Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (6/30)

Editor’s note: There will be no Illinois Insights on Monday, July 3^rd. Updates will resume Wednesday, July 5^th.  

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE 

— Gov. Pritzker Announces the State’s ‘Rainy Day’ Fund Will Make History, Exceeding the $2 Billion Milestone: “[Today], as required by the Governor’s and General Assembly’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget, the final deposit for FY23 will be made into the Budget Stabilization Fund, and the State of Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2024 budget will deposit an additional $138 million, boosting the fund to over $2 billion, its highest balance in state history. The Budget Stabilization Fund held less than $60,000 when the Governor took office,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Illinois assault weapons ban gets 2nd Amendment test in federal appellate court: “After months of litigations at various levels of the legal system, Illinois’ assault weapons ban received its most intense review under the Second Amendment yet when six consolidated cases were heard Thursday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago,” by The Daily Line.

— Illinois to offer credit monitoring for those affected by cyberattack against state and others: “The state of Illinois will offer credit monitoring and a call center for hundreds of thousands of people whose private data was compromised in a cyberattack by a global ransomware group last month,” by the Chicago Tribune.

— County Finance Committee approves expanded parental leave measures and small business grants amid ongoing pandemic: “Cook County commissioners voted to pass resolution 23-3117 and grant the new parental leave measures with no objections. Commissioners also voted to pass an amendment to a federally funded small business grant program,” by The Daily Line.

— Gov. Pritzker’s Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Student Loan Forgiveness, from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Gov. Pritzker’s Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Allow Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples, from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Gov. Pritzker’s Statement on the Overturning of Affirmative Action, from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

CHICAGO

Mayor Brandon Johnson appoints Chasse Rehwinkel as City Comptroller

Yesterday, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Chasse Rehwinkel will serve as comptroller for the City of Chicago, tasked with overseeing the collection and disbursement of City revenues.

“I’m proud to welcome Chasse Rehwinkel as comptroller, and I am confident that he will provide effective, transparent leadership and responsible management of City revenues,” Mayor Johnson said. “His extensive experience in government finance will help create a stronger economic future for all Chicagoans and communities.”

Most recently, Rehwinkel served as Director of Banking for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. He has also served as the Chief Economist and Director of the Bond Division for the Illinois Comptroller’s Office and, before that, was the director of policy for the Illinois state treasurer.

Rehwinkel will take over for Reshma Soni, who served for four years under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. With Annette Guzman’s recent appointment as the city’s budget director and Jill Jaworski as chief financial officer, Johnson’s financial team is now complete.

Clerk launches new legislative management site

The Office of the City Clerk has launched a new legislative management site (eLMS) to replace its current system, Legistar.

According to the City Clerk, the new site is more modernized, with a new design, enhanced search capabilities, and language translations.

The site still allows individuals to search for legislation, view agenda details and votes from City Council meetings and committee hearings, and find members of legislative bodies.

MORE FROM CITY HALL 

— Brandon Johnson building consensus behind the scenes before delivering progressive agenda, top aide says: “The mayor risks disappointing progressive voters who put him in office, but deputy chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas isn’t concerned. In fact, the former state senator expects her fellow progressives to keep the heat on,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

— Chicago school board approves $9.4 billion budget as district officials warn of looming deficit: “The Chicago Board of Education approved a flat $9.4 billion spending plan for the next school year on Wednesday — and warned of looming deficits as federal COVID money runs out.

— Migrant crisis reverses decade-long enrollment decline at CPS, top mayoral aide says: “After losing nearly 80,000 students over the last decade, the Chicago Public Schools finally added students during the last school year, thanks to the migrant crisis, a top mayoral aide said Thursday. To ensure better educational outcomes for the new arrivals, deputy chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas said Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration plans to open an ‘enrollment center’ at Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School, 1147 N. Western, in time for the first day of school on Aug. 21,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

FEDERAL

Beltway Briefing: “It’s called government relations for a reason”

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ team of strategic advisers and partners share lobbying tips to be successful on Capitol Hill. Being an expert in your field is only part of the formula, understanding the importance of etiquette, finding common ground, and the interacting spheres of influence, will make or break you inside the beltway.

Featuring: Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer & Rodney Davis.

Listen to the full Beltway Briefing here.

Cozen Currents: Biden Owns Bidenomics

• Former President Trump and the eponymous Trumpism may still be front-and-center, but no less consequential for voters, the economy is the fate of a new eponym in the DC zeitgeist: Bidenomics.
• Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) is scorching hot in both the executive and legislative branches, making AI policy a key area to watch this summer.
• President Biden is in conflict with industry as his administration gears up to distribute billions to build electric vehicle chargers more and more car manufacturers are abandoning.

Read the Cozen Currents article here.

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