| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. We caught Laurie Metcalf at Steppenwolf Theatre last night. What a gift she is to Illinois.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Gov. JB Pritzker signs into law a bill creating the new Department of Early Childhood on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | BRAINCHILD: Gov. JB Pritzker has signed into law a measure that puts three different early childhood services programs all in one new department, the Department of Early Childhood. From the bill-signing: “For years, they have navigated a system that is too often overly complex and sometimes completely disjointed,” Pritzker said Tuesday at the Eyes on the Future Child Development Center in Chicago's Rogers Park. “Once fully implemented in 2026, this new agency will make life simpler, better and fairer for tens of thousands of Illinois families.” Not a one-policy guy: Pritzker, who gets a lot of attention for promoting reproductive rights, has long been a supporter of early childhood education, too. It’s a signature policy: Like the abortion issue, which has allowed Pritzker to get his message out beyond Illinois, early childhood has propelled Pritzker’s name outside of Illinois. Utahns know Pritzker's name, for example, after he helped commit $20 million to an Early Childhood Innovation Accelerator more than a decade ago. Pivoting to public office: When he became governor in 2019, Pritzker hoped to address early childhood issues in a big way. Instead he had to wrangle a budget crisis and a deadly pandemic. Early childhood education issues were put on hold. With those challenges in check, Pritzker is zeroing in on early childhood issues. Along with creating a new state department, he pointed to the success of the Illinois’ Smart Start preschool program. And he’s not done. Asked what got him started on the early-childhood, the governor said, “I looked at all of these various ways in which you could impact people's lives in a positive way and early childhood was the one that had the biggest payoff for the most number of people for, ultimately, the lowest cost.” He sought the advice of Irving Harris, the late Chicago philanthropist who also was interested in the issue, “and then began my journey,” Pritzker said. The issue won’t fall under the governor’s Think Big America nonprofit that's strictly focused on abortion, he told us, but it’s still a big part of his governing strategy. And like abortion, early-childhood is an issue that can set Pritzker apart from other possible future political candidates.
| | THE BUZZ | | BIG SCOOP: Cook County agency employs Indiana politician who pleaded guilty in federal case, by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos. It wasn’t just any case: Jon Snyder cooperated with the feds and testified in a corruption case against his own brother, who was the mayor of Portage. Supreme dot-connecting: His brother is James Snyder, whose bribery conviction is up in the U.S. Supreme Court. The outcome of that case could have an impact on the case against former House Speaker Mike Madigan. Cook County connection: Jon Snyder was hired by Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele, who initially defended him when WBEZ inquired. Then she said Snyder was put “on administrative leave without pay.” RELATED From Trump’s immunity to abortion, the Supreme Court’s most controversial decisions this term are about to drop, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Samantha Latson If you are Samantha Steele, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: Lawmakers in Springfield are giving away millions to corporate megastores—and Illinoisans will pay the price. This back-room deal will radically change how we use credit and debit cards; consumers may have information on their private purchases exposed, and local
businesses could face costly operational challenges, even requiring separate cash payments for tips and sales tax. Prevent credit card chaos. Learn more at GuardYourCard.com/Illinois. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At UIC Student Center West at 9 a.m. to give remarks at the launch of the HIV/AIDS Getting to Zero 2.0 plan — At 555 West Monroe at noon to sign the pro-business bill omnibus package.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At CME Group at 9 a.m. for the CME Group Annual Star Partnership award ceremony — At the Laborers Training Facility at 11 a.m. for a laborers’ training program for the Department of Streets and Sanitation and Laborers Local 1001 — At the Palmer House Hilton at noon for the National League of Cities National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials event — At 3000 South Lawndale Avenue. at 6 p.m. for the People's Plan for Community Safety Citywide Q2 meeting.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — BREAKING THIS MORNING: Former Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger says he’s endorsing Joe Biden for president. “The question before us is clear — which of the two candidates will stand unyielding in their commitment to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution and strengthen our Democracy? For me, the answer is simple: And that is why, today, I am officially endorsing Joe Biden’s re-election for the presidency of the United States of America,” Kinzinger wrote this morning to followers of his Country First organization.
| | | SPOTLIGHT | | | — WAGE WAR: FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Two Chicago City Council members are pushing lawmakers to revisit legislation that would require Illinois employers to pay the full state minimum wage of $14 per hour to tipped workers. The legislation stalled during the General Assembly’s spring session. Their beef: Alds. Jessie Fuentes (26th) and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) say the Illinois Restaurant Association agreed not to oppose the statewide effort after the Chicago City Council passed a similar measure that will take five years to fully implement. In a letter to state legislators, Fuentes and Ramirez-Rosa accuse the restaurant group’s president, Sam Toia, of undercutting negotiations on the statewide bill. “It appears that the [restaurant association] has now opted to change course and oppose One Fair Wage legislation at the state level,” according to their letter. Toia, however, told Playbook he never agreed to the statewide measure because it’s not necessary. “There's already a law on the books that guarantees $8.40 plus tips must equal $14. That’s the law. If they violate it, we should go after those bad actors.” Toia says he didn’t endorse the city measure, either. “I was just glad to see we got five years, instead of two or three years. And regarding the state legislation, I said ‘Let’s see how this works in the city of Chicago.’ We’re still seeing a lot of empty storefronts up and down our commercial corridors. And I’m scared we’ll see more.”
