POLITICO Illinois Playbook: Death threats and disunity

Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln

Feb 08, 2022 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. There's nothing perky about today's lead item. TOP TALKER At least four Democratic state lawmakers have received death threats from far-right operatives opposed to legislation the legislators have endorsed, according to House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch. The threats have been made "against their lives, their loved ones or their place of worship," Welch said in a letter to House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. Some of the emails, texts and phone calls are under investigation by state police, according to lawmakers who received them. Welch has called on Durkin to help put an end to the "incivility and disrespect that has become near commonplace in political discourse" and he says have fueled the threats. "If we are to restore common courtesy and civil disagreements that the very fabric of our democracy relies upon, it must start with us as leaders," Welch wrote. Welch's letter was prompted by an apparent far-right campaign against Democratic Rep. Deb Conroy, who has proposed a bill that would allow state data to be released more quickly to county health departments. The legislation would be added to a current law that pertains to health departments being able to declare quarantines for health emergencies. But bloggers, including the Illinois Review, took the legislation out of context and accused Conroy of government overreach, claiming she supports "isolation" for people who can't get vaccines. Other online sites have claimed she supports concentration camps for unvaccinated people, and there's a site that says she wants to "seize" and "destroy" your pets. State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, a Republican from Barrington Hills, bought into the storyline, telling the Lake County Gazette that Conroy's bill would allow the state to "isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments." None of it's true, but it's fueled outrage among opponents to vaccines or vaccine mandates or any such mitigations. Yet, Durkin's response hints at just how far apart Democrats and Republicans are in Springfield. In a letter to Welch, Durkin said his caucus is "not immune to the constant barrage of threats and harassment." He adds Republicans don't let fringe groups "control the narrative." His solution: "Allow the voices of the minority party to be heard and not continue to be disregarded. Cooperation and civility is a two-way street." Conroy told Playbook she has closed down her office and is being escorted by police while investigators try to track down the origin of the threats, including a phone message that said, "I'll take you by gunpoint." She sees the threats as an organized effort to scare her out of the race for the DuPage County Board chair seat she's seeking. "I've taken on a lot of fights in my career, and I'm proud of them. I'm struggling with the realization that people will actually stoop that low for political gain." DuPage Republican opponent Greg Hart said Conroy's bill was"blatant overreach." A spokesman told Playbook last night that Hart stands by his statement. Conroy isn't the first to receive death threats in recent months. Reps. Jonathan Carroll and Bob Morgan received threatening voicemails, texts and emails for legislation they support that's related to vaccines. "It's the scariest thing I've experienced," Carroll told Playbook. And Rep. Robyn Gabel was threatened a few months ago for an amendment to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act allowing employers "to take any measures or impose any requirements … intended to prevent contraction or transmission of Covid-19." We don't want to think about where this all goes. THE BUZZ Jonathan Jackson, left, with Emil Jones, center, gets a pep talk from his dad, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, seated, before meeting supporters on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. | Photo by POLITICO's Shia Kapos Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, a Democratic powerhouse who doesn't often lend his name to political campaigns, endorsed Jonathan Jackson's bid for Congress on Monday. Also on hand with support: labor leader Clem Balanoff, Amalgamated Transit Union leader Deborah Cosey-Lane, Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore — the first elected official to get on board Jackson's campaign — and, of course, Jackson's father, civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. Jonathan "Luther" Jackson, who takes his middle name from his godfather, the late Martin Luther King Jr., has already filed paperwork to run for Congress, but it wasn't until he stood before supporters yesterday that he made it official. His message: He's ready to grab the baton carried by his father. "I feel very much prepared," Jackson said. "I've traveled the world with my father. I've seen greatness. I've been in the room." It was a Jackson speech: The younger Jackson spoke more than 20 minutes about his plan to focus on jobs, education, and health care if he's elected to the congressional seat now held by Rep. Bobby Rush, who isn't seeking another term. "As we talk about raising wages to $15 an hour, which it should be, we can't have the cost of childcare at $20 an hour. That's not math. That's arithmetic. It doesn't work for the working family," Jackson said in a speech peppered with alliteration that reminds you of his father. Jackson described himself as progressive, and he gave a hat tip to Rep. Chuy Garcia, who he supported in his run for Congress and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who he backed for president. Before the event: The elder Jackson was on hand to say a prayer and give a pep talk to his son before they greeted the crowd of supporters. Jonathan's mom, Jacqueline Jackson, and his wife, Marilyn Jackson, who heads the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky., were on hand along with two of their three children. Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet examines where Jackson fits in the crowded 1st District field. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: skapos@politico.com   HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration's climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE.     WHERE'S JB At Illinois State University at 10 a.m. to discuss high yielding investments in higher education in the proposed FY 2023 budget. At Schnucks Sangamon at 12:15 p.m. to discuss the one-year grocery tax suspension in the proposed fiscal 2023 budget. WHERE'S LORI No official public events. Where's Toni No official public events. Covid-19 Update — Biden officials trying to recalculate U.S. Covid-19 hospitalizations: "The administration's goal is to get a more accurate sense of Covid's impact across the country," by POLITICO's Erin Banco. — In Illinois, mask requirement remains as Covid numbers decline: "With improvements in metrics amid a decline in omicron-variant fueled cases, changes may be coming to the mask mandate," via NBC 5. — A parents group at the forefront of the mask mandate fight: "Thousands of frustrated Catholic school parents want the archdiocese to end masks in schools," by Crain's Steven Strahler. — Why Springfield School District 186 students continue to wear masks despite halted mandate, by State Journal Register's Steven Spearie THE STATEWIDES — Comptroller Mendoz urges upgrades in letter to credit-rating firms: "Susana Mendoza's letter touts the recent progress. Illinois has reduced its unpaid bill backlog to below $3 billion; paid back early the full $3.2 billion in emergency loans taken in 2020 from the Federal Reserve's Municipal Liquidity Facility; and it intends to repay the remaining $719 million in state interfund borrowing by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, Mendoza wrote," by Bloomberg's Shruti Date Singh. — Dan Ryan shooting upstages governor's news conference on state's efforts to make Chicago expressways safer: "As he and the state police director spoke, a person was shot on the Dan Ryan Expressway near downtown, the 14th person shot on an expressway in Cook County this year," by Sun-Times' David Struett. — Illinois entrepreneurs launch 69 percent more new start-ups than pre-pandemic levels, by WCIA's Mark Maxwell LEGISLATIVE UPDATE — Illinois AG targets smash-and-grab crime with new legislation: "Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association unveiled a draft bill on Monday that would create a new criminal charge — organized retail crime — and make it easier for prosecutors to investigate and enforce it," by Sun-Times' Josephine Stratman. — Bill to protect vaccinated school employees' sick days — A slam dunk or tightrope walk? "Gov. JB Pritzker's move to compensate vaccinated school staff, and not those that are unvaccinated, could help pave a path for his plan to reduce illness and absences in schools and restore greater in-person learning on more solid ground. If passed, HB 1167 wouldn't be easily subjected to court decisions that might overturn it as with mandates. But it would do so at the expense of those who object to being vaccinated, including some teaching staff," by Margaret Rock for Center for Illinois Politics. Patrick Daley Thompson Trial Jurors picked, opening statements next in the trial of Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson: "Thompson is charged with filing false federal income tax returns for the years 2013 through 2017. He is also charged with lying to federal regulators in early 2018 about the amount of money he owed Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Bridgeport," by Sun-Times' Jon Seidel and Tim Novak. There's more at stake than just his political career, report Craig Wall and Laura Washington for ABC 7. 'The I didn't know' defense: His attorneys have signaled that Patrick Daley Thompson "is not great with details and paperwork," reports WTTW's Heather Cherone. CHICAGO — City's carjacking task force to be staffed 24 hours a day amid rise in violent crime: "Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city saw the rise in cases in 2020 and believed there was a correlation between remote learning and carjackings. She said some parents left for work thinking their kid was attending their virtual classes when in reality they were on the streets," by Tribune's Gregory Pratt and Paige Fry. — Lightfoot allies to try again to salvage COPA chief's nomination: "Whether or not Andrea Kersten's nomination is defeated Wednesday before the Committee on Public Safety, Chairman Chris Taliaferro said he intends to call for an up-or-down vote in the full City Council on Feb. 23," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — Jewish community in West Rogers Park, despite recent antisemitic vandalism, resolute about not living in fear, by Tribune's Olivia Olander — Ford stops production lines for a week in Chicago, 3 more sites: "Despite a swing to profitable operations in 2021, the company continues to face a global shortage of microchips," by Sun-Times' David Roeder. — Chicago-based lender stymied by state cap on interest rates: "Consumer advocates suspect Opportunity Financial, or OppFi, is fighting back against the limit of 36% on loan interest, but the company isn't discussing its lobbying aims," by Sun-Times' David Roeder. — As another wave of Afghans arrives in Chicago, volunteers say more help is needed, by Sun-Times' Elvia Malagón   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     BUSINESS OF POLITICS RNC censure of Kinzinger, Cheney could backfire for Illinois Republicans: "The conservative National Review found the censure wording 'political malpractice of the highest order coming from people whose entire job is politics,'" by Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet. CAMPAIGN MODE — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Attorney ShawnTe Raines-Welch, who's married to Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, is throwing her hat in the ring for a Cook County judge seat. She's so far self-funding, writing her campaign a check for $100,100, according to the State Board of Elections. Raines-Welch is a partner at the Ancel Glink law firm in Chicago. Her husband also is of counsel there, according to the company's web site. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Alexi Giannoulias picked up the endorsement of elected leaders from across Illinois. State Rep. LaToya Greenwood and state Sen. Chris Belt, both of whom represent East St. Louis. State Rep. Marcus Evans Jr., who chairs the labor committee in the State House, Chicago. Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. — Rep. Marie Newman has won endorsements from state Sen. Emil Jones III, state Rep. Mike Zalewski, Bremen Township Supervisor Kathryn Straniero, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, in her bid for the 6th Congressional District. Here's the full list — Sam Yingling, a state representative running for the state Senate's 31st District, has been endorsed by state Sen. Robert Peters, Senate Chair of the Illinois Black Caucus. — GOP gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan brings message to Central Illinois: "I'm a fiscal-social-constitutional conservative," Sullivan said. "And I think Republican primary voters are good at sussing out and figuring out who actually shares my values, and who's viable to actually beat J.B. Pritzker in this next election and who can lead." Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore reports. — State Rep. Sandy Hamilton to run for Decatur-Springfield state Senate seat: Hamilton was appointed to represent the 99th House District in late December after the resignation of former state Rep. Mike Murphy, who became president of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. "Due to redistricting, my term in the House will end in 2023," said Hamilton, flanked by several local GOP officials. "But I'm eager to continue serving the residents of Central Illinois, who deserve an honest and relentless voice at the Capitol fighting for the values we believe in." Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore reports. Clarification: Your Playbook host jumped the gun yesterday, folks, mistakenly listing Hamilton as planning to run for the House seat she holds. DAY IN COURT — Drew Peterson will have a chance to get his murder conviction vacated: "The former cop says his lawyer was ineffective and a movie starring Rob Lowe portrayed him in a 'very negative light' in the eyes of the jury," by The Associated Press' Don Babwin. — Chicago Banker sentenced to year in prison in Manafort loan scheme: "Stephen Calk was convicted last year on financial institution bribery and conspiracy charges," by The Associated Press. — CPS puts up vigorous court fight over disabled student's claim he was sexually assaulted in 2016: "In legal filings, officials have attacked the student's testimony as "self-serving" and cast doubts as to whether an assault even occurred. The district has probed whether the incident was consensual and if the student's parents had told him it was bad to be gay," by Sun-Times' Nader Issa. — Misconduct claims mounting against former Chicago detective, by WGN's Lourdes Duarte and Andrew Schroedter Reader Digest We asked what you do that's the most environmentally responsible: Randy Bukas recycles the usuals: newspapers, plastic containers, cardboard. Timothy Thomas re-uses plastic shopping bags. And Graham Grady got his condo association to adopt a building-wide recycling program. For Scott Simon, being environmentally responsible means he doesn't drive (and never has!). Have you ever been in a physical fight? Email skapos@politico.com THE NATIONAL TAKE — Senate GOP backlash smacks RNC after Cheney-Kinzinger censure, by POLITICO's Burgess Everett, Marianne LeVine and Olivia Beavers — House watchdog weighs 'behavioral monitoring' to deter internal security threats, by POLITICO's Betsy Woodruff Swan — Biden's top science adviser, Eric Lander, resigns amid reports of bullying, by POLITICO's Alex Thompson TRANSITIONS — From the streets of Little Village to Washington: "Eddie Bocanegra has been named senior adviser for community violence intervention in the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a release from Heartland Alliance, where he serves as senior director," by Tribune's Annie Sweeney and William Lee. — Mary Wentworth is now a legislative assistant for Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood. She previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). — Steven Koch, a former deputy mayor and most recently the interim CEO of bike share company Motivate, and Nicholas Turner, president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice, have been named to the board of the Joyce Foundation. — Sabrina Miller is now senior communications officer for the Joyce Foundation. She is a communications consultant and former Tribune reporter. — Valerie Fertitta has been named president of the Chicagoland Apartment Association's Board of Directors, a trade association representing building owners and managers. In her day job, Fertitta is managing director of real estate for Greystar Property Management Services, where she oversees third-party management operations for the company's Midwest division. — Anita Banerji is now senior program director for media and tech for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, an umbrella organization of civil rights organizations. She previously was director of Forefront's democracy initiative in Chicago. EVENTS — Tomorrow at 6 p.m.: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle headlines "Good Evening with Pat Whalen," at the Hideout. Tickets here — Feb. 27:  Gov. JB Pritzker keynotes the Kane County Democrats's Truman Dinner fundraiser at the Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. Also on the speakers' list: Reps. Bill Foster and Lauren Underwood, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Rauol and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs.  Tickets here TRIVIA MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Frank Pucci for correctly answering that Seymour Stedman was a candidate for mayor of Chicago in 1915 and for vice president of the United States in 1920. TODAY's QUESTION: Which politician served as governor of Illinois and a chief justice of a state supreme court? Email skapos@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY Henry Haupt, downstate press secretary for Jesse White, former Chicago Fire owner Andrew Hauptman, CPA and former city treasurer candidate Peter Gariepy, Salesforce's Matt Jaffe, and Community Media Workshop's co-founder Thom Clark. -30-   Follow us on Twitter Shia Kapos @shiakapos   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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