Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (1/20)

PUBLIC HEALTH 

— Illinois Coronavirus Updates: Undercount of Counties at ‘High’ COVID Alert, XBB.1.5 Grows, by NBC 5 Chicago.

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

— Pritzker plays role of Illinois’ ‘best chief marketing officer’ at Davos: “After his second-term inauguration amid a frenzied ‘lame duck’ legislative session last week, Gov. JB Pritzker took the global stage this week at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The governor and high-ranking members of his staff joined a bipartisan delegation of U.S. politicians and world business leaders with the goal of ‘promoting Illinois as a major player on the world stage,’ Pritzker said in a call Thursday morning with media outlets back home,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

— Former Rep. Demmer looks back on legislative career leading House GOP budget talks, run for treasurer: “Former Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) is not yet 40 years old but closed the book this month on a 10-year career in the Illinois House that concluded with an unsuccessful run for treasurer. After a long legislative career that put him at the front of key Republican negotiations on budgets, Demmer said he’s ready for his post-General Assembly life even after a tough election loss,” by The Daily Line.

— DCFS sued over housing children in jails; Pritzker says he’s not looking to revive graduated income tax: “The Department of Children and Family Services is being sued by the Cook County Public Guardian for repeatedly housing children in its care at jails as the agency deals with a lack of space for children in its care. And Gov. JB Pritzker said trying to pass the graduated income tax again is not a priority for him even as some Democrats hope to revive the proposal,” by The Daily Line.

CHICAGO 

MORE FROM CITY HALL 

— How Each of Chicago’s 9 Mayoral Candidates Say They Would Address Crime, Public Safety: “As the Chicago Mayoral election draws near, the crowded field of nine candidates, including incumbent Lori Lightfoot, took the stage Thursday for their first televised debate and sparred for 90 minutes over a number of issues, ranging from migrants bussed to the city, to youth mental health services, to a new Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights,” by NBC 5 Chicago.

— Mayor Lightfoot Launches Administrative Debt Relief Pilot Program, Providing Additional Financial Relief to Chicago Residents: “Yesterday, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and City Comptroller Reshma Soni launched the 2023 Administrative Debt Relief (ADR) Pilot Program. Available immediately, the program provides a course for Chicagoans mired in debt stemming from Administrative Hearing violations — some of which disproportionately impact low-income communities and are associated with higher fees than other municipal debt,” from the Office of Mayor Lightfoot.

— Candidates Ja’Mal Green and Sophia King take aim at Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership style: “Two of the candidates trying to unseat Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot decried her combative style and said they would lift the city out of crisis by being collaborative, listening to those they disagree with and redirecting public resources to improve public safety and neighborhood investment,” by the Chicago Tribune.

— Plan Commission OKs Altenheim Line framework plan for elevated trail marking ‘first step in a much longer process:’ “Commissioners during their Thursday meeting unanimously approved the framework plan for the two-mile elevated trail that would run from California to Kostner avenues between Douglass Park and Garfield Park. Plans for the trail are still in the early stages and the city is still in talks with CSX Railroad about the plan,” by The Daily Line.

— City Council approves fund to redevelop LaSalle Street storefronts: “On Wednesday, the City Council approved a $5 million fund to help small businesses redevelop vacant storefronts along the corridor that could help make living on the street, known for closing down after business hours, more appealing,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

— Should Chicago use cameras to catch drivers parking in bike lanes? Proposal floated to test idea in high-crash area: “Following a flurry of activism around bicycle and pedestrian safety in Chicago last year — and the successful passage of a law that sharply raises penalties for parking in bike lanes — a new ordinance has been proposed that would use mounted city cameras to enforce such rules,” by the Chicago Tribune.

FEDERAL 

Cozen Currents: Trump is Biden’s Best (and Worst) Case for Re-election

• Presidential re-election campaigns are generally a referendum on the incumbent, but for President Biden, the negative case for a second term (i.e., he’s not former President Trump) is stronger than the affirmative case.
• Trump is the weakest he has ever been in his third run for president, but MAGA continues to be a potent element of the Republican Party.
• The Biden administration recently released the latest version of its regulatory agenda, which will now come to the fore as the White House seeks to further its partisan agenda in the face of a divided Congress.

Read the full Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing: CPS Welcomes Former Congressman Rodney Davis

In this episode, Public Strategies introduces Rodney Davis, a former five-term congressman representing Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, who has joined the firm as a managing director. Rodney will leverage his substantial experience in public affairs to provide strategic counsel to the firm’s government relations clients.

Rodney and regular co-hosts Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin break down the measures taken up to advance the GOP’s agenda during the first full week of the new Congress, with a House speaker finally elected, members sworn in, and the rules for the 118th Congress adopted.

Listen to the full Beltway Briefing podcast here.

Share

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin