcoming 10-year term. That means there would be no incumbent justice in the 2022 primary.

Davis, meanwhile, hasn't ruled out a possible run for governor. In fact he sent out a fundraising letter this week criticizing Gov. J.B. Pritzker, calling the Democrat "a disgrace to Illinois."

The state Democratic Party's response suggests Trump will loom large over 2022. "Davis has consistently chosen party politics over the people of Illinois by endorsing Donald Trump's re-election and voting against the American Rescue Plan," said Executive Director Abby Witt in a statement.

RELATED

'Death by a thousand cuts': How the House GOP took down Cheney, by POLITICO's Olivia Beavers and Melanie Zanona

QUOTABLE: "What happened today was sad," said Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger , a Trump critic and one of the few Republicans who have publicly defended Cheney. "Liz committed the only sin of being consistent and telling the truth. The truth is that the election was not stolen."...Later, on Twitter, he posted a long passage that opened with "Truth and lies cannot Co-exist."

TWEETABLE: Republican Rep. Mary Miller, who voted in favor of dumping Cheney, tweeted that the Wyoming lawmaker is "seriously out of step with Republicans and is no longer capable of effectively leading the party."

THE BUZZ

It's natural that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration would have some turnover now as she approaches her two-year anniversary in office. But an examination by the Tribune shows the upheaval in more detail.

"Whether the changes and lingering vacancies have been due to the stress of running the city during the Covid-19 pandemic, the mayor's notoriously abrasive leadership style or her thin government resume leaving her without a ready pool of qualified contacts to tap for administration jobs, observers said it's important to have capable people filling even lower-profile behind-the-scenes posts to keep the city running smoothly," according to the story.

The story offers a view inside the mayor's office and the demands Lightfoot puts on her staff. In a revealing anecdote, Lightfoot once ripped up documents and sent a picture of them to a staffer, saying she's done being nice about reports that are turned in late. The point being: she's a tough boss.

But Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) said it's ridiculous to think Lightfoot is more difficult to work with than her predecessor, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "I've been alderman under two mayors. Excuse me? It's a tough position. Sometimes you have to be tough."

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: skapos@politico.com

A message from Illini for Affordable Rx:

Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation, SB 2008, that will drastically increase prescription drug costs for Illinois health plan sponsors, patients, and the state's Medicaid program while increasing profits for pharmacies. SB 2008 could increase health care spending by more than $1 billion for families and employers and well over $200 million for Medicaid. It's time to take the politics out of prescriptions. Say no to SB 2008. Learn more at Illini for Affordable Rx

SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

WHERE'S LORI

At a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. for the new Life Sciences Lab in the Fulton Market neighborhood.

WHERE'S J.B.

At Six Flags at noon to announce a new incentive to get vaccinated.

Where's Toni

Presiding over the 10 a.m. virtual meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 26 additional deaths and 1,795 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease. That's a total of 22,285 fatalities and 1,359,748 cases in Illinois. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests from May 5 through 11 is 2.7 percent. Chicago's positivity rate is at 3.9 percent.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

— United Airlines and Abbott Labs offer international passengers CDC-blessed Covid-19 home-testing: "Abbott and United said Wednesday that passengers can use Abbott's BinaxNOWTM Covid-19 Home Test and Abbott's NAVICA app in what the companies say should help make the international travel experience more seamless. Before passengers come home, they 'conduct the test with the digital health proctor, get their health pass and either upload it to United's Travel Ready site so they can re-enter the country or show it at the airport when they check in,' an Abbott spokeswoman said," Forbes' Bruce Japsen reports.

— U. of I. rapid tests to be used at schools statewide this fall: "The covidSHIELD saliva testing system that was developed and deployed on campus by experts at the University of Illinois last summer will help ensure a more normal looking school year for younger kids, officials say," by Sun-Times' Mitchell Armentrout.

— Vaccines for 12 to 15 is 'freedom' for some, while others plan to wait and see, by Tribune's Alice Yin.

CAMPAIGN MODE

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Illinois Secretary of State contest is a battle of money and endorsements. And with two Chicago aldermen in the race—Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) and Ald. David Moore (17th)—having a council member's endorsement is an edge.

