Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (8/5)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Illinois joins lawsuit over Trump’s new tariffs, calling them ‘pretext’ to replace his old ones 

“Twenty-five states sued the Trump administration Monday over its latest tariffs, calling them a pretext for replacing import taxes the Supreme Court struck down in February,” by the Chicago Tribune. 

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Pritzker signs bills allowing state to review insurance rate hikes 

“Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday that will give the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to review and approve rate changes for homeowners and automobile policies,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. 

Pritzker signs new laws requiring businesses to accept cash, pay employees for jury duty 

“Most Illinois retailers will be required to accept cash payments beginning in 2028 under a bill Gov. JB Pritzker signed on Friday,” by Capitol News Illinois. 

‘More to learn’ on Benton harassment case before judging Speaker Chris Welch, Gov. JB Pritzker says 

“Springfield’s latest sexual harassment scandal has revealed ‘holes in the system,’ according to Gov. JB Pritzker — but not necessarily any missteps by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch in responding to allegations of misconduct by a now-disgraced ex-state representative,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Johnson: ‘I’m the continuity’ amid City Hall departures 

“After losing his interim chief financial officer and budget director within days of each other, Mayor Brandon Johnson rejected suggestions today that his administration is unstable as it heads into another budget season without permanent financial leadership,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. 

Mayor Johnson turns up heat on Springfield to deliver $150M in funding built into CPS budget 

“Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed Tuesday to do ‘anything and everything necessary’ to keep Chicago Public Schools afloat, but claimed it’s past time for the Illinois General Assembly to deliver on its commitment to fully fund public schools,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Johnson loses budget director days after CFO exit 

“Chicago’s Budget Director Annette Guzman is leaving City Hall, the second senior member of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s financial team to leave in the last week,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson praises Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch’s ‘maturation’ amid Harry Benton scandal 

“Mayor Brandon Johnson praised on Tuesday the ‘maturation’ of Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch, whose handling of sexual harassment issues involving former state Rep. Harry Benton has made him politically vulnerable in leading the supermajority House Democratic Caucus in Springfield,” by the Chicago Tribune. 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents: Trump v. The World’s Most Deliberative Body

A challenging national environment has put the Senate majority within Democrats’ reach. Even so, securing an outright majority remains an uphill climb because the chamber turns over only about a third of its seats at a time and the battleground is tilted toward GOP-leaning states. 

Even if Republicans retain the Senate, their majority will likely shrink, implying that the upper chamber may be more willing to push back against the White House than it has been in Trump’s second term. 

Although currently not the base case, a Democratic-controlled Senate could change the course of the remainder of President Trump’s second term through oversight and a blockade of his nominations. Read the Cozen Currents here.

The Beltway & Beyond: Budget Season Wrap-Up: What States Can Tell Us About Governing

Budget season offers a window into state priorities, policy choices, and the challenges lawmakers are working to address. As state negotiations wrap up in Illinois, New York, and Virginia, we explore the tradeoffs, areas of agreement, and key decisions that shaped this year’s legislative sessions. What do these budgets reveal about governing today, and what do they signal for the road to the November midterms? Featuring Public Strategies’ Julia Hammond (VA), Sydney Holman (IL), and Katrell Lewis (NY). Listen here.

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