| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Thursday morning, Illinois. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for school to start.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) speaks during a House Agriculture Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2022. | Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO | Congressman Rodney Davis, the ranking Republican on the House Administration Committee that oversees safety at the U.S. Capitol, says he's not convinced the building is any safer today than it was when rioters stormed through the doors Jan. 6, 2021. "I don't know if we're in a better spot right now. I'm not convinced that we have done everything we can do to secure the Capitol," the Illinois lawmaker told Playbook in an interview. Davis criticized the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack for not asking "the right questions" about safety. And he dismissed the committee's revelation that former President Donald Trump didn't make a call to the National Guard or other military or law enforcement agencies to respond to the riot. "Should things have been done differently? Absolutely. But is it one person's fault that the security apparatus failed?" Davis asked rhetorically. Here's what else he had to say in our wide-ranging interview. On losing the primary election in June to fellow Republican Rep. Mary Miller: "It sucked. President Trump did what he intended to do, which was change the turnout vote. Turnout was much higher in areas that he focused. I've got to give it to him and his campaign strategists. They knew what they had to do and did it and got it done. Our polling, our data had us in the lead up until we weren't on election night. He's free to do what he wants to do, and in the end, it worked out for him." Last hurrah?: "I initially said I'd probably never run again, and then some longtime supporters called and said 'Never say never.' So, we'll see. I'm supporting Republicans up and down the ticket in this cycle. And I'm doing what I can to elect more Republican members of Congress from Illinois." Switching to the work at hand: Why let Cleta Mitchell, a conservative elections attorney and "stop-the=steal" advocate, be part of the discussion on your American Confidence in Elections Act? "We want to protect the election process at the state level rather than the national. The Democrats have their own bill that was written behind closed doors. We are doing things differently. We're being transparent. And I welcome everyone who wants to be part of it. Cleta and others have been involved in election integrity long before the 2020 election." On Democratic meddling: "This isn't just a problem in Illinois. We're seeing Democrats accuse anyone who supported President Trump as being 'against Democracy' — except when you want a candidate in a Republican primary that wouldn't win in a general election," he said, referring to Gov. JB Pritzker pouring millions into a campaign propping up Republican Darren Bailey in the primary over Richard Irvin. "It's happening across the country. Look at Peter Meijer in Michigan. He voted to impeach President Trump. He's one of the most independent thinkers who we have in Congress. and Democrats spent money to beat him. They tried to do the same thing to Young Kim in California. It's opportunistic. JB Pritzker is nothing but opportunistic. We saw that when he forced out the first African-American female chairman of the Democratic Party just last week." Your biggest wins since taking office in 2013: Serving on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee (He's the ranking member.) "and seeing passage of the surface transportation reauthorization law. It's what I promised to do when I got here." Also, passage of the Employer Participation in Repayment Act, which allows employers to make tax-free student loan payments on behalf of their employees.
| | THE BUZZ | | | 
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, left, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tour the Covid-19 alternate care facility built at McCormick Place in 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere - Pool/Getty Images | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Mayor Lori Lightfoot, whose birthday is today, has picked up the best gift of all. An endorsement in her bid for a second term — from Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth's message: "Over the last three years, I have seen Mayor Lightfoot's dedication and compassion for Chicago's working families as we worked together to secure the resources the city deserves from the federal government," the Democratic senator said in a statement. "When Covid-19 spread across our country, she took action to combat socioeconomic and racial health disparities head-on and made Chicago's vaccine distribution a model for the nation." Here's the video announcement . This is the first statewide endorsement for Lightfoot in her run for a second term. She's also been endorsed by Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Congressmen Bobby Rush and Danny Davis. Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I'd like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today . | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At Roosevelt Elementary School in Broadview at 9:30 a.m. to kick off the back to school sales tax holiday . At the Chicago Family Health Center at 11:30 a.m. to introduce IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and announce new reproductive health care funding expansions.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | No official public events
| | Where's Toni | | At Wampum Lake Forest Preserve at 9 a.m. for the Forest Preserve Experience graduation ceremony for more than 100 high-school-age youth from housing authority communities.
