| | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by Illini for Affordable Rx | Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. Is anyone else planning a post-legislative-session-I'm-all-vaxed-school's-out vacation? I am. If you are, too, I'd like to hear your ideas. skapos@politico.com |  | TOP TALKER | | State lawmakers and Chicago officials are poring over Treasury Department guidelines on how to spend their portion of the $350 billion in American Rescue Plan funding coming this way. Illinois is expected to see $27 billion in funding, and Chicago will get nearly $1.9 billion. Big news: the money can't be used to pay off debt, which Rep. Mike Zalewski calls "bombshell" news. House Democrats heard an rough breakdown Tuesday of how the state portion could be dispersed, and Playbook got a sneak look. A large portion — possibly as much as $6 billion — would be spread out across cities and towns (other than Chicago) to help pay for public health expenses and to address economic problems that have emerged as a result of the pandemic. That's lost businesses, paying essential workers or, even, improving water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. The rest of the Illinois funding could break down this way, according to a Democrat in the closed-door caucus meeting to discuss the preliminary figures: — Elementary and high schools could receive $5 billion; — Public health and human services departments would divvy up $2 billion; — Illinois would hold on to $7.5 billion. It's not clear what the state will do with that funding because the Treasury is enforcing strict rules about what the federal aid can and can't be used for. Not being able to pay off debt is particularly frustrating because the state had hoped to use a portion of the federal funds to cut down a $3.6 billion loan it took out to keep operating during the worst of the pandemic; — Other disbursements: child care programs, $1.4 billion; mass transit, $1.5 billion; higher education, $1.3 billion; and rental and mortgage assistance, $800 million. The numbers could change but the priorities won't — cities and schools are a priority for lawmakers. | | THE BUZZ | | Rep. Adam Kinzinger got in a Twitter scuffle late Tuesday with fellow Republican Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman who's being investigated for possible federal sex trafficking violations. Their exchange comes ahead of today's expected GOP vote to push Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her House leadership position in the conference. Kinzinger is a Cheney ally. Gaetz has been vocal about getting her booted. The Florida rep chided Kinzinger about comments he made in February that a vote to remove Cheney from leadership didn't "age well." Kinzinger returned with his own tweet, saying Gaetz should "stay away from 'aging well' tweets" — a not-so-subtle reference to the probe into whether Gaetz inappropriately traveled with a 17-year-old. Kinzinger followed that up with a separate tweet , attacking @GOPleader: "Kevin McCarthy (an employee of Donald Trump) may win tomorrow, but history won't be kind. Never has our party gone after [its] own leadership like this, but Kevin and Steve Scalise made history, because Trump has thin skin. I'd be embarrassed if I was them." Tensions over the vote are high, a process kicked off by Cheney's criticism of former President Donald Trump and his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Cheney won't go quietly. Last night, she gave an impassioned speech about democracy, the rule of law, and Ronald Reagan. And she warned that Trump "risks inciting further violence." We'll be watching to see if the vote is a secret ballot or voice vote. There are 218 Republicans, so at least 110 would need to vote against Cheney in order to remove her. We know Kinzinger won't support Cheney's ouster and that Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller favors it. But where will Reps. Daren LaHood and Rodney Davis stand? RELATED Congress' other pro-impeachment Republicans stay quiet, by POLITICO's Burgess Everett and Melanie Zanona 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. | | At the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library at 11 a.m. to discuss the state's "safe return to tourism, travel and exploring Illinois." | | WHERE'S LORI | | No official public events. | | Where's Toni | | No official public events. | | THE LATEST NUMBERS | | The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 26 additional deaths and 1,562 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease. That's a total of 22,261 fatalities and 1,357,953 cases in Illinois. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests from May 4 through 10 is 2.8 percent. Chicago's positivity rate is at 4.0 percent. | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | — With younger teens now vaccine eligible, schools aim to be their source for vax shots: "Several suburban Chicago school districts hope to deliver vaccines to students 12 and older at school-based clinics as early as this week," by Tribune's Karen Ann Cullotta and John Keilman. — Illinois surpasses 10 million vaccinations as daily average of new Covid-19 cases dips below 2,000, by the Tribune's Jenny Whidden | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois politicians cashing in on little-known pension perk: More than 40 politicians are benefiting from a "perk" passed in 1989 that allows them to bank 3 percent pension payment increases for every year they spent in office, after 20 years or age 55. Among those enjoying the benefit are former House Speaker Michael Madigan, according to WGN/9's Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedter. — Lawmaker calls for hearings after WGN