| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by McDonald's | Good Monday morning, Illinois. Poker night was a gab fest, which means I broke even.
|  | TOP TALKER | | COURT WATCH: An order is expected today from Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Burke on what’s next for a Chicago election referendum that would adjust the city’s real estate transfer tax in order to fund programs that help prevent homelessness. At issue: Burke ruled on Friday that the proposal is invalid because it includes more than one question. Her ruling puts Mayor Brandon Johnson’s key policy initiative in jeopardy of getting a vote in the March election. Burke didn’t offer directions about what’s next, so the Election Board, City Hall and all those involved are waiting to hear from her today. For now, the referendum is still on the March 19 ballot while early voting continues, but Burke’s order will answer whether the votes will be tallied. Referendum 101: The case is a lesson in how referendums are written, and it features some of Chicago’s most high-profile election attorneys: Mike Kasper, who handled numerous referendums opposed by former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, is representing the business interests who want the ballot measure off the ballot. They say a tax-hike on commercial properties hurts businesses. On the other side is Ed Mullen, an election attorney who’s separately trying to get Donald Trump taken off the Illinois ballot. That case is pending before another Cook County judge. Procedural drama: Because the Bring Chicago Home proposal is integral to Johnson’s platform, the city of Chicago asked to intervene in the case. Burke denied the motion because the case is between the real estate companies and the Board of Elections. The city doesn’t have standing, according to Burke. That won’t stop the city from appealing: An appellate court could take up the case and will look at the same facts that Burke examined: whether the referendum violates state law by asking multiple questions in one referendum. The two main questions: Should there be a tax cut for properties under $1 million, and should there be a tax hike for properties over $1 million? What the experts say: “The city’s intentions are good, but the referendum is terribly drafted,” said Michael Dorf, who has represented numerous election referendums over the years. It still has a future: Dorf expects the language of the referendum could be tweaked and brought before voters in November. Ditto from Burt Odelson, another longtime election attorney, agrees that the language of the referendum is a problem. “It’s not political, it’s basic election law.” Political hot potato: The referendum is becoming an issue in the state Senate race in the 20th District. Challenger Graciela Guzmán is urging incumbent state Sen. Natalie Toro to return the contribution from Kasper made to her campaign and “clarify” her stand on Bring Chicago Home. The request came after Toro reported a $200,000 contribution from the Illinois Senate Democrats. Also in the Democratic primary is Dave Nayak, who loaned himself another $100,000. RELATED Mayor Brandon Johnson promised a new era of ‘co-governance’ in City Hall. So far, it’s a bumpy ride: “[There’s] a struggle between Johnson’s firebrand origins and the reality of legislating with 50 different aldermen — and egos — whose votes he needs to enact many of his plans,” writes the Tribune’s Alice Yin. From the story: Almost four months after Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) stepped down as the powerful zoning chair, the seat remains vacant. Alds. Andre Vasquez (40th), Gil Villegas (36th) and Daniel La Spata (1st) “have all thrown their hats into the ring, but the Johnson administration has not chosen a new chair,” reports Yin.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | DUCKWORTH 'DEVASTATED’: Sen. Tammy Duckworth called out conservatives whom she suggested are being disingenuous in distancing themselves from the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos in test tubes should be considered children. "Let's make it clear: Republicans will say whatever they need to say to try to cover themselves on this, but they've been clear and Donald Trump has been the guy leading this effort to eliminate women's reproductive rights and reproductive choice," the senator told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "And so this is the next step." She’s got a bill: Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, has been pushing legislation for years to protect access to in vitro fertilization. The response: “It’s been crickets since the Alabama ruling. … Not a single Republican has reached out to me on the bill.” It’s personal for Duckworth, who has spoken publicly about using in vitro in the pregnancies of her two daughters. RELATED A Republican speaks out: Jim Carris, who’s running for Congress as a Republican in Illinois’ 10th Congressional District, issued a statement, saying, "As a parent who has personally experienced the process of IVF, I vehemently oppose the recent ruling in Alabama.” If you are Mike Kasper, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from McDonald's: From 2021 to 2022, the McDonald’s System contributed over $3.2 billion to Illinois’s economy, supporting over 50,000 jobs statewide. McDonald’s presence in local communities throughout Illinois generated nearly $700 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, providing funding for public schools, infrastructure, parks and more. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Illinois and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/il. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At the Chicago South Side Birth Center at 10 a.m. to announce new maternal health initiatives — At the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture at noon to announce new state-designated cultural districts.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At the Simeon Career Academy at 9 a.m. for a roundtable on career technical education — At the Chase Bank on Dearborn Street at 1 p.m. for an investment announcement.
