| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. I'll be putting in the work for Justin Fields this weekend.
|  | TOP TALKER | | Dan Proft, a failed political candidate turned conservative broadcaster, lives in Florida these days, but he's still trying to make inroads in Illinois politics. But to no avail. On Thursday, he was trounced by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. Proft's deal with Paddock Publishing, the parent company of the Daily Herald, was quashed after Pritzker complained to Paddock's top brass. Pritzker's beef: Paddock was publishing faux newspapers produced by Proft's company — Local Government Information Services (LGIS). "These mailers are specifically designed to mislead readers into thinking they are legitimate journalism when in reality they are unlabeled ads attacking political candidates," Pritzker Campaign Manager Mike Ollen said in a letter to Paddock. The criticism comes on the heels of several reporters and other independent folks calling the publications inappropriate. Ollen said Pritzker wouldn't join the Daily Herald's political forum as a result. "We simply cannot participate in a forum organized by the same organization that seems to have willingly shared a postage permit with a partisan political entity dedicated to slandering the governor and his policies," Ollen wrote. Paddock ended the contract with Proft post haste. Here's its explanation. A spokeswoman for Pritzker said the governor is reconsidering joining the forum. Profit's pithy response: He said his (faux) papers "will continue to be printed and distributed even if we have to return to the Gutenberg press." And he described the Daily Herald as "just another staffer in Pritzker's comm shop which masquerades as the Chicago press corps." Proft suffered another blow: Also Thursday, WGN and NBC news stations pulled a political ad by the conservative People Who Play By The Rules PAC, which also is run by Proft. The ad featured Beverly Miles, a little-known candidate in the Democratic primary for governor, claiming Pritzker fired her from a government job. Pritzker's legal team wrote the stations saying the ad was "false and defamatory" and demanded the stations remove it "immediately." Failing to do "is actionable under Illinois defamation law," according to a letter from the Elias Law Group. It's familiar territory for Proft, whose Play By The Rules PAC saw another ad pulled earlier this month. That one featured a woman being mugged in broad daylight. The ad was criticized by victims' advocates for using a crime victim's trauma "for political gain." Proft's written statement Thursday took a jab at Pritzker: "Little Lord Fauntleroy threw a tantrum and got his way."
| | THE BUZZ | | UGLY IN THE SENATE: The Illinois state Senate is in upheaval after the governor called for two senators to resign – one because he's been charged by the feds with bribery and the other because he's been accused of abuse by his estranged wife. State Sen. Emil Jones III is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges he accepted a $5,000 bribe from a red-light camera company and lied to the FBI. State Sen, Michael Hastings is not charged with anything but is involved in an ugly divorce that's gone public, including a claim that he put his wife in a headlock. Separately, an environmental lobbyist has described Hastings as a bully. Both men have stepped down from their Senate leadership posts at the request of state Senate President Don Harmon. And they're both on the ballot in November. Pritzker's statement: "Sen. Jones is accused of accepting bribes, and Sen. Hastings is accused of abusing women. They should answer the charges and have their day in court. But in the best interests of their constituents, these men must resign from their offices," Pritzker said in his statement. "Resigning only their leadership roles falls short of what the public should expect. I want to send a clear message to the people of Illinois: Corruption and abuse have no place here." Harmon spokesman John Patterson said: "The gravity of the accusations required immediate action and consequences, which is why the Senate president demanded and received resignations from their leadership posts. Now it is up to these individuals and their constituents to determine their futures." 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
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO 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. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At Discovery Partners Institute Chicago headquarters at noon to unveil the research center's new design plans. — At 55 W. Monroe to announce an agricultural trade deal with Taiwan.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | Joining the governor at noon at Discovery Partners Institute
