| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by McDonald's | Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. Spring temps, hail and a tornado all in February. Even Mother Nature is bummed that WGN's Tom Skilling is retiring.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Gov. JB Pritzker talks to reporters at the Heartland Community College Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Training Academy in Normal. | Illinois Office of Communication screen shot | VROOM: The move to speed up the state’s transition to electric vehicles, and cut auto pollution that mucks up the planet, was on full display Tuesday. In the heartland: Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated the opening of an EV manufacturing and training academy at Heartland Community College in Normal. It was a good backdrop to highlight the $24 million he earmarked last week in his budget address for EV training facilities. The Heartland center was funded in part by a $7.5 million capital grant from a $15 million state investment in 2021. “Electric vehicles are going to be commonplace, and we’re going to be at the head of the line in Illinois for the workforce … not only for electric vehicles but also the parts and suppliers that those electric vehicle companies need,” Pritzker told reporters after the ribbon-cutting. Up north in Chicago, state lawmakers gathered at the Burns & McDonnell engineering and infrastructure company for the Illinois Clean-Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles Panel Event organized by JLC & Associates. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, state Reps. Marcus Evans and Eva-Dina Delgado, state Sen. Christina Castro and the state’s EV officer, Megha Lakhchaura, talked about what Illinois needs to get buy-in from consumers and companies on EVs. Business consultant Jorge Perez moderated. The take-aways: It’s about being willing to hire women- and minority-owned firms, train people in the EV industry and be patient. Interesting goal: The state wants 36,000 chargers and 7,000 stations in place by 2030 to support EVs, Lakhchaura said. As fast as Pritzker wants to move on EVs, the governor said he doesn’t want to see Illinois follow the same path of California, which has adopted strict emission standards. For now, it’s a goal: “We want to work our way, obviously, toward having zero emission vehicles on the road. That's why we've provided some incentives for people who want to go out and on their own make that decision,” Pritzker said in a Q&A after the ribbon-cutting in Normal. “I personally think now is not the right time for us to do that. Having said that, that’s ultimately the goal.” The big question: What will that mean for House Bill 1634 and Senate bills 2050 and 2839, which call for tough emission standards? H/t The Center Square’s Catrina Petersen RELATED CTA president takes the train to City Hall — then gets an easy ride: “Dorval Carter Jr. got a rough ride from CTA riders — but a markedly smoother one from the City Council’s Transportation Committee after recent efforts to increase hiring and promises to bolster service,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman
| | THE BUZZ | | STILL UP IN THE AIR: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Bring Chicago Home referendum remains in the courts for a while. The city pushed back at last week’s ruling that the ballot question is invalid. Chicago asked Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Burke for relief while on the same day filing an appeal with the appellate court. But a case can’t be in two places at once, so Burke ruled Tuesday that the case should be in the appellate court. Her ruling is here. Another appeal will be filed by the Chicago Board of Elections, reports WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg. It’s still on the ballot: Chicago residents are encouraged to vote on the referendum, even though the results for now won’t be counted. Should a judge rule that the referendum is valid, those banked votes would then be counted. What the fuss is about: The referendum asks voters to decide whether to increase the real estate transfer tax on high-end properties to fund homeless prevention. It was a priority in the mayor’s campaign and a goal of his progressive allies. Critics from the real estate industry groups who sued to block the referendum say it wrongly combines questions about a tax cut and a tax hike into one question. Their statement: “This referendum is a backdoor property tax increase on the entire city that was deliberately hidden from the public in a bundled, misleading question,” said the Building Owners and Management Association. “Homelessness is a serious issue facing our city. Rather than playing politics, they should have brought all the stakeholders together to develop a real, sustainable plan to address this crisis.” Supporters are forging ahead with their campaign to get voters to back the referendum. Here’s their latest mailer. “We had a record weekend for people coming and knocking doors,” Bring Chicago Home campaign spokesperson Kelsey Kerin told Playbook. “People were fired up by the ruling.” If you are Kathleen Burke, 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 Fields Studios at 10 a.m. to announce film industry capital grant awards.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At McCormick Place at 10:15 a.m. for the Skilled Trades Career Fair.
| | Where's Toni | | At Bellworks Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates at 9 a.m. to keynote the Bisnow Conference on "the Future of the Chicago Suburbs." Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
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FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pivoting to the consulting world. She has been named senior consultant to Charles River Associates, known in the legal world as CRA. She started on Tuesday and will split her time between the New York and Chicago offices, working with the firm’s Forensic Services Practice.
Giving her props: Kristofer Swanson, CRA VP and Forensic Services Practice leader, praised Lightfoot’s “deep relationships across both the business and public sectors,” including “CEOs, sports teams, Biden administration, national and international mayors.” Since leaving elected office last year, Lightfoot has held a fellowship at Harvard’s School of Public Health and a residence with the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. She also started a nonprofit — The Chicago Vibrant Neighborhoods Collective — that helps small community-based nonprofits.
