Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (11/3)

November 3, 2023

ILLINOIS

| AROUND THE STATE

Scholarship tax credit program among issues still on the table with 3 legislative days remaining

“Lawmakers will return to Springfield next week for the second half of their fall veto session, giving advocates of a tax credit program for private school scholarships one last chance to push for its extension before it’s set to expire at the end of the year,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Lawmakers discuss how to tackle challenges arising from growth of AI

“Members of the House Judiciary- Civil and House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT Committees met Thursday to hear from actors, TV writers, business leaders, lawyers and professors about the impacts of the growth of AI and what they believe lawmakers should be doing to mitigate risks while allowing it to responsibly grow,” by The Daily Line.

Chief Quality Officer to serve as interim Cook County Health CEO

“Cook County Health Chief Quality Officer Erik Mikaitis will become the health and hospital system’s interim chief executive officer next month when CEO Israel Rocha exits the organization, the Cook County Health (CCH) Board of Directors decided Tuesday,” by The Daily Line.

CHICAGO

Committee approves paid leave ordinance

The City Council’s Committee on Workforce Development advanced an expansive paid leave ordinance by a vote of 13-2 Thursday that would require employers to provide workers five sick days and five vacation days per year. The plan also allows employees to roll over up to 10 sick days annually and two vacation days each year.

The latest version of the proposal requires companies with 100 employees or more to pay out up to seven days of unused time to workers who leave their job. Companies with 51 to 100 employees will have a one-year phase-in to pay departing workers for unused time, while companies with 50 or fewer employees are exempt.

The proposal also delays the “private right of action” – or the ability for employees to sue their employer for violations – until January 1, 2025.

Business groups including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, Illinois Restaurant Association, and multiple neighborhood chambers of commerce still oppose the ordinance, issuing a statement Thursday saying the concessions don’t go far enough and that the committee’s approval “cements Chicago’s status as a hostile place to do business.”

“With Chicago on the verge of adopting the most complicated and expensive form of paid leave in the country, businesses of every size and sector will be left with no choice but to take their operations – and jobs – elsewhere,” their joint statement said.

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22), the Workforce Development Committee chairman, said he plans to call the ordinance for a full City Council vote at its regular meeting Tuesday, November 7.

| MORE FROM CITY HALL

Council meeting descends into chaos with quorum calls, motion to replace presiding officer, murky adjournment

“A special City Council meeting Thursday where alderpeople were scheduled to consider whether the city should ask voters if Chicago should remain a sanctuary city descended into chaos after the start of the meeting was delayed as proponents worked to ensure enough alderpeople were present to meet quorum,” by The Daily Line.

Mayor Brandon Johnson in Washington to ask for $5B in migrant funding

“Mayor Brandon Johnson visited the White House Thursday morning to sound the alarm on Chicago’s migrant crisis and ask for additional federal funding,” by the Chicago Tribune.

City signs lease for site of potential Brighton Park migrant tent camp — leaving local alderperson ‘frustrated and disappointed’

“The city signed the lease before an environmental assessment was completed. Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th) said it was done without her knowledge,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Consent decree monitor relates concerns in latest report on CPD, but also hope in new department leader

After more than four years, the Chicago Police Department’s compliance with the federal consent decree continues to drag behind schedule. That is the most recent assessment of the city’s progress, made public Wednesday by the independent monitoring team led by Maggie Hickey,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago’s outdoor dining program ends for the season, but some restaurants think it should be year-round

“With the city’s seasonal outdoor dining program having ended Tuesday, some restaurants are thinking again why the program couldn’t become permanent,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Ex-Ald. Ed Burke used campaign funds to pay six-figure ‘consulting’ fees to his co-defendant

“Former Ald. Edward Burke, whose federal racketeering trial begins next week, has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in ‘consulting’ fees in recent years from campaign funds he controls to one of his co-defendants, campaign records show,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

FEDERAL

Cozen Cities: Where Does MAGA Go From Here?

  • The MAGA movement is more than just former President Trump, though he still holds great sway. MAGA faces its first major governing test beyond the Trump administration after the election of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), the first so-called MAGA speaker, last week.
  • President Biden and Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell had identical incentives a year ago, but now Powell’s primary goal of preserving the credibility of the Fed is beginning to clash with Biden’s primary goal of being re-elected.
  • The US-China relationship is at its best point since President Biden was elected and could improve further with a potential meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month in San Francisco.

Read the Cozen Currents article here.

Beltway Briefing: Introducing the New Speaker of the US House

A constitutional lawyer, cultural conservative, and all around “nice guy.” Meet the new Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. As the House begins governing again, lawmakers must recognize how heightened political polarization leaves the nation vulnerable to national security threats demonstrated by Israel in the Oct 7th Hamas terror attack.

The full Beltway Briefing can be found 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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