Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS) announced that Jessica I. Monahan — a transportation policy expert who has secured federal funding for a range of nonprofits, local governments, Fortune 100 companies, emerging businesses, and government contractors — has joined its Washington D.C.-based lobbying team as a senior principal.
March 31, 2023
— IDPH Reports 13 Illinois Counties at an Elevated Community Level for COVID-19, from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
— Illinois Senate votes to lift nuclear construction ban: “The Illinois Senate approved a measure on Thursday that would lift a 1980s-era moratorium on nuclear power plant construction. Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, was approved on a 39-13 vote. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
— With a $150 million infusion, Illinois’ rainy day fund hits a record: “Comptroller Susana Mendoza reported Wednesday she transferred $150 million into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, more commonly known as the rainy day fund. With the new money, the fund now has $1.22 billion set aside for a recession or other downturn — a new record,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
— Cook County lost 68,000 people last year, Census Bureau says: “According to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Cook County dropped from 5,177,606 to 5,109,292. That 68,314 decline was a tad less than the 84,000 cut in the year ended June 30, 2021, right after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
— Pritzker says state will work to protect preventative services after Texas federal judge issues ruling striking them down: “A federal judge in Texas struck down a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires insurers and employers to cover preventive services for free, including cancer screenings and HIV drugs,” by Capitol Fax.
Aldermen during a special City Council meeting Thursday overwhelmingly approved measures that changes how the council operates and boosts its independence from the mayor’s office.
The new rules (R2023-502) passed with a 34-10 vote, and the committee chair assignments (R2023-503) passed 33-11. The unprecedented reorganization increases the number of City Council committees from 19 to 28 and restricts the direct introduction of ordinances.
With 14 aldermanic seats up for grabs in Tuesday’s runoff elections, critics have argued that the council should wait until new aldermen are sworn in to adopt major changes, while supporters have said they know from experience that the new mayor could start organizing committees before then.
The new council will have to reaffirm the rules and committee chairmanships in May.
— Bernie Sanders drew a crowd Thursday to support Johnson: “Thousands packed the UIC Credit Union 1 Arena on Thursday for a Brandon Johnson voter-turnout rally led by progressive icon Sen. Bernie Sanders, less than a week before the mayoral election,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
— Vallas backed by PAC founded by former Trump Education Secretary Betsy DeVos: “The political committee’s contribution is a drop in the bucket of dollars pouring into the race in its final days. But it’s an indication that school privatization champions see an opportunity with Vallas’ candidacy,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
— Johnson, Vallas weigh in on Trump, Arwady — and WBEZ weighs rivals’ facts on more familiar debate topics: “Chicago mayoral candidates turned the national news of Donald Trump’s stunning indictment into political talking points at a WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times debate on Thursday, one of the last public forums before next week’s runoff election,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
— CDOT releases ‘vision’ for adding 150 miles of bike lanes across city: “The transportation agency wants to make bicycling safer in the city. It proposes 150 miles of new bike lanes, but some activists are concerned the new mayor may take a different path,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
With the 2024 presidential election inching closer, the looming potential indictment of the former President dominated the news last week, alongside discussions of a potential TikTok ban.
Public Strategies’ Mark Alderman, Rodney Davis, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin highlight the complexity of the legal calculations being made by prosecutors in New York, Georgia, and DOJ as they examine Trump’s conduct on several fronts, and discuss a Senate bill that would give Commerce Department the ability to review and potentially ban technologies associated with foreign governments, as TikTok faces increased congressional scrutiny.
Listen to the full Beltway Briefing here.
Read the Cozen Currents 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.
April 24, 2024
April 24, 2024
April 23, 2024