| | Where's Toni | | At Malcolm X College at 3:30 p.m. for the Chicagoland Workforce Development Symposium.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Former state lawmakers fail in fight to claw back pay they voted to cut: "If the court had ruled the other way, the state could have had to dole out $10 million or more in back pay to former legislators, according to the state comptroller's office. The state Supreme Court, in a 17-page opinion, ruled that the former legislators waited too long to challenge the pay cuts," by Route Fifty's Daniel C. Vock. — A church in Urbana-Champaign reverses on promises to address abuse allegations, by WBEZ's Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An. — IDOC officials criticized over audit findings, future of Pontiac prison, by WGEM's Mike Miletich — Forgoing the funds: Most Illinois nursing homes passing up subsidies for CNA pay raises despite backing law that set up the subsidies, writes Illinois Times' Dean Olsen
| | SPOTTED | | | 
Anne Caprara, chief of staff to Gov. JB Pritzker, said Democrats need to take back the abortion rights debate in November. | POLITICO's Shia Kapos | Anne Caprara, the governor's chief of staff is accusing Democrats of becoming "complacent" about the laws surrounding reproductive rights and hopes voters show up in November to get back on course. "It's the biggest fight that's on the horizon," Caprara told a high-profile crowd gathered at Gibsons Italia for a fundraising luncheon for the Women PAC, which supports women candidates. "We've gotten complacent about our laws and let our narrative be written by people who have no skin in the game," she said referring to the mostly male Republican lawmakers over the years who have challenged abortion rights at every turn, from defining late-term abortions and legal heartbeats to restricting abortion centers. Illinois was the exception, she noted: She pointed to women legislators who pushed for passage of the Reproductive Health Act in 2019. Caprara's address touched on how she got into politics —Emily's List — and her dedication to Pritzker's reelection efforts. But she focused mostly on abortion rights and how the country got to where it is today on the issue. "We need to reframe the way we think about the last 50 years. Because here's the thing, when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, there already was an effort under way to go through state legislatures —a bipartisan effort — to legalize abortion at the state level," Caprara said. "When Roe was decided, we abandoned that effort. We stopped doing what we needed to do to continue the fight." Caprara was speaking to the choir. In the room were Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, Assistant House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, Democratic Party Chair Lisa Hernandez, state Reps. Kelly Burke, Deb Conroy, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and Lindsey LaPointe, state Sen. Melinda Bush, C-Strategies' Becky Carroll and PAC leader Tiffany Elking and lobbyist and political insider Liz Brown.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — IL-17 POLL: 314 Action Fund is out with toplines from a new poll of likely voters in the IL-17 congressional race showing Democrat Eric Sorensen leading Republican Esther Joy King. "An initial horserace finds Sorensen with nearly a majority of voters behind him with 47 percent of the vote to Esther Joy King's 38 percent. The poll found 15 percent of voters not sure of who they would vote for in November," according to 314 Action Fund. Toplines here
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Republican governor candidate in Rhode Island got a tax break on Illinois home: "Ashley Kalus acknowledged Wednesday her family continued to receive a homestead exemption on a house in Illinois even after she bought a home in Newport last year, saying her husband continued to live out of state until recently," via WPRI TV.
| | CHICAGO | | — Mobilizing in Mexico: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will lead a delegation of city officials and business leaders on a five-day trip to Mexico City from Wednesday through Oct. 2. According to her office , Lightfoot will meet with city and business leaders "to discuss Chicago's economic recovery, inclusive economic development and continued growth and expansion." World Business Chicago is covering those who work for the city, and others are paying their own way. Not in the mix are the four City Council members who are of Mexican descent. — Lightfoot accused of scrapping CFD promotion list to punish controversial City Council member: "Ald. Jim Gardiner — a Chicago firefighter on a leave of absence — is accusing the mayor, with whom he has clashed repeatedly, of scrapping a CFD promotion list because he was second in line to be promoted to lieutenant," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — The robots are coming. Chicago OKs pilot program of food delivery via machine, by WTTW's Patty Wetli — Invest South/West program remains mostly a vision, without a single project under construction after three years: "The mayor's signature economic development initiative has promised unprecedented public funds for blighted corridors. But without a project under construction, it has yet to prove it's the cure for disinvestment," by Crain's Danny Ecker. — Migrant moves: The city is working with organizations across Illinois, including the New American Welcome Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to help care for some migrants sent to the state. As many 1,000 migrants a week come to Chicago — not Urbana-Champaign — as a downstate TV station suggested this week. — St. Regis Tower condo sells for $20M, one of the highest recorded home sales in Chicago history, by Tribune's Bob Goldsborough