| | | Where's Toni | | | No official public events. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE: How Trump was wooed to back Mike Bost, who was targeted by Matt Gaetz: “Speaker Mike Johnson made a trek to Mar-a-Lago to secure a Donald Trump endorsement for an incumbent House Republican over Darren Bailey, an insurgent primary rival boosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz. [It's] a sign of how the new speaker is leveraging his relationship with the former president as internal GOP primary battles threaten to reshape the makeup of Congress,” by CNN’s Manu Raju and Melanie Zanona. — Dick Uihlein, the billionaire Republican donor, has just plunked $150,000 into state Rep. Chris Miller’s campaign fund. Miller doesn't have a race but is running to be an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention. — Gov. JB Pritzker hit Las Vegas on Saturday to kick off a signature-gathering campaign to qualify an abortion rights constitutional amendment for the 2024 Nevada ballot. Pic! — Endorsements: The Teamsters Joint Council 25 is out with its endorsements for the March 19 primary. It’s backing state Sen. Natalie Toro, who’s in a competitive race in District 20 (see above), and Michael Crawford in the state House District 31 race over incumbent state Rep. Mary Flowers. Here’s the full list. — Longtime Cook County tax appeal commissioner faces big-money push to replace him: “Larry Rogers, Jr. has been on the Board of Review for 20 years, but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is spending heavily to help Rogers’ primary challenger,” by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos. — Clayton Harris III starts the week with a new TV ad and an endorsement from former Secretary of State Jesse White in his bid for Cook County state’s attorney. — In IL-04, Garcia, one of the most progressive members of the House, faces Lopez, a frequent Fox News guest, by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet — In IL-06, Democratic congressional candidates want to abolish Electoral College, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — On the Cook County Board, CTU staffer fights to keep Chicago Mayor Johnson’s former seat, by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Is Illinois’ film tax credit luring Hollywood to the heartland? “A survey of producers included in [a new] report indicates more than 90 percent of the productions shot in Illinois would not have occurred without the [the state's tax break],” by the Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin. — Pritzker backs down on General Iron, signs deal to toughen environmental oversight in low-income areas, by the Sun-Times’ Brett Chase — Flawed state oversight lets doctors accused of abuse continue to see patients, by the Tribune’s Emily Hoerner and Lisa Schencker — Illinois judge who reversed rape conviction removed from bench after panel finds he circumvented law, by The Associated Press — ANALYSIS: With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatist, writes Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel
| | | | A message from McDonald's:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — U.S. Department of Education opens civil rights investigation into Chicago Public Schools, area universities over Gaza protests: “The probe stems from complaints of antisemitism filed with the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights leading up to and during a Jan. 30 student walkout at various CPS high schools supporting the Chicago City Council’s resolution for a cease-fire in Gaza,” by WTTW’s Paris Schutz. — MAYOR TAKING THE PLUNGE: Mayor Brandon Johnson will be among the 4,000 registered folks plunging in Lake Michigan on Sunday to raise money for the Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities program. Details here — Can you prove your teen lives here? Some schools make house calls: “Last week, it was revealed that CPS’s inspector general found five Kenwood athletes falsified residency proof,” by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers. — La-la land: The mayor’s trip to California for a conference included tickets to the Grammys, too, reports NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern — Chicago ranks #8 for internet access, according to Forbes
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Court Clerk’s error exposed data involving thousands of juvenile defendants, violating state law: “A clerk’s office spokesman called the exposure ‘brief, non-damaging and limited in nature,’” by the Illinois Answers Project’s Alex Nitkin. — Naperville councilman said no one interested in housing migrants but emails show some people did respond, by Naperville Sun’s Tess Kenny
| | TAKING NAMES | | — U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Cummings will deliver the convocation address to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Class of 2024 on May 10. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Katerina Alexopoulos of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Patrick Collins, a former prosecutor who’s now with King & Spalding will be among notable legal names headlining the National Hellenic Museum’s “Trial of Pericles” event on April 17. Also participating: attorneys Tinos Diamantatos, Sarah F. King, James Pullos and Patrick A. Salvi II. Attorney Konstantinos Armiros. Retired Judge Anna Demacopoulos will serve as judges. Details here — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) was honored with the Nautical Sextant Award “for his leadership and vision” by the Proviso Municipal League, which is comprised of mayors of the western Cook County suburbs.
| | | | Don’t sleep on it. Get breaking New York policy from POLITICO Pro—the platform that never sleeps—and use our Legislative Tracker to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what about your TikTok viewing habits: Nicole Downey Padget: @ramitheicon, “If you are into sneakers.” Christine Raffaele: @underthedesknews. NEXT QUESTION: How do you determine someone’s politics without asking them directly?
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on his second diplomatic trip to Taiwan: The Democrat from Schaumburg addressed bipartisanship with Taiwan and added “one can’t be strong on China and weak on Russian aggression in Ukraine,” explains the Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson.
| | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | | — Joe Biden and Mike Johnson: the clashing power couple that never talks, by POLITICO’s Jennifer Haberkorn and Jonathan Lemire — Koch network stops spending on Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison — ‘Not how planes should be built’: A former Boeing employee speaks out, by POLITICO’s Oriana Pawlyk
| | | | A message from McDonald's: McDonald’s is an economic engine for the state of Illinois, contributing over $3.2 billion to our state’s economy, directly employing nearly 38,900 Illinoisans and supporting an additional 12,800 jobs statewide. It’s also an engine of opportunity: 1 in 4 independent McDonald’s operators in Illinois began their careers as restaurant crew members, generating wealth for their families and local communities. We are proud to call Chicago and Illinois our home, supporting public schools, parks and more through the nearly $700 million in federal, state and local tax revenue generated by the McDonald’s System’s activities. And thanks to the generosity of McDonald’s customers and owner/operators, the $2.3 million raised through Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2022 provided over 23,000 overnight stays for families with children receiving medical care in Illinois. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Illinois and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/il. | | | | | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon for correctly answering that Edwin Booth, John Wilkes Booth's brother, is credited with saving Robert Todd Lincoln when he was pinned between a train platform and a moving train in New Jersey. TODAY's QUESTION: What job did Ronald Reagan have in Illinois before he became an actor and then president? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Ald. Daniel La Spata, former state Rep. Suzanne Bassi, Aurora aldermanic chief of staff Rich Jacobs, Decennial Group partner Malcolm Weems, Newberg Group’s Suzy Brown, Resolute Executive VP Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu and 17th Ward community activist Carlton Hull. -30- Correction: Friday's Illinois Playbook misidentified Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and City Clerk Anna Valencia. | | | | 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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