News: POLITICO Illinois Playbook: FINAL LEGISLATIVE MAPS ARE OUT — EXPECT A JUNE PRIMARY — JUNETEENTH PASSES

Friday, May 28, 2021

POLITICO Illinois Playbook: FINAL LEGISLATIVE MAPS ARE OUT — EXPECT A JUNE PRIMARY — JUNETEENTH PASSES — LIGHTFOOT’S DuSABLE PLAN

May 28, 2021

Presented by Illini for Affordable Rx

TGIF, Illinois. The legislative session ends in three days, 15 hours and 38 minutes, and we're expecting every moment to have some drama.

MONDAY FUNDAY: You asked, and we will deliver! Illinois Playbook will publish on Memorial Day after all. Just keep the tips flowing.

TOP TALKER

A tweaked version of the new legislative maps was released last night, and they look close to the version we saw last week but for some exceptions.

The new 107th House district, which would have combined the seats of four Republican lawmakers, has been adjusted.

Now, Adam Niemerg (R-109) and Blaine Wilhour (R-107) have been put into their own districts, leaving Brad Halbrook (R-102) and Dan Caulkins (R-101) to duke it out in the newly created 107. "Halbrook would be heavily favored in that matchup because he currently represents over twice as much of the new district as Caulkins," political analyst Andrew Ellison told Playbook.

That and a few other changes didn't do much to appease Republicans, who decried the latest version of the maps as "dishonest" as the version released a week ago.

"The House Democrats turned their back on Illinoisans and every advocacy group who has an interest in honest government," House Minority Leader Jim Durkin said in a statement, criticizing the changes as "flowery rhetoric."

Democratic state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, who chairs the House Redistricting Committee, defended the maps. "The changes we made not only reflect testimony provided the last couple of days from members of the public, but also include revisions to address concerns raised by Republicans," she said in a statement.

Among the revisions to the first maps are changes urged by the Orthodox Jewish community in Chicago's North Side and suburbs to keep its base more united. The revised legislative map also restores the southern part of the North Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago to its current legislative district following feedback from community members asking for that change, Democrats explained upon releasing the latest map.

Ellison's analysis shows GOP Reps. Joe Sosnowski and Jeff Keicher would no longer compete against one another. Sosnowski will remain in HD-69 and Keicher moves to the new HD-70. And Republican Reps. Keith Sommer and Mark Luft could stand down too. Sommer stays in the new HD-87, and Luft moves to the new HD-93.

Still, there are some incumbents who remain stuck battling it out in 2022, according to Ellison.

In new House District 46, Democratic Rep. Deb Conroy would face Republican Rep. Deanne Mazzochi;

HD-47: Republicans Amy Grant and Seth Lewis;

HD-50: Republicans Keith Wheeler and Dan Ugaste (this was a surprise, given House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch made a friendly visit recently to Wheeler's district office).

HD-51: Republicans Chris Bos and Thomas Morrison;

HD-90: Republicans Tony McCombie and Andrew Chesney;

HD-99: Republicans Randy Frese and C.D. Davidsmeyer;

HD-108: Republicans Avery Bourne and Mike Murphy.

Maps of the state Supreme Court and the Cook County Board of Review were also released. Interestingly, newly elected Commissioner Tammy Wendt's district would pick up more of Chicago, which may hurt her in the next election since she received most of her support last year from the suburbs.

The Tribune's Rick Pearson notes that an official analysis of the changes could be available today, when the maps are scheduled to face public hearings with the plan to vote on them before the General Assembly's adjournment on Monday.

Democrats used U.S. Census Bureau estimates from the American Community Survey to come up with the legislative maps, which Republicans and some community groups have hammered on, contending the estimates are less reliable and could undercount ethnic and racial communities.

Not included in the latest map dump are new boundaries for congressional seats.

THE BUZZ

SCOOP: Lawmakers are expected to propose moving the Illinois 2022 primary to June, according to two sources close to discussions.

As we mentioned earlier in the week, the delay in drawing congressional maps creates a domino effect by pushing out the deadline to gather petition signatures. A March primary would be impossible to meet.