report on felon getting Covid cash: House Minority Leader Jim Durkin wants to know "how it is possible that a convicted felon was able to quadruple his investment and is now free to sell a property that the State of Illinois and its taxpayers paid to remodel." WGN/9's Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedter report. — GOP turns county redistricting into a 'charade': "A McLean County Board member says his party has been plotting behind closed doors for months to create new district board maps that would make it harder for Democrats to get elected. Republican Josh Barnett of Bloomington said County Board chair John McIntyre rejected his call for a bipartisan advisory panel to help draw the maps," by WGLT's Eric Stock. — Springfield's longstanding equity gap has created 'whole different world' on the east side: "'For a long time we've been doing it wrong, in my opinion,' said Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory. 'We haven't been teaching people how to fish. We've been like, "Here's $400 a month." But you can't always provide that. So how do people make their own money? How do they become self-sustainable, so they don't have to keep leaning on government? How do we help people get better instead of keeping them at the same place?'" State Journal-Register's Natalie Pierre reports. | | LEGISLATIVE UPDATE | | VAX AND A BEER: Lawmaker wants residents to get their shot — then get a beer: "Taverns across the state would be able to reward patrons who can prove they got a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine with a free beer — or other alcoholic beverage" under a bill introduced by state Rep. Mike Zalewski, writes Sun-Times' Rachel Hinton. Other places already do this. In Buffalo, N.Y., it's been dubbed a "shot and chaser" program. — Clarence Page Column: Who's afraid of critical race theory? Those who don't know what it is: "I was surprised to see a Black state lawmaker from Chicago's West Side, La Shawn Ford, introduce a bill calling for its inclusion in police officer training," the national columnist writes. — Legislation heading to the Senate floor: Hairstyle discrimination bill, a measure that addresses special education, and a bill requiring public schools to teach Asian American history, by Capitol News' Raymon Troncoso. ... for Sen. Mike Simmons, the hairstyle discrimination bill is personal, writes Sun-Times' Rachel Hinton. — Rep. Anne Stava-Murray's bill would make child care a legitimate campaign expense, reports WJBC's Dave Dahl — Rep. Maurice West's bill would add sexting course to sex education curriculums, by KHQA's Jakob Emerson — Providers say Pritzker's budget for adults with disabilities falls short of solving long-standing problems, reports Tribune's Jenny Whidden | | CHICAGO | | — CPD launched secret drone program with off-the-books cash: "In an email last summer, a police official reported that its counter-terrorism bureau started a pilot drone program using forfeiture proceeds — money and other assets seized in connection to criminal investigations," by Sun-Times' Tom Schuba and Frank Main. — Loretto Hospital got vaccines to help Black West Siders — but more than half of early on-site shots went to white and Asian people: "The hospital also admitted to vaccinating ineligible people at Trump Tower and a luxury jewelry shop, according to an audit obtained by the BGA and Block Club Chicago," by Block Club's Kelly Bauer and Better Government Association's David Jackson. — Chicago to take page from Copenhagen — by experimenting with raised bike lanes: "Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi said Chicago's cycling plan is "a decade old" so it's time to update it," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — Activist Ja'Mal Green says Lightfoot stopping youth center in retaliation for past criticism: "She takes things too personal … That's the game ball that she plays. If you're not her friend, she is not willing to help you." Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — Urban Growers Collective teaches divested communities how to grow, farm food locally: "Urban Growers Collective teaches communities how to grow vegetables at several farms around the city," by Sun-Times' Evan F. Moore. — Blackhawks call Pat Foley's 'bullet in my head' remark 'an absolutely unacceptable choice of words,' by Tribune's Phil Rosenthal | | | | A message from Illini for Affordable Rx:   | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — As candidates flock to Secretary of State race, Burnett won't run to replace White: "Burnett, elected to the City Council in 1995, said he decided that he could not continue to serve as alderman for the West Loop — where the COVID-19 pandemic has only slightly cooled the red-hot pace of development — while running for a statewide office amid the pandemic," reports WTTW's Heather Cherone. | | DAY IN COURT | | — High court hears challenge to mandatory life for young adults: "A man who was found guilty for acting as the lookout in a double homicide nearly three decades ago is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to find his mandatory life sentence without parole unconstitutional. A lawyer for Antonio House argued before the Supreme Court Tuesday that his life sentence for a crime committed when he was 19 violates the so-called proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution," by Capitol News' Sarah Mansur. — 3 U.S. soldiers charged in allegedly supplying 'dozens' of guns to Chicago: "An investigation following a mass shooting on the Southwest Side revealed three soldiers stationed in Tennessee allegedly were engaging in an illegal gun pipeline to Chicago," by Sun-Times' Katie Anthony. — Cases involving a controversial former police