Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (8/4)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Aquifer protection, Chicago pension boost among more than 100 new laws 

“Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed into law 124 of the 436 bills sent to him by lawmakers in the spring legislative session. The measures signed last week expand what must be covered by state-regulated insurance plans, require libraries to stock opioid antagonists, and add new training requirements for law enforcement officers, medical professionals and food handlers,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Legislative hearing on CPS funding issues makes problems clear, solutions less so 

“Amid protracted debate over whether the state should offer a financial lifeline for Chicago Public Schools, a lawmaker who has floated a proposal for greater state authority over the district expressed hope on Thursday that further discussions could improve city-state relations — even as he took a shot at Mayor Brandon Johnson,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Illinois co-leads states’ lawsuit against Trump transgender care crackdown 

“Several state attorneys general, co-led by Illinois’ Kwame Raoul, are challenging the Trump administration’s actions aimed at deterring health care providers from offering care to transgender youth,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

State leaders seek more transparency from insurance companies 

“Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is calling on Illinois lawmakers to pass legislation banning auto insurance companies from considering non-driving factors when setting a person’s premium,” by Capitol News Illinois.

As political petition passing begins, Illinois Democrats have flood of candidates; Republicans have a trickle 

“More than seven months before votes are cast, Illinois’ 2026 political campaign season officially kicks off this week as candidates for federal, state and county offices fan out across the state to gather petition signatures to appear on the March 17 primary ballot,” by the Chicago Tribune.

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Mayor Johnson’s team reviews 26 ideas to raise revenue, plug Chicago’s budget deficit 

“Staring down the barrel of a $1.12 billion shortfall, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration on Thursday distributed a list of more than two dozen revenue-generating ideas to take the temperature of City Council members who refused to raise property taxes a year ago,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Brandon Johnson imposes hiring curbs at City Hall 

“The move comes after the city ended 2024 in the red and as Johnson stares down an expected 2026 budget gap of over $1 billion with few easy options to bring in new revenue or cut spending without impacting city services or igniting a fight with the city’s unions, and their City Council allies, over layoffs or furloughs,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Gov. Pritzker’s signature on police pension bill adds pressure for state bailout and city property tax hike 

“The bill will cost the city $60 million more in 2027, and by 2055, city pension payments will be $750 million higher than they are now. It adds one more big pressure point onto Mayor Brandon Johnson, who already has said he won’t raise property taxes,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

CPS must present a plan to close its deficit within 9 days: What are the options? 

Since taking over in June, interim Chicago Public Schools CEO and Supt. Macquline King has been laser-focused on coming up with a plan to close the school district’s $734 million budget deficit. King and her team now have less than two weeks to present a budget in time for legally required hearings and a vote at the Aug. 28 Board of Education meeting,” by WBEZ Chicago.

Acting CTA chief makes her case for keeping the permanent job 

“Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen has been holding down the fort since career bureaucrat Dorval Carter Jr.’s retirement earlier this year, but she wants the permanent job and is making a case to keep it. That much was obvious on Wednesday when Leerhsen, who took over Feb. 1, appeared before a City Council Transportation Committee that had to compel Carter to testify when he was in charge,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – The Battle for the Soul of the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is searching for a path out of the political wilderness after being locked out of power on the federal level in last year’s elections.

The crypto industry notched its first major legislative victory with the passage of a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Now, both industry and lawmakers are turning their attention to the more expansive effort to create a regulatory framework for non-stablecoin digital assets.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – In-Conversation with RealClearMarkets Editor John Tamny

RealClearMarkets editor John Tamny joins host Howard Schweitzer to share his counter-conventional thinking on today’s most pressing economic debates. From fiscal policy to the national debt, Tamny challenges widely held assumptions and urges business and political leaders to think differently. Featuring Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ CEO Howard Schweitzer and RealClearMarkets’ John Tamny.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

Share

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin