Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Donovan W. Pepper as principal and director of national strategic partnerships.
“Gov. JB Pritzker has joined a public health coalition of Democratic governors to counter the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, slash Medicaid and undermine vaccines,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“The Illinois Capitol is buzzing again as lawmakers have returned to Springfield for the veto session. House Democrats and Republicans spent hours meeting behind closed doors with their caucuses after leadership canceled two hearings scheduled for Tuesday afternoon,” by WAND.
“One of the Illinois legislature’s biggest opponents of the Chicago Bears’ plan to relocate outside the city introduced legislation on Tuesday that could stall or hinder the team’s efforts, but significant questions remain about whether the bill will garner enough support or when it might be voted on,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“Illinois will stop levying a statewide grocery tax on Jan. 1, but millions of people throughout the state will continue paying it locally. Data compiled by the Illinois Municipal League released Monday shows that 656 municipalities — a little more than half of the state’s municipalities — have passed an ordinance establishing their own grocery tax,” by Capitol News Illinois.
“The Illinois State Board of Elections will decide next week whether it should follow a hearing officer’s recommendation and reject state Senate President Don Harmon’s appeal of a nearly $10 million fine for accepting campaign contributions in excess of state campaign finance limits,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“Johnson will stand before an emboldened City Council to outline his plan to erase a $1.15 billion shortfall after promising to deliver on his pledge to “challenge the ultra-rich” and corporations that benefited from President Donald Trump’s tax cuts to ‘pay their fair share in taxes,’” by the Chicago Sun Times.
“Chicago inspector general Deborah Witzburg has recommended a top advisor to Mayor Brandon Johnson be fired and placed on a do not hire list for failing to cooperate with an investigation into City Hall’s handling of a negotiation with an alderman. Johnson declined to fire the advisor, senior Jason Lee, and denied that he failed to cooperate with the investigation,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget proposal includes a gift for Chicago Public Schools: He is recommending that the city take an unprecedented amount out of special taxing districts so CPS can cover its costs and send some cash back to the city to help it end the year in the black,” by the Chicago Sun Times.
“In the wake of pressure from officials as well as legal and advocacy groups, Chief Judge Timothy Evans has enacted a general order prohibiting warrantless arrests by immigration agents in or around county courthouses,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“The city’s plan to boost development on Broadway was approved by the City Council’s zoning committee after months of intense neighborhood debate, including at Tuesday’s committee meeting,” by Block Club Chicago.
While history would suggest that the out of office party is favored to outperform the presidential party in the 2026 midterm elections, the size of that overperformance (or whether it materializes at all) will be shaped by a set of kitchen table issues the two parties are already racing to define.
The Trump administration’s full-court press to entice drugmakers to lower their prices culminated in deals with Pfizer and AstraZeneca that other firms might try to copy.
After President Trump’s initial wave of tariffs, the US’s relationships with its North American allies have started to improve but deals to lower these duties have proven elusive, with the White House likely to use them as leverage in the USMCA negotiations next year. Read the Cozen Currents here.
From a breakthrough in Middle East diplomacy to the deployment of troops in Chicago, President Donald Trump’s recent moves highlight the complexities of governing at home and abroad. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and John Dunn here.
Legislative Analyst
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.
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.
November 10, 2025
November 10, 2025
November 10, 2025