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Following unions’ lead, state House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch directs $560K to effort to oust Rep. Mary Flowers: “Unions have already contributed more than $500,000 to support Rep. Mary Flowers’ opponent, Michael Crawford in the 31st District Illinois House Democratic primary March 19,” by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles — In IL-11, Longtime Congressman Bill Foster, challenger Qasim Rashid differ over Gaza war, by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles — Eileen O’Neill Burke is out with a new TV ad in her bid for Cook County state’s attorney. — Endorsement: The Daily Herald is endorsing Arad Boxenbaum, a library board member, over incumbent state Rep. Matt Hanson in the 83rd House District, citing Boxenbaum’s clear answers and Hanson pleading guilty last year to driving under the influence, “leading to questions about his judgment,” via the Daily Herald. — The Ida B. Wells Legacy Committee is endorsing Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham. Here’s who else is on the list. — Spotted: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood spoke at the launch party for Rep. Seth Moulton's (D-Mass.) Serve America Victory Fund in Boston on Tuesday night. Underwood has been endorsed by the PAC. — Joe Cook, who’s running for 45th Ward committeeperson, has been endorsed by Illinois Veterans for Change, a political action committee advocating for Democratic candidates who have served in the U.S. military.
| | | | A message from McDonald's:   | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias backs bill for digital driver’s licenses and IDs in Illinois: “The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kam Buckner and Sen. Michael Hastings, would allow Illinoisans to put electronic versions of their driver‘s licenses and IDs on their phones,” by the Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez. — Illinois EPA must revamp its permitting process after Chicago activists file civil rights complaint, by WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco and the Grist’s Siri Chilukuri
| | | CHICAGO | | — Bears and Sox told to team up on stadium financing pitches: “State Senate President Don Harmon specifically has told both teams there is little appetite in the General Assembly to approve separate stadium legislation,” by Crain’s Justin Laurence. — Are publicly funded stadiums a good investment? State lawmakers weigh in, by WTTW’s Paris Schutz and Andrea Guthmann — Who’s the boss? Chicago principals report to many different people, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin — Art Institute showed ‘willful blindness’ in buying Nazi-looted art, N.Y. prosecutors say, by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Feds say ex-state Sen. Terry Link deserves probation after helping uncover bribery scheme: “A 10-page memo Tuesday offered few new details about Link’s cooperation or crime, but it showed the value of Link’s undercover work to the feds,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
| | | TAKING NAMES | | | — King of hearts: The Illinois Gaming Board honored former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White during its first ever Black History Month celebration event Tuesday at the Michael A. Bilandic Building.
| | | | On the ground in Albany. Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Track how power brokers are driving change across legislation and budget and impacting lobbying efforts. Learn more. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what most recently brought you to tears: Clem Balanoff: “Tears of joy at the birth of our granddaughter.” Brian J. Berg: “Watching the movie ‘Rolling Along’ about NBA Hall of Famer and former Sen. Bill Bradley's human journey.” Brian Bernardoni: “Tears of joy when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016.” Robert Christie: “Writing a very personal letter to my granddaughter about the ‘Meaning of Life’ as part of her sixth grade class project.” Graham Grady: “Joni Mitchell’s performance at the Grammy’s last week singing Both Sides Now.” Tammy Hansen: “Besides an onion, the last thing that made me cry was watching the birth of my granddaughter.” Marilynn Miller: “Being reminded of when I was brutally raped. Every time I see a report of rapes where men deny, it reminds me.” Joseph Monack: “Listening to SZA the other day. Any music with emotive lyrics and singing, often found in R&B and country genres.” Kathy Posner and Alison Pure-Slovin: Watching coverage of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on the music festival in Israel. Mark Rosenberg: “The death of my next-to-the-last dog Barley.” Barbara D. Stubblefield: “An article on a suicide of Antoinette Candia-Bailey, a VP for Student Affairs at Lincoln University. It hammered home the critical need for mental health support, especially for Black women.” Wendi Taylor Nations: “Learning of the death of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl who flew free from the Central Park Zoo until he hit a building and died Feb 23.” NEXT QUESTION: What’s the weather phenomenon you experienced that you’ll never forget?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden won the Michigan primary decisively — but not by enough to calm Democratic angst, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider and Adam Cancryn — Trump tried to ignore Haley. He barely lasted a day, writes POLITICO’s Adam Wren — McConnell nudges Johnson as gap grows between GOP leaders, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett and Olivia Beavers — Top lawmakers mull funding patch ahead of Friday shutdown deadline, by POLITICO’s Jennifer Scholtes and Caitlin Emma
| | | | 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. | | | | | IN MEMORIAM | | — Benjamin K. Miller, former Illinois Supreme Court chief justice from Springfield area dies at 87, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie.
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Gary Perinar has been appointed second general VP of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America, starting Friday. He's been executive secretary-treasurer of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council.
| | | EVENTS | | | — Friday: Actress and abortion rights activist Busy Philipps will keynote the ACLU of Illinois fundraising luncheon. She's an Oak Park native. Details here — Friday: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs will headline the Spring Fundraiser for the Stephenson County Democratic Party. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ed Mazur for correctly answering that the Townsend Plan, named after Francis Townsend, is believed to be the precursor to Social Security and is named after Francis Townsend of Fairbury, Ill. The Townsend Plan promised senior citizens $200 per month , regardless of their past earnings. TODAY's QUESTION: What was the name of Abraham Lincoln’s dog in Springfield? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Rep. La Shawn Ford, state Sen. Rob Martwick, Clifford Law Offices comms partner Pam Menaker, attorney and former Trump state director Kent Gray, Walgreen Regional Director Kim Walz, petition circulator Sharon Rosenblum, incoming investment banking analyst Jack Fetsch and Tribune Senior Content Editor John Byrne. -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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