| | ABOUT ABORTION | | — Pritzker celebrated the defeat of the Kansas ballot measure that would have repealed the abortion protections written in the state's constitution, tweeting , "Kansas voters have spoken — and they've forcefully stood up for the right to choose." An election issue: The governor also indicated reproductive rights will be used to get voters to the polls in November. "This is a sign to the Republicans seeking to undermine bodily autonomy: Americans will not stand for this extremist agenda. Across our nation, we will defend reproductive freedom in November," he said. — Kansas landslide fuels abortion rights movement's next fights: "The surprise 20-point margin in one of the most conservative states in the country highlighted the gap between what a majority of voters want and what a number of Republican candidates and lawmakers are pushing — both in Kansas and in several other states sure to play a key role in the coming midterm elections," by POLITICO's Alice Miranda Ollstein. — Biden signs executive order to protect travel for abortion, by The Associated Press — U.S. sues Idaho over abortion law, cites medical treatment, by The Associated Press
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | Keith Pekau taking heat for award from group that criticized sex education, bakery's drag show: "Not only did Keith Pekau jeopardize the lives of his constituents throughout the pandemic, but he accepted an award from far-right extremists thanking him for ignoring public health officials," a spokesman for Democratic Rep. Sean Casten said. Pekau, the mayor of Orland Park, is the Republican nominee facing Casten in the 6th Congressional District Daily Herald's Russell Lissau reports.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois joins three other states to create EV charging circuit along scenic Lake Michigan shoreline: "The Lake Michigan EV Circuit Tour will incorporate existing charging infrastructure with strategically located new chargers at key coastal communities, lighthouses, state parks, breweries and other popular tourist attractions along the shoreline route. The build-out is expected to be completed over the next few years," by Tribune's Robert Channick. (Breweries!) — Pritzker highlights Rebuild Illinois funding for Cahokia Heights sewers and Rend Lake Resort: Projects paid for in part by the Illinois motor fuel tax and several driving-related fees include hundreds of millions of dollars for railroad, bridge and other transportation projects, writes Capitol News Jerry Nowicki. — 'Corn sweat' is making the air in the Midwest oppressively muggy: "Corn contributes substantial moisture to the atmosphere during the heart of summer each year — some call it 'corn sweat,'" via The Washington Post. — State college savings plan could be an election issue, by Illinois Radio Network's Greg Bishop
| | CHICAGO | | — INTERVIEW | Lightfoot says Chicago is making progress on fighting crime despite continued downtown violence: " The mayor, in an interview Wednesday, credited a 'multitiered' strategy for a drop in murders and shootings and said the city needs to target late-hour bars where a lot of downtown violence is occurring," by Sun-Times' Frank Main. — CTA President Dorval Carter details efforts to combat crime, workforce shortage, interview with WTTW's Paris Schutz and story by Yahya Salem — Italian-American group wants statues returned by Columbus Day, protected at taxpayer expense, by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman — Lauded charter school leader Tim King forced out after an investigation into sexual misconduct: "King denies the allegations laid out in a CPS inspector general's report and his lawyer says he'll fight to clear his name," by WBEZ's Sarah Karp. — Fewer pharmacies found on Chicago's South and West sides, an analysis finds , by WBEZ's Cheyanne Daniels, Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
| | HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING | | — Suspect in Highland Park massacre pleads not guilty to 117 charges. Parents say they 'deeply regret the actions' of their son: "Robert E. Crimo III is accused of opening fire from a rooftop during the Fourth of July parade, killing seven people and wounding 48 others," by Sun-Times' David Struett — Takeaways from inside the courtroom, by Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet — Young boy paralyzed after Highland Park mass shooting out of critical condition, by Tribune's Laura Rodríguez Presa
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Covid, the 'the great resignation' blamed for Cook County Attorney's Office high turnover rate, by NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern — A Cook County judge expressed fears before a 'very serious breach' at the Daley Center , by WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos. — Rolling Meadows dad dies days after wrong-way crash that killed family, by Daily Herald's Christopher Placek — 334-unit apartment development approved for Wheaton's downtown, by Daily Herald's Katlyn Smith — Wayne police working to corral pigs on the loose, by Shaw Local's Eric Schelkopf