detective married to a judge are moved out of Cook County: "Cases related to ex-detective Kriston Kato will be moved to Will County, the state Supreme Court wrote in an order entered last month. Kato has been married to Judge Mary Margaret Brosnahan since 2006, at which point she already was a judge in the Criminal Division at the Leighton Criminal Court Building," by Tribune's Megan Crepeau. | | TRICKY QUESTIONS | | — Water district board member facing ethics violation at Cook County job: "The director of community affairs at Cook County Health, who is also an elected board member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, is facing potential suspension from his county job after an investigation determined he violated ethics ordinances by performing his elected duties on county time and property," by Daily Herald's Jake Griffin. — Chicago aldermen warned about mixing politics, government on Facebook: The Chicago Board of Ethics called on Ald. David Moore, who just announced he's running to lead the Illinois Secretary of State Office, to "immediately" take down political/campaign content on his Facebook page, which also lists information about government services. Moore told Playbook, through a spokeswoman, that he "already made the correction" and that he hopes he "will not be the only one held to this standard and held accountable." — Ald. Austin misses deadline to pay already reduced fine for accepting improper campaign cash: "The Chicago Board of Ethics voted unanimously Monday to refer the matter to the city's Law Department, which could sue the second-longest serving alderman on the City Council to force her to pay the fine and return the improper campaign contribution to Benchmark Construction Co.," by WTTW's Heather Cherone. | | THE FIFTY | | THE FIFTY: Republicans in states like Wisconsin, Florida and Alabama are signaling that they'll put up a fight against President Joe Biden's social welfare proposal that includes universal pre-kindergarten and free community college tuition, report POLITICO's Megan Cassella and Liz Crampton. | | TWEET MODE | | The Legislative Jewish Caucus met in House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch's office Tuesday to express concern about a tweet made by his spokesman addressing the cross-border violence between Israel and militant groups in Gaza. Sean Anderson's retweet, which he said was accidental, was up only briefly before he deleted it. But it was public long enough for someone to take a screenshot and send it to Jewish Caucus members who said the wording appeared anti-Israel. It read, in part, "Do Palestinians have a right to Self-Defense?" In their discussion in the speaker's office, Anderson acknowledged the stumble — it wasn't meant to be anti-Israel, he said — and that more thought needs to go into his tweets. Lawmakers left encouraged that that's the case. | | | | JOIN THURSDAY 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. | | | | |
| | TAKING NAMES | | ANALYSIS on Rahm Emanuel as an envoy: "The move would give Biden a deeply experienced government tactician and political veteran in a prominent foreign post, but the choice is also certain to receive criticism from some in the Democratic Party's progressive wing who have been critical of Emanuel's eight-year tenure as mayor...Emanuel would enter the job with the most political and government experience since Howard H. Baker Jr., the former Republican Senate majority leader who served as former President Ronald Reagan's chief of staff and served as ambassador to Japan under former President George W. Bush," writes the Tribune's Bill Ruthhart. | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Harris once opposed the border closure. As VP, she supports it, by POLITICO's Anita Kumar — Black Lives Matter thought they had Washington's ear. Now they feel shut out, by POLITICO's Maya King — Biden administration placing new focus on domestic extremism, by POLITICO's Betsy Woodruff Swan — Jenner says she didn't vote in 2020. But records show she did, by POLITICO's Carla Marinucci — Pentagon chief during Jan. 6 riot defends military response, by The Associated Press — U.S. judge tosses NRA bankruptcy bid, letting New York seek dissolution, via Reuters | | IN MEMORIAM | | Helmut Jahn talks about life as a risk-taker in his last interview: "His arrival to the United States as a young man 'with a suitcase,' Jahn told me, set a pattern defined by seeking ever-greater challenges. In expressing his point of view as a designer, he was intentionally provocative, sharp-edged. In seeking clients and associates, he prized a tolerance for risk-taking. He thrives on speed, he said, on cars, on racing boats. His architecture is a rush. So was his life," writes F. Philip Barash in New City. | | TRANSITIONS | | Mo Green is now political director of SEIU Local 73. He previously was director of public affairs at the Illinois Department of Human Rights and before that was deputy state director for Joe Biden's 2020 campaign. Green also has worked with Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin. | | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to comms consultant Jim Bray for correctly answering that James Hamilton Lewis was the eccentric corporation counsel who also represented two different states in Congress during his career: Illinois and Washington. TODAY's QUESTION: Whose early career included a stint as assistant director of the Illinois Bureau of the Budget before he was elected governor? 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 | | Illinois House Black Caucus Chair Kam Buckner, and Clark Hill senior counsel Latasha Thomas, who's also a former Chicago alderman. -30-
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