Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (4/21)

April 21, 2025

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Democratic state lawmakers start to move on promise to ‘be a check’ on Donald Trump

“With six weeks left in the spring legislative session, lawmakers have a range of measures before them that backers say are necessary to protect Illinois’ progressive policies,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Lawmakers moving forward on public defender reform

“With many county public defender offices pushed to the limits throughout Illinois, state lawmakers are moving forward on legislation to create a statewide public defender office,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Illinois looks to rein in drug intermediaries over high costs, but legislation is unresolved and industry says the efforts are flawed 

“Pritzker has called for legislation that would prevent PBMs from directing patients to pharmacies where they have a financial interest, bar them from pocketing certain savings on medications and require them to open their books to state regulators, among other changes,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Social Security rescinding its plan to end phone-based filing called a win for Illinois seniors 

“Nearly 100,000 Illinoisans mobilized against the plan by writing to Congress during the month of March. Nationally, AARP members sent more than 2 million emails denouncing the proposed changes,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Ex-GOP nominee for AG Thomas DeVore should be suspended for improper client relationship, panel says 

“A former Republican nominee for Illinois attorney general, downstate lawyer Thomas DeVore, should have his law license suspended for 60 days for a series of infractions, including having a sexual relationship with a client whom he represented in challenging Gov. JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, a legal disciplinary hearing board has recommended,” by the Chicago Tribune.

 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Johnson creates budget working group to search for efficiencies and revenue 

“Hoping to get ahead of what’s anticipated to be an arduous 2026 budget cycle, Mayor Brandon Johnson is creating a working group to put forward plans to cut spending and raise revenue that have thus far not had political support during his nearly two years in office,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Sounds Alarm on City Budget, Decries Trump’s Threats

“Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday sounded the alarm about the financial crisis facing the city, warning that Chicago “will have to do more with less” as President Donald Trump threatens to upend its finances and officials confront the results of decades of financial mismanagement,” by WTTW.

Transit agencies launch ad blitz asking riders for backup in Springfield 

“The region’s mass transit operators have kicked off an advertising campaign to encourage bus and train riders to urge legislators to come up with more funding,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Johnson’s big green social housing initiative stalls amid concern about ethics, transparency 

“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s innovative plan to confront Chicago’s affordable housing crisis hit a roadblock Wednesday, despite frenzied negotiations that satisfied one of the mayor’s powerful union allies,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Environmental Justice Ordinance Stalls In City Council 

“An ordinance aimed at protecting neighbors from disproportionate effects of pollution in their neighborhoods and changing how the city decides where heavy and intensive industries can operate stalled in City Council Wednesday,” by Block Club Chicago.

Chicago City Council bans Jan. 6 Capitol rioters from getting city jobs 

“The ordinance, which passed by a 44-3 margin, orders the Commissioner of Human Resources to reject any applicant for employment who was convicted in connection to the riots, which left five Capitol police officers dead and caused dozens of injuries,” by NBC5 Chicago.

 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – Trump’s Personal Touch on Tariffs

President Trump relies on his worldview and instincts when it comes to tariff policy, creating a regime where winners and losers will be heavily driven by his own perceptions and preferences.

GOP lawmakers recently adopted a framework for the party’s domestic policy agenda that would allow the party to go bigger than expected on tax reform, outlining a plan to permanently extend the expiring individual tax rates from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while also implementing many of the tax policy changes President Trump championed on the campaign trail.

Federal highway spending and the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act both expire next year. What follows in their place will determine the future of infrastructure in the US.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – The State of Play on Tariffs and Taxes

President Trump is leveraging bold strategies to pursue his economic and fiscal agenda. With Republican control of the executive and legislative branches, the party is pursuing symbiotic priorities: tariffs and tax cuts. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Towner French, and Kyle Anderson.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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