There's concern about the legal challenges that could come with drawing congressional seats before the U.S. Census Bureau releases its data. Drawing state legislative seats is less problematic.

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

WHERE'S J.B.

No official public events — expect him to be holed up in the Capitol as the General Assembly winds down.

WHERE'S LORI

No official public events.

Where's Toni

No official public events.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— The Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 42 additional deaths and 891 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease. That's a total of 22,718 fatalities and 1,379,279 cases in Illinois. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests from May 20 through 26 is 1.9 percent. Chicago's positivity rate is at 2.9 percent.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

— For-profit nursing homes seek yet more Illinois funds while fighting staffing requirements: "The facilities oppose accountability measures but press lawmakers for $486 million toward Covid-19 'recovery and stabilization,'" by WBEZ's Chip Mitchell and Dave McKinney.

— CORONAVIRUS: Courthouses statewide can lift masking rules for vaccinated visitors, workers; Temp checks gone, too, by Cook County Record's Jonathan Bilyk

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

— JUNETEENTH: Bill that would make it a paid state holiday heads to Pritzker's desk: "The bill would make June 19 a school holiday and a paid day off for all state employees. If June 19 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday would be on the following Monday," by Tribune's Jenny Whidden.

— This never happens: When the Tribune and Sun-Times agree on policy: We generally don't run editorials but as the Tribune writes today, "it's worth noting" that the left-leaning Sun-Times editorial board and the right-leaning Tribune editorial board agree on the elected school board issue.

— Springfield set to act on Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund unrest: "A measure awaiting final vote in the Legislature would limit the ability of pension board members to take paid jobs with the funds they govern," by Crain's Greg Hinz.

— Energy working groups continue to hammer a deal: They're trying to get closure on several big issues, including how to handle Exelon's demand for more money to keep two nuclear power plants running, and how to replace formula rates. The good news: There's agreement on addressing renewable energy. Hanging over the negotiations is the ongoing corruption investigation involving ComEd, including another indictment this week, reports Capitol News.

— GOOD HAIR DAY: Bill that would bar schools from prohibiting braids or dreadlocks heads to governor's desk: "Before going to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk for his signature, however, the legislation is headed back to the Senate for approval of an amendment that would refer to the act as 'the Jett Hawkins Law,' after a 4-year-old Chicago boy who was ordered to take his braids out due to his school's dress code earlier this year," by Tribune's Jenny Whidden.

— 'Shot-and-a-beer' vaccine bill sent to Pritzker for his signature: "Lawmakers also passed legislation allowing those with drug-related convictions to apply for assistance through a temporary program for needy families," by Sun-Times' Rachel Hinton and Andrew Sullender.

— More bills heading to governor: 'Sexting' and drug coviction bills: "The Illinois Senate on Thursday passed a measure requiring public schools to include the dangers of 'sexting' in sex education coursework and another lifting a ban on people convicted of drug crimes from receiving certain family benefits," by Capitol News' Jerry Nowicki.

— GOP lawmakers say 'national sex education standards' are too explicit for Illinois schools: "In Illinois, public schools aren't required to offer sex education courses. Earlier in the spring legislative session, State Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Addison) proposed mandating sex ed and aligning that curriculum with culturally competent and medically accurate standards," by WSIU's Derek Cantu.

— Legislation that could close all Illinois classrooms in an emergency advances, by Center Square's Kevin Bessler

THE STATEWIDES

— Illinois continued to seclude and restrain students this year even though many schools were closed: "Even during the coronavirus pandemic with limited in-person learning, staff at Illinois schools secluded and restrained students more than 15,000 times during the 2020-21 school year, new data shows," by Tribune's Jennifer Smith Richards and ProPublica's Jodi S. Cohen.

— Latino Caucus lays out agenda: "One of the proposals, Senate Bill 225, would prohibit the Illinois secretary of state from sharing facial recognition data with local, state or federal law enforcement agencies, if they're trying to enforce federal immigration law," by Capitol News' Sarah Mansur.

