Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (4/14)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Congress calls JB Pritzker to testify on immigrant policy 

“Gov. JB Pritzker is one of three Democratic governors being called to testify before the same congressional committee that called Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to Washington last month regarding sanctuary cities,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Supreme Court rules House Republicans waited too long to challenge maps 

“Illinois House Republicans waited too long to file a lawsuit challenging legislative maps drawn in 2021, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. As a result, the Democrat-majority court will not hear the case,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Illinois schools chief pushes back against Trump administration’s anti-DEI push 

”Illinois’ schools chief pushed back against the Trump administration’s demand to certify that school districts are eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, saying the state is already in compliance with federal law,” by Chalkbeat.

Momentum builds for nuclear power in Illinois as state aims to reach Gov. JB Pritzker’s energy goals 

“As Illinois closes in on its deadline of being carbon-free by midcentury, even as demands for energy rise, legislators are looking to satisfy both needs through a strategy many so far have tried to avoid: allowing new, large-scale nuclear reactors to be built in the state,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Gov. Pritzker Appoints Brandon Ragle As Next Secretary Of Illinois Department Of Innovation And Technology

“Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointment of Brandon Ragle, a leader in IT strategy and management with 20+ years of experience, to lead the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology,” by the RiverBender.

State Rep. Regan Deering thinks USDA should move to Central Illinois 

“U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] offices would move from Washington, D.C. to Central Illinois under a long shot proposal from a lawmaker who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal,” by WGLT.

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s New Approach to Building Affordable Housing in Chicago Faces Skeptical City Council 

“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s effort to take a new approach to reducing Chicago’s massive affordable housing shortfall by creating a city-owned nonprofit housing developer faced deeply skeptical City Council members Wednesday, delaying a planned vote,” by WTTW.

CTU ratifies contract with Chicago Public Schools 

“The Chicago Teachers Union ratified its contract with Chicago Public Schools. A CTU spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the contract was ratified with 97% of the vote. For the first time in more than a decade, this contract comes without a strike vote,” by CBS.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s resistance to ethics reforms draws criticism 

“When Mayor Brandon Johnson came into office, his handpicked City Council ethics leader hoped the new mayor promising big change might truly reform the rules meant to keep elected officials in line in the famously corrupt city,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Ald. Pat Dowell agrees to pay fines for federal election law violations tied to failed 2022 Congress bid 

“Ald. Pat Dowell’s defunct congressional committee has been fined for several federal election law violations committed during her failed 2022 bid for the 1st District congressional seat, according to Federal Election Commission investigation documents,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Chicago Set to Exhaust Annual Budget for Police Misconduct Settlements 

“The city of Chicago is on track to exhaust the $82 million officials set aside to cover police misconduct settlements and judgments in 2025, just four months into the year, city records show,” by WTTW.

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – Trump Goes All In on Tariffs

President Trump has sought to reverse what he perceives as decades of unfair treatment of the US by its trading partners with his sweeping reciprocal tariffs, roiling financial markets, and sparking economic concern and calls for relief. However, immediate reversals seem doubtful despite the president’s openness to negotiations.

Senate Republicans passed a budget resolution last week that procedurally advances the GOP’s top legislative priority of extending (and expanding) Trump’s tax cuts, but it relies on controversial accounting and leaves many substantive issues unresolved.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is evangelizing his Make America Healthy Again movement with significant implications for the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – The State of Play on Tariffs and Taxes

President Trump is leveraging bold strategies to pursue his economic and fiscal agenda. With Republican control of the executive and legislative branches, the party is pursuing symbiotic priorities: tariffs and tax cuts. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Towner French, and Kyle Anderson.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

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