| | CHICAGO | | — Johnson announces dates, times for budget forums: “Three 2.5-hour sessions will be held at City Colleges locations, starting July 22 at Malcolm X College. A fourth roundtable, open only to ages 13 to 24, will be at the Harold Washington Library,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — CPS dropping school police officers didn't change whether students, parents feel safe, U of C study reveals, by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp and the Sun-Times’ Nader Issa — Bag checks and traffic crackdowns at Bronzeville Beach led to safer weekend, Ald. Lamont Robinson says, by the Block Club’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden — Historic buildings across from Wrigley Field closer to demolition despite neighbors' protests, by the Sun-Times’ Abby Miller
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:   | | | | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Tollway faces temporary restraining order on major interchange construction: “The Illinois tollway, headquartered in Downers Grove, faces a lawsuit over ending a contract for work on a major interchange at I-88 and I-290,” by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke. — State’s Attorney Kim Foxx says man accused of assaulting her drove past her home after incident, by CBS 2’s Marissa Perlman — Man accused in Highland Park mass shooting at Fourth of July parade is expected to change not-guilty plea, by The Associated Press’ Sophia Tareen and Kathleen Foody
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Going green: Ambassador Rahm Emanuel has been honored by the White House with the 2024 Presidential Federal Sustainability Award for his decision to switch to carbon-free electricity at all diplomatic posts in Japan (six in total). Pic! — Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch was honored with the 2024 Champion of Youth award by the Illinois Collaboration on Youth nonprofit. — Ald. Gilbert “Gil” Villegas is feeling like a host this week as hundreds of elected officials with the National League of Cities are in town for a convention in Chicago. Villegas sits on the league's board. — Women Employed CEO Cherita Ellens joined The Broad Cast podcast for a conversation about the organization’s work creating equitable workplaces for women in Illinois.
| | | | Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what theater production wowed you: Rosemary Caruk: “Court Theatre's ‘Stokely,’ which finished its run on Sunday, June 16.” James Castro: “Signal Ensemble Theatre’s ‘Aftermath’ about the Rolling Stones — with live music, and a Mick Jagger look-alike.” Ted Cox: “As a longtime Chicago theatergoer and critic, I've never seen anything as ambitious, yet as gleefully playful and entirely successful, as the Chicago Shakespeare version of ‘The Tempest’ in 2015.” Bob Kieckhefer: “Just about everything at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. ‘Sweeney Todd’ a few years back still resonates.” Diane Lans-Kautz: “Steppenwolf’s 1982 production of ‘True West’ with John Malkovich and Gary Sinise.” Jim Lyons: “Jesus Christ Superstar. Ted Neeley was in his 60s and able to hit all the high notes.” Ed Mazur: “‘Hair.’ I had two students who were in the Chicago cast. Saw it eight times.” Marilynn Miller: “A Chorus Line. The finale was a huge WOW!” Bernie Schoenburg: “‘Working,’ based on Studs Terkel's book. Pride, frustration, striving — it had it all. It played at the theater at Water Tower Place. I still think about it years later.” Ray Sendejas: “Steppenwolf’s ‘Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ with Tracy Letts and Amy Morton.” John Straus: “Steppenwolf Theatre’s ‘Ausage: Osage County’.” Sean Tenner: “‘Superior Donuts’ with Tracy Letts at Steppenwolf.” Judith Weinstein: “‘Illinoise’ at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. I saw it twice.” Steven Zaris: “Martha Lavey’s Steppenwolf performance in Wallace Shawn’s ‘Aunt Dan and Lemon’ in 1987.” NEXT QUESTION: Whose endorsement swayed your vote? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump’s endorsement is starting to show its limits, by POLITICO’s Ally Mutnick and Madison Fernandez — Jamaal Bowman is ousted in most expensive House primary ever, by POLITICO’s Nick Reisman, Rich Mendez and Emily Ngo — American journalist Evan Gershkovich goes on trial in Russia, by POLITICO’s Eva Hartog — Florida not a battleground, Biden campaign chair says, by POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Corli Jay is now a Report for America corps reporter for The Triibe. She was reporting for Crain's.
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: Imagine paying at the pump with your credit card, and then having to go inside to pay the taxes. That’s just one possible outcome of a new law that will radically change how consumers and small businesses use credit cards.
This multi-million dollar giveaway to corporate megastores could
● Force separate cash payments on sales tax and tips
● Reduce consumer privacy by exposing information about private purchases
● Create costly operational nightmares and paperwork burdens for small businesses
This first-of-its-kind, untested mandate will lead to chaos, removing credit cards as the safe, secure and hassle-free way to pay in Illinois—all so giant, out-of-state corporations can pad their profits. Prevent credit card chaos. Learn more at GuardYourCard.com/Illinois. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Tonight: Chicago Sky’s Brianna Turner and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias headline Personal PAC's NextGen Happy Hour fundraiser. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering the first baseball team to play in Rockford was the Rockford Forest Citys. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first African-American Catholic priest in America and where did he grow up?
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | A Better Chicago CEO Beth Swanson, West Monroe marketing exec Christina Galoozis Hill, former state Board of Investment Chair Marc Levine, politics guru Bernie Schoenburg, Centene Corporation marketing exec Conor Gee, The Win Company’s Graeme Zielinski and Daily Northwestern Editor Jacob Wendler, who just participated in POLITICO’s Journalism Institute. And belated greetings to Globetrotters Engineering Corp. CEO Ajay Shah, who celebrated Tuesday. -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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