Former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who hasn't had a hand in city politics, nonetheless has secured eight aldermen to back his campaign: Alds. Anthony Beale (9th), George Cardenas (12th), Felix Cardona Jr. (31st), Brian Hopkins (2nd), Ariel Reboyras (30th), Harry Osterman (48th), Silvana Tabares (23rd) and Tom Tunney (44th).

In a statement to Playbook, Beale said, "Alexi is the right choice to carry on Jesse White's legacy."

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th), who was seen as a possible successor to White, said this week he won't make a run for the statewide job. And he's holding off on endorsing until White decides who he's backing.

Supporting Dowell, who chairs the City Council's Budget Committee, are Alds. Rod Sawyer (6th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Emma Mitts (37th), Chris Taliaferro (29th), Derrick Curtis (18th), Jason Ervin (28th), and Carrie Austin (34th).

And Anna Valencia, who works with aldermen in her role as City Clerk, has secured the endorsements of Alds. Roberto Maldonado (26th), Michelle Harris (43rd), Michael Scott (24th) and Sue Sadlowski Garza (10th).

By your Playbook host's count, that leaves 29 aldermen who haven't yet committed. (Plenty of time, folks!) Moore and state Sen. Michael Hastings, who's also running for secretary of state, didn't immediately return a call about who they might count on from the council.

THE STATEWIDES

— Illinois asking Treasury for permission to use relief money to pay off federal loan: "The state already has repaid $800 million of the initial loan from the Fed, with the outstanding $400 million due by June 5, according to the Fed. The $2 billion loan is due to be repaid over the next three years, though Pritzker has proposed paying off $690 million ahead of schedule before the end of the budget year that ends June 30," by Tribune's Dan Petrella.

...Mendoza suggests Illinois due for credit upgrade, by Capitol News' Peter Hancock

— Taxpayers who received unemployment benefits and filed before March 15 could be eligible for refund: "The first $10,200 of unemployment benefits per resident — $20,400 for those married and filing jointly — are now nontaxable for returns with an adjusted gross income of less than $150,000, according to a retroactive provision included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," by Tribune's Jenny Whidden.

— State launches $6M summer tourism push as full reopening looms: "The 'Time for me to drive' campaign, playing off 'Time for Me to Fly' by REO Speedwagon — a band started in Champaign — will air in 18 television markets in seven states, officials said," by Tribune's Jenny Whidden and Dan Petrella.

— Illinois moves into Bridge Phase Friday, NBC/5 explains what that means.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

— Pritzker's energy proposal gets first legislative hearing: "Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, who also presented the bill [with Rep. Kam Buckner], said many of the ideas in Pritzker's proposal align with the goals of other energy bills, especially the Clean Energy Jobs Act. Sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, CEJA was initially introduced to the General Assembly in spring 2019 and has been one of the most publicized bills amid ongoing energy negotiations," reports Capitol News' Grace Barbic. Similar goals include CEJA's creation of clean workforce hubs, energy investments in wind turbines and solar power, and electrifying the transportation sector.

— Bills that are advancing: Hair discrimination, inadequate care for new mothers, restraining orders allowing temporary gun seizure, by Sun-Times' Rachel Hinton and Andrew Sullender.

— State passes expansion of maternal care coverage, by Capitol News' Ramon Troncoso.

— Elk Grove Village-area homeowners fear a scheme is afoot to take their property; lawmakers say nope: "Dozens of homeowners living near O'Hare International Airport say they're living in limbo, not wanting to spend money to fix up their homes. The reason? They fear a bill moving through Springfield is a scheme to allow Elk Grove Village to take their property," according to CBS/2's Lauren Victory.

— Editorial: Bill in Springfield would punish the pandemic success of private schools, by the Tribune.

A message from Illini for Affordable Rx:

CHICAGO

— 66% of police chases in 2019 ended in crashes — 8 of them fatal, emails show: "The policy was finally changed after officers disregarded an order to stop a chase and killed Guadalupe Francisco-Martinez, a mother of six on her way home from work," reports Sun-Times' David Struett.

— U.S. Attorney John Lausch hospitalized over the weekend with strokelike symptoms: "He was diagnosed with having suffered a transient ischemic attack, which is characterized by a brief blockage of blood to the brain that lasts only a few minutes and causes no permanent damage," by Tribune's Jason Meisner.

