Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (10/11)

October 11, 2023

ILLINOIS

| AROUND THE STATE

Cook County Social Innovation Commission to hear from speakers with Center for Justice Innovation

“The Cook County Commission on Social Innovation will hold a meeting Thursday, during which the commission will hear from a set of guest speakers from the Center for Justice Innovation. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. Thursday in the conference room on the fourth floor of the county building in downtown Chicago,” by The Daily Line.

Illinois population becoming higher-paid, more foreign-born, but state losing older, Black and rural residents, study finds

“Illinois is becoming less rural, more educated, more foreign-born, and higher-paid, according to a new analysis of migration patterns,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Illinois gaming revenue continues to increase as recent gaming laws take full effect: report  

“Since large expansions of Illinois’ betting laws were passed four years ago, the state continues to see robust growth in participation in the gaming industry, according to an annual report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. The state brought in about $2 billion from all gaming sources in Fiscal Year 2023 — a 5 percent increase from the prior year, according to the source. Since 2012 when video gaming was permitted, gaming receipts have grown by 217 percent while tax revenue is up 171 percent,” by The Daily Line.

Rebuilding Kane County – Major projects highlight Year Five of Rebuild Illinois

“Entering Year Five of Rebuild Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced multiple projects in the Kane County area are planned or underway, highlighting an ongoing commitment made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan capital program,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

CHICAGO

Mayor Brandon Johnson releases FY2024 budget

Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson released his FY2024 budget before City staff, departments, community partners, labor and business leaders, and members of the Chicago City Council. A press release from his office can be found here.

Mayor Johnson’s $16.6 billion spending plan makes investments in community safety, health and environmental services, housing and infrastructure, economic vitality, and equitable and inclusive human services, while holding the line on property taxes.

The “people’s budget” also aims to reduce the structural budget deficit over time while still meeting pensions and managing debt obligations, Johnson said in his speech.

The City Council will begin departmental hearings on Monday, October 16, which will run through most of the rest of October. A complete schedule of the City Council’s budget hearings can be found on chicityclerk.com.

| MORE FROM CITY HALL

Neighborhoods around the city are asked to house more migrants as number surpasses 18,000

“A proposed shelter at a park in the Galewood neighborhood in Austin was put on hold Monday after residents voiced strong concerns about the city’s decision to house hundreds of migrants there,” by the Chicago Tribune.

City settlement deal demands silence from whistleblowers fired by Chicago Treasurer Conyears-Ervin

“In an extraordinary departure from usual practices at City Hall, the city’s $100,000 settlement agreement with whistleblowers who were fired by Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin prohibits them from publicly discussing their negative experiences in her office, records show,” by the Chicago Tribune.

FEDERAL

Help Wanted: Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Beltway Briefing

With government funding running out in less than 40 days, the House Republican Conference is scrambling to find a Speaker that can reach the 218-vote threshold. At the same time, the crisis at the southern border is intensifying, forcing the Biden Administration to continue fmr. President Trump’s border wall. Featuring CPS’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, Hon. Rodney Davis, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin.

Listen to the full Beltway Briefing here.

If you have any questions regarding this update or if you’re interested in ways to engage on these issues, please contact one of our team members here.

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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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