Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (2/26)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Pritzker and Illinois Dems say the state is being shorted $1.9B by Trump 

“Gov. JB Pritzker and most of the state’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Russell Vought, the new director of the Office of Management & Budget, demanding answers about federal funds owed to more than a dozen state agencies,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Audit finds thousands were improperly enrolled in state healthcare program for noncitizens, while costs were vastly underestimated 

“Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration vastly underestimated the cost and popularity of a pair of health insurance programs for immigrants who are not citizens that has ended up costing the state $1.6 billion since the initiative began in 2020, according to an audit report released Wednesday,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Kwame Raoul leads push to protect ACA’s preventative services 

“As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s preventative care provision, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 22 of his counterparts are urging that it remain protected,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Lawsuit threatens Illinois minority teachers scholarship 

“Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed continuing funding for a program aimed at getting more minority teachers in classrooms as a conservative legal strategist challenges the programs constitutionality in federal court,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Dozens of Illinois Communities Vote to Reinstate Grocery Tax, Many More Expected to Follow 

“Municipalities are now asking the state to give them more taxing authority, including for all municipalities’ elected officials to be able to enact a local sales tax on motor fuel to fund road and infrastructure improvements,” by WTTW.

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

City Council passes Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $830 million infrastructure bond plan after pushback

“The Chicago City Council narrowly passed a hotly contested $830 million infrastructure bond plan Wednesday backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Aldermen approved the plan in a 26 to 23 vote a day after Johnson’s administration proposed a version with clearer spending guardrails,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Brandon Johnson pushing CPS to cover $175M pension payment 

“A disputed $175 million pension payment that’s caused headaches for Mayor Brandon Johnson for months needs to be covered by Chicago Public Schools or the city will have to dip into its reserves,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

CTU leaders file motion to quash subpoena for their texts, depositions 

“Two leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union filed a motion to quash third-party discovery subpoenas served on them by Chicago Public Schools chief Pedro Martinez earlier this month,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Rift widens between Johnson and inspector general he inherited 

“Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry fired back two weeks after Witzburg accused Mayor Brandon Johnson and his predecessor Lori Lightfoot of withholding documents, selectively enforcing subpoenas and demanding to have the Law Department sit in on interviews that “risk embarrassment” to the mayor,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Chicago school board to vote on saving 4 — not all — Acero schools from closure 

“After months of uncertainty for hundreds of families and teachers who are facing closures at seven Acero charter schools, Chicago’s Board of Education will vote this week on keeping four of the schools open — backtracking from a plan to prevent the closures altogether,” by Chalkbeat Chicago.

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – America (First) at an Inflection Point

President Donald Trump’s return to office was always likely to raise tensions with the European Union, but the emerging clashes, exacerbated by differences in negotiating styles, are creating a divide that will likely denote a meaningful inflection point in transatlantic relations.

As President Trump has expanded the big tent of the Republican Party to encompass more working-class voters, the GOP’s approach to labor policy is evolving.

One of President Trump’s top priorities is boosting the development of AI, and that means solving the technology’s insatiable appetite for energy.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – Where are the Democrats?

President Trump appears to be following through on his promises, while the Democratic Party seems unprepared to effectively counter his actions. The question arises: who will step forward as the leader to challenge this trajectory? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Kyle Anderson.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

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