— Chicago plans to disband its largest turnaround school network: "Chicago Public Schools says it plans to dismantle the Academy for Urban School Leadership and absorb its 31 schools back into the district over the next three years. The school district said Wednesday it will continue a separate agreement with the nonprofit for a teacher residency and training program that helps prepare new college graduates and career changers for jobs in public schools," by Chalkbeat's Cassie Walker Burke.

— Chicago's two-, three- and four-flats are disappearing, changing communities and who can afford to live in them, by Tribune's Sarah Freishtat.

— Could the sale of gang-plagued Parkway Gardens mark a new beginning or a bittersweet end for Woodlawn residents? "The real estate market for the eastern end of Woodlawn has been red-hot in recent years since the announced construction of the Obama Presidential Center," by Tribune's William Lee.

— Downtown march draws groups in support of Palestinians over clashes in Mideast,' by Sun-Times' Zinya Salfiti.

— Family of 3 Chicago men killed near Starved Rock want answers after explosion, by WGN/9's Patrick Elwood.

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— McHenry County board to vote on effort to stop imprisoning immigration detainees in county jail: "The board is scheduled to discuss the matter Thursday and vote on it Tuesday. While Democrats pushing for the change have grown to make up eight of the board's 24 members, Republicans maintain control and have to this point supported the current arrangement. County board Chairman Michael Buehler said a small but vocal minority is pushing to end immigrant detention, but he believes the general public supports the contract," by Tribune's Robert McCoppin.

— Connecting dots: When the Calumet City Council meets tonight it will vote on some familiar names nominated to the administration of newly elected Mayor Thaddeus Jones, who also is a state representative, by the way. Pending council's approval, Al Ronan and Richard Boykin will earn $7,000 and $5,000 a month, respectively, as lobbyists for the city, according to the Council Agenda . Ronan is a former state representative and Boykin is a former Cook County commissioner. Deanne Jaffrey, who most recently worked for the politically connected Roosevelt Group, is up to be confirmed as village administrator. And already on board is ShawnTe Raines as corporation counsel. Raines also serves as general counsel to suburban municipalities while a partner at Ancel Glink law firm. She's also the wife of current House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch.

— Mike Polisky resigns as Northwestern athletic director after continued criticism of his hiring: "[S]ome members of the board of trustees and the search committee were displeased by university President Morton Schapiro's decision because Polisky is one of four defendants along with the university in an ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit filed in January by a Northwestern cheerleader, who said in the complaint Polisky dismissed her concerns and accused her of fabricating evidence," by Tribune's Shannon Ryan and Elyssa Cherney.

... Northwestern will require students to be vaccinated next year, via the Tribune.

TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES

— CN merger plan fuels concerns about more freight trains in suburbs: "A replay of a 2008 battle to stop the Canadian National Railway from acquiring another railroad is emerging in the suburbs with similar concerns about spiraling freight train traffic," reports Daily Herald's Marni Pyke.

DAY IN COURT

— A Chicago Blackhawks player from the 2010 championship team is accusing a coach of sexual assault: "The lawsuit filed late last week in Cook County Circuit Court was brought by a player identified only as "John Doe" and accuses the team of ignoring his claims against the assistant coach, who went on to be convicted of a sex crime involving a student in Michigan and is now a registered sex offender in that state," by WBEZ's Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold.

— Chicago real estate agent who lost her job after Capitol riot sues over MSNBC report: "The lawsuit claims Libby Andrews 'had no notoriety of any kind' prior to a Jan. 10 broadcast, though her name appeared in multiple news reports after her firing Jan. 7," by Sun-Times' Jon Seidel.

— Former North Shore nonprofit director charged with stealing more than $800,000 meant for disabled children, by Tribune's Jason Meisner.

FROM THE DELEGATION

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi questions Christopher Miller, former acting secretary of the Department of Defense, during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing May 12, 2021, on the Capitol breach on Capitol Hill.

— 'I have reassessed': Former Pentagon official now says Trump may not have incited riot: "Two top Trump administration officials testified Wednesday that President Donald Trump never contacted them on Jan. 6 as rioters overran the Capitol and engaged in brutal combat with police officers," by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein.