— Abortions in Illinois increased almost 10 percent in one year, with more than 7,500 women traveling here from out of state: "Illinois has long been considered a reproductive rights haven amid the generally more restrictive Midwest, with many nearby states enacting increasingly strict waiting periods, mandatory ultrasounds, gestational limits and other barriers to the procedure," by Angie Leventis Lourgos.

... A history of abortion funding in Illinois: from Medicaid to the Reproductive Health Act, by Tribune's Kori Rumore and Angie Leventis Lourgos

— Drumroll, please: "One Illinois" is the theme for the 2021 Illinois and Du Quoin state fairs, by KFVS/12's Ashley Smith

A message from Illini for Affordable Rx:

CHICAGO

— LIGHTFOOT's ALTERNATE PLAN to honor DuSable includes developing a park in his name: "The mayor's plan calls for $40 million toward developing DuSable Park on the Near North Side, renaming the Riverwalk downtown for DuSable and creating an annual festival in his honor. Lightfoot unveiled her expanded proposal a day after two aldermen deferred a vote on whether to rename outer Lake Shore Drive in honor of DuSable, who's credited as the area's first nonnative settler for establishing a trading post along the river in 1779," by Tribune's John Byrne and Gregory Pratt.

... Museums may have to change their addresses if outer Lake Shore Drive is renamed for DuSable, reports WTTW's Heather Cherone

— Liquor store sales curfew plan worries some businesses and aldermen: "Chicago's pandemic-induced liquor store sales curfew could become permanent under a sweeping set of changes to city law proposed yesterday by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. But she'll need the votes to make it happen," by WBEZ's Claudia Morell, Becky Vevea, and Mariah Woelfel.

— Chicago gets 50 years to replace lead service lines, way longer than other Illinois cities: "At the behest of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, state lawmakers are allowing Chicago to continue leaving the dangerous pipes in the ground as crews wrap up a decades-long overhaul of the city's aging distribution system," by Tribune's Michael Hawthorne.

— First new Boys & Girls Club of Chicago in a generation: "Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) called the decision to co-locate the two projects a 'bad move.' In fact, he accused the mayor of 'playing political games.' 'This is absolutely an attempt to try and sell something that young Black youth have consistently said they don't want to see built on the West Side,'" by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman.

— TALK ABOUT A STUNT: Conservative media outlet sues Lightfoot for the one day she granted interviews to reporters of color: "Thomas Catenacci, and the Daily Caller News Foundation for which he is a national reporter, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Illinois a week after Lightfoot's decision led to conservative backlash as well as a renewed debate about diversity in the media," by Tribune's Alice Yin.

— Financial woes doom West Loop drug treatment center for women: "The Women's Treatment Center in the booming West Loop provided residential care to 45 women, and it allowed them to bring their children — an extreme rarity in the recovery world. It also offered outpatient methadone treatment to more than 600 patients addicted to opioids," by Tribune's John Keilman.

— Last summer's 'racial reckoning' called everyday life for Black people: "On the anniversary of Floyd's death, Aislinn Pulley, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Chicago and co-executive director of the Chicago Torture Justice Center, discussed the groundswell and waning of support for the movement, her reaction to Derek Chauvin's conviction, the shift in media coverage of police violence and more. Below is a transcript of the conversation, edited for clarity and brevity," by WBEZ's Esther Yoon-Ji Kang.

— City and U. of C.'s Crime Lab launch Chicago's first-ever violence reduction dashboard: "The Violence Reduction Dashboard and the corresponding datasets available on the Open Data Portal are a first of its kind public data-tool depicting data on community and domestic violence, victimization, and the City's response to violence while prioritizing privacy," via the Defender.

... Zach Honoroff from the Crime Lab talks to Fox/32 about the dashboard.

— White Sox under fire for renaming stadium concourse section: "A section of the 100-level concourse named after 66-year employee Loretta Micele since 2005 has been rebranded as 'La Russa's Lounge,'" reports Patch's Jeff Arnold.