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Federal lawsuit challenges new limits on contributions to Illinois judicial candidates: "Seeking to preserve Democratic control of all three branches of state government, Democrats in the legislature approved a measure last year that bars judicial candidates from receiving campaign cash from out-of-state contributors and groups that don't disclose their donors. Lawmakers approved another measure that bans contributions in excess of $500,000 per election cycle from a single source to independent expenditure committees set up to support or oppose judicial candidates," by Tribune's Dan Petrella. — Lollapalooza security guard posted bogus mass shooting threat so she could leave work early, according to prosecutors, by Tribune's Rosemary Sobol — R. Kelly prosecutor accused of using fake name, private email to communicate with journalist, by Sun-Times' Jon Seidel
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY . | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what makes you cynical about politics: Cam Davis, an MWRD commissioner: "Complacency. In an era when democracy is threatened, there's no excuse for it. If everyone did something to get involved in the political process, we could leave our country — and the planet — better for the next generation. And ours." Ashvin Lad: "Not answering the question that's asked, name-calling in lieu of substance, taking others' words out of context for their own gain, a 'do as I say, not as I do' mentality, not having a true open primary where all candidates are on one ballot, which would no doubt draw in many independents to vote in primaries." Jim Nagle: "I am not cynical about politics. Democratic elections make sense to me. The cynical ones are the billionaires who try to buy elections and politicians. The dirty tricksters and charlatans give a bad name to a noble enterprise." Mary Ann Pantle: "In times of crisis, we need leaders who will unite us, which involves working with people who see the world differently. Unfortunately, a politician's ability to do this is degraded by allegiances to people and ideology that is perpetuated by false narratives designed to shut dissenters out for the simple purpose of personal gain." Andy Shaw: "The sad fact that self-interest is a much higher priority than public interest for a vast majority of elected officials and high level appointees." Timothy Thomas Jr.: "The incestuous siren's song of money and it's corrupting influence that causes officeholders to make decisions on it (money, campaign contributions, etc.) instead of the will of the people." When did tuning in to a baseball game interrupt your work life? Email skapos@politico.com
| | POT-POURRI | | News you can use | Parenting while consuming: "It can make you more engaged and fun-loving around the kids," writes Erica Nahorniak in Chicago magazine.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | Indiana GOP Rep. Walorski, three others die in auto accident: "The fatal Wednesday crash also killed the congresswoman's aide Emma Thomson and two others, according to the sheriff's office in Elkhart County, Ind.," by POLITICO's Olivia Beavers and Sarah Ferris. More from the South Bend Tribune
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — How the November midterms could still surprise us, by Jeff Greenfield for POLITICO — Trump faces uphill fight on executive privilege in DOJ probe, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein and Betsy Woodruff Swan — Alex Jones says he now believes '100%' that Sandy Hook massacre was real, via New York Times. See the POLITICO video
| | KUDOS | | GRANTS GRANTED: Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership received an $18.5 million grant and Illinois Central College received a $14.6 million grant as part of the Good Jobs Challenge funded by the American Rescue Plan. They were among 32 winning projects selected from a pool of 509 applicants from across the country, according to the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration, which administered the grants.
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Andrew Regalado has been named partner at CORSolutions, a political consulting and public affairs firm. He was a legislative assistant to Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16). — Camile Lindsay is now first assistant deputy governor for public safety, infrastructure, environment and energy for Gov. JB Pritzker. She was chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Corrections.
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Roger Flahaven and Tamer Abouzeid for correctly answering that Lottie Holam O'Neill was the first woman elected to the Illinois General Assembly. It was 100 years ago in 1922. All hail, Lottie! TODAY's QUESTION: Which Chicago alderperson was the long-time head of the Finance Committee before being convicted of federal criminal charges? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot turns the big 6-0, former President Barack Obama, minister and former state Sen. James Meeks and former Cook County Judge Larry Axelrood. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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