— Oberweis out: Rep. Lauren Underwood's office reports that the House voted "to officially dismiss Jim Oberweis' 2020 election contest," which was filed in January after Underwood was sworn into the 117th Congress. With that, Underwood issued a statement saying, in part, "the election is behind us." A spokesman for Oberweis didn't immediately have a comment.

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— Progressives bristle over Biden on talks with GOP, by POLITICO's Natasha Korecki and Christopher Cadelago.

— Blame game begins as Afghanistan situation worsens, by POLITICO's Bryan Bender.

— How Palm Beach is planning for a possible Trump indictment, by POLITICO's national Playbook.

— Ray LaHood headlines the latest Executive Staffer podcast.

TRANSITIONS

— Jordan Troy has started as Comms director for Rep. Lauren Underwood. Troy most recently worked in Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office as press secretary.

— Fassnacht made permanent chief at World Business Chicago: "The former ad exec Lightfoot tapped as the city's first chief marketing officer will continue that job while he works as CEO of Chicago's nonprofit public-private economic development arm," by Crain's A.D. Quig.

— Business of politics: Members of the Downstate GOP elected state Rep. Charlie Meier to serve as their chairman, reports Herald.Publications.

ENGAGED

Adam Newman, chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, proposed to his girlfriend, Jennie Berman, who is development manager at the real estate developer Lendlease. The two spent the special moment at the Mundelein Seminary. Pic!

IN MEMORIAM

— Bob Koester, who ran Chicago's Jazz Record Mart, Delmark Records for decades, has died at 88: "Downbeat magazine editor Frank Alkyer: 'He had one of the most successful record stores in the United States that focused on jazz and blues . . . and Bob Koester was the institution behind the counter,'" by Sun-Times' Maureen O'Donnell.

— Pervis Staples, co-founder of The Staple Singers, dies at 85, by Sun-Times' Miriam Di Nunzio.

EVENTS

— Today at 2:30 p.m.: Rep. Mike Bost headlines a free virtual discussion sponsored by the D.C.-based Illinois State Society. Bost serves on the Veterans' Affairs, and Transportation & Infrastructure committees. He's the ranking Republican on Veterans Affairs.

— Monday at 11 a.m.: "Breaking Ground," a free virtual discussion about the Obama Presidential Center will feature Obama Foundation President Valerie Jarrett, economic development expert Toni Griffin, and Obama Foundation executive VP for Civic Engagement Michael Strautmanis. Moderator is ABC/7's Cheryl Burton.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Christopher Z. Mooney, the W. Russell Arrington Professor of State Politics at University of Illinois, for correctly answering that former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft previously worked in the Illinois Bureau of the Budget under Gov. Richard Ogilvie. Trick(y) question but Mooney got it right away.

TODAY'S QUESTION: Who served as Illinois secretary of state, associate justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, and an Illinois member of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate all before he was 34 years old? Email to skapos@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, Cunningham Township Assessor Wayne Williams, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Carrie Hamilton, political fundraiser Mia Phifer, Newberg Group Fundraising Director Emma Werden, and broadcaster Mark Giangreco.

-30-

A message from Illini for Affordable Rx:

Illinois patients' health care should not be decided by special interest groups seeking higher profits. SB 2008 is a special interest bill, backed by the powerful independent pharmacy lobby, that will increase prescription drug costs by over $1 billion for Illinois employers and patients.

Independent pharmacies are actually growing in number throughout the country. Illinois lawmakers should avoid padding independent pharmacy profits based on a misperception about pharmacy closures, especially when it means patients and employers have to pay more for health care.

It's time to stand up to the independent pharmacy lobby – say no to SB 2008, say no to higher Rx costs.

Learn more at Illini for Affordable Rx

JOIN TODAY FOR A CONVERSATION ON TRANSGENDER POLITICIANS: More transgender people got elected to office at all levels across the country in 2020, in both blue and red states – and that number is likely to continue to grow. During the last year, constituents across America elected six transgender candidates at the state level as transgender rights gain more attention across the country. Join POLITICO Nightly: Daytime Edition for a conversation featuring transgender elected officials as they discuss their experiences running for and serving in public office. REGISTER HERE.