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County repeals its wheel tax, following moves by some suburbs to end vehicle sticker fees, by Tribune's A.D. Quig — Naperville commission recommends residential subdivision for polo club, by Daily Herald's Kevin Schmit — Volunteers sought to help outline Good Neighbor Agreement for Evanston homeless hotel, by Pioneer Press' Alex Hulvalchick
| | IN THE SPOTLIGHT | | — Movement in the Tylenol murders | Law enforcement seeks to persuade prosecutors to act on 'chargeable' case, by Tribune's Christy Gutowski and Stacy St. Clair. — PODCAST | The Tylenol murders, part 2: Cyanide-laced Tylenol was the murder weapon. But who was the killer? By Stacy St. Clair and Christy Gutowski
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Chicago to pay $25M to settle 3 police misconduct cases, by WTTW's Heather Cherone
| | | | DON'T MISS - MILKEN INSTITUTE ASIA SUMMIT : Go inside the 9th annual Milken Institute Asia Summit, taking place from September 28-30, with a special edition of POLITICO's Global Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive coverage and insights from this important gathering. Stay up to speed with daily updates from the summit, which brings together more than 1,200 of the world's most influential leaders from business, government, finance, technology, and academia. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what issue you think will resonate most with voters in November: Eileen Dordek, former state rep candidate: "I canvassed last week for Supreme Court candidate, Judge Liz Rochford in Kane County. Protecting abortion access in Illinois really resonated." Steve Smith, John Straus, Mary Kay Minaghan and Steve Sheffey: Reproductive rights. Justen Glover, paralegal at Cooney & Conway: "Attacks on our democracy." Nick Kalm, Reputation Partners founder; Laura Kotelman, Cook County Board candidate; and Rey Nonato say crime, punishment and the SAFE-T Act are at the top of voters' minds. Joseph Monack: "The top issue for Republicans will be either crime or inflation, the top issue for Democrats will be abortion, and the top issue for independents will be inflation." What does the Elks National Memorial at 2750 N. Lakeview Avenue honor? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump to unleash millions in the midterms in possible prelude to 2024, by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt — New lawsuit accuses DeSantis of flouting state law by flying migrants, by POLITICO's Gary Fineout — McConnell poised to embrace post-Jan. 6 reform even as House counterparts resist it, by POLITICO's Marianne LeVine and Burgess Everett
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Carlos Guillermo Rizowy, who served as Uruguay's honorary consul in Chicago, died this week. He was 73.
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Abdon Pallasch for correctly answering that on April 15, 1995, the Chicago City Council voted on a compact to establish an airport authority to govern O'Hare, Midway and Gary regional airports. H/t to Warren Silver who got it right because he was the mayor's policy aide on aviation issues at the time and remembers it well. TODAY's QUESTION: Who are the two famous folks from Park Ridge who were rejected by the City Council to be honored with statues – and when were they rejected? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Cubs co-owner and RNC finance chairman Todd Ricketts, district director for Congressman Darin LaHood Brad Stotler, deputy assistant secretary in U.S. Treasury's Office of Legislative Affairs Corey Tellez, National Urban League economic policy director Julius Niyonsaba and Rotary International executive comms specialist Dan Conley. Saturday: Will County Board member Jackie Traynere, N'Digo publisher Hermene Hartman, attorney Michael Kreloff, former Cook County Recorder of Deeds Ed Moody and political insider Fred Moody (They're twins.), attorney John Munger, JD candidate and former speechwriter Darby Hopper, People's Gas engineer and former aldermanic candidate Tanya Patino. Sunday: former Congressman Jerry Costello, former state Sen. Rick Winkel, U.S. Small Business Administration's Han Nguyen, Cornerstone Government Affairs' Kirsten West, Culloton Bauer Luce's Natalie Bauer Luce, journalist Paul Meincke, AFL-CIO's Alyssa Goodstein, sportswriter Ed Sherman and journalist Jack Zahora. And belated greetings to state Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback, who celebrated Thursday. -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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