— McKinley Park residents fighting the city over an asphalt plant they say is ruining its charm, by Tribune's Nausheen Husain

— Anthony Michael Hall & Debbie Gibson to film in Chicago, reports Reel Chicago

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

A statewide billion-dollar relief package has eased some fears of mass evictions in Cook County: "The Illinois Housing Development Authority is administering the money and partnering with community groups to spread word about the program and to assist with applications. The maximum amount a landlord/tenant can receive to wipe out past due balances is $25,000 covering 15 months. Landlords must waive late fees and sign a legal agreement that they won't evict for nonpayment after receiving the money," by WBEZ's Natalie Moore.

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DAY IN COURT

— Former correctional officers speak out about inmates sexually harassing them, say supervisors ignored concerns: "Lawyers for two correctional officers are urging Sheriff Tom Dart's office and Cook County government to settle a 2017 federal lawsuit concerning the abuse allegations," by Sun-Times' Stefano Esposito.

— Ex-state Sen. Annazette Collins pleads not guilty after feds file new indictment: "The indictment filed Wednesday against Collins accuses her of an additional count of filing a false individual income tax return for the calendar year 2018," by Sun-Times' Jon Seidel.

— Cop who fatally shot Anthony Alvarez being investigated for pulling gun in road rage crash: "Videos show officer Evan Solano confront the driver of a white SUV with his gun out. CPD's Bureau of Internal Affairs is investigating the May 21 incident," by Block Club's Mina Bloom.

— Dreadhead Cowboy among Dan Ryan protesters arrested for blocking traffic: He joined protesters calling attention to gun violence against children, via ABC/7's Liz Nagy.

TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES

Amtrak details big expansion plan: "If you like the idea of riding the rails to Toronto, taking the train to Green Bay to see the Bears beat the Packers or tripling daily service to Detroit, you're going to love it," writes Crain's Greg Hinz.

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— ALL EYES ON THE SENATE: Moderates fume as McConnell prepares to block Jan. 6 commission, by POLITICO's Burgess Everett

— Senate bid to counter China thrown into chaos amid GOP objections, by POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio and Gavin Bade

— Neera Tanden is back. Could she be more powerful? POLITICO's Natasha Korecki and Anita Kumar report

— Biden budget won't clear up Congress' infrastructure limbo, by POLITICO's Caitlin Emma, Sarah Ferris and Marianne LeVine

— The hidden history about how Washington embraced UFOs, by POLITICO's Bryan Bender

IN MEMORIAM

Path dedicated in memory of former legislator Maggie Crotty: "Many friends showed up to honor Maggie as the walking path was dedicated. Friends which included former Speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan. Also, part of the dedication was Robin Kelly who is the congresswoman of the 2nd District. John Cullerton told stories about his friendship with Maggie as well," by Patch's Mary Compton.

MEDIA MATTERS

— Joe Walsh says radio show canceled due to Trump criticism: "Joe Walsh, a former GOP congressman from Illinois and vocal critic of Trump, tweeted that he was 'not surprised' but 'bummed' by the move, which he attributed to his criticism of the former president," via The Hill.

— Rush Limbaugh's radio show to be taken over by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton: "Duo's program to begin airing in the coveted weekday time slot on June 21 in hundreds of markets," via Wall Street Journal.

TRIVIA

THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Union County Democrat Leo Driscoll for being first to answer that John Knuppel was the former state senator who was known to go to the railing of the Capitol rotunda and yell out the name of former IDOT Director Langhorne Bond.

TODAY's QUESTION: Which Illinois politician was arrested and held on suspicion for helping a Confederate prisoner try to escape? Email to skapos@politico.com

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today: former congressman Aaron Schock, Illinois House Republican Organization executive director Jayme Odom, entrepreneur Matthew Pritzker, MolsonCoors Chief Comms Officer Adam Collins, 1833 Group's Hannah Bartholff, and WNDR Museum director of operations Jen Kramer.

Saturday: attorney and Highland Park Councilmember Anthony Blumberg, Gilda's Club Chicago CEO LauraJane Hyde, "Freakonomics" co-author and University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt, and comms consultant Kevin Lampe, who turns the big 6-OH with is birthday twin Melissa Etheridge (both 1961).

Sunday: Neil Malone, director of political programs for the Illinois Association of Realtors, and Amisha Patel, executive director of Grassroots Collaborative.

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