Penny Pritzker’s dig at Mike Johnson

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

Feb 15, 2024 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Good Thursday morning, Illinois. Early voting in Chicago starts today! TOP TALKER Penny Pritzker, appointed by the White House to help rev up Ukraine's economy, spoke to a Chicago crowd Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO Penny Pritzker, the U.S. representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery effort, praised the Senate’s passage of a $95 billion foreign aid package that will help the country as it continues to battle for its sovereignty against Russia. But she said the House needs to do more. “The Senate did the right thing and hopefully the House will, too,” she told PLAYBOOK, adding she’s spoken to “many members” in Congress about the need for U.S. aid. During remarks before a Chicago crowd organized by the Council on Global Affairs, the former U.S. commerce secretary said Ukraine “desperately needs ammunition, artillery and, crucially, air defense that only we in the United States can provide ... we need Congress to hear our voices.” Pritzker also made a not-so-subtle observation: “In 2022, one congressman stated the case, and I quote, ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory threatens the greatest destabilization of the world order since WWII and constitutes a national security threat to the entire West.’ I could not agree more with that congressman, who happens to now be House Speaker Mike Johnson.” There was a chuckle from audience members who know that Johnson has pushed back this week at the Senate bill. Pritzker also encouraged U.S. companies to expand to Ukraine, saying there are growth opportunities for agriculture, steel and energy. Bloomberg has more THE BUZZ CTU TAKES SIDES: The Chicago Teachers Union, which is credited with elevating Mayor Brandon Johnson to victory in Chicago, is now endorsing in the 7th Congressional District race. The CTU is backing Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the city treasurer and former state representative. WGN 9’s Tahman Bradley had the scoop. The match-up: Conyears-Ervin hopes to win the seat held by veteran Congressman Danny Davis, who has the backing of the Cook County Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle. But CTU likes the message Conyears-Ervin shares about bringing the voice of a working mom to Congress. The head-turner: That CTU would endorse Conyears-Ervin over Davis and another challenger, Kina Collins, who are viewed as more progressive. Democrats Kouri Marshall and Nikhil Bhatia are also in the race. From the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet: “That the progressive CTU is taking sides in this race will have an important impact only if it translates into raising money for Conyears-Ervin and boosting turnout for her.” Taking the gloves off: Conyears-Ervin is taking issue with Collins’ plans for a fundraiser March 8 featuring the Strokes at Credit Union 1 Arena. “In a letter to The Strokes lawyers and to legal counsel for the University of Illinois Chicago, which owns the arena,” Conyears-Ervin’s team says Collins camp “may be violating federal laws dealing with campaign fundraising, which is tightly regulated in congressional campaigns,” via Lynn. If you are Danny Davis, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com WHERE'S JB No official public events. WHERE's BRANDON At the UIC Dorin Forum at 9:30 a.m. for Cook County's inaugural Behavioral Health Summit — At City Hall at 11 a.m. for a City Council meeting. Where's Toni At the UIC Dorin Forum at 9:30 a.m. Watch here Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email  skapos@politico.com   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE.     CONVENTION ZONE — VENDOR DIRECTORY: The Democratic National Convention vendor directory and venue map is live. This will be an important resource for restaurants, venues and other vendors looking to connect with 50,000 visitors coming into town in August for the event. — Chicago restaurants jockeying for business from the DNC, by Crain’s Ally Marotti 2024 WATCH — In IL-12, Congressman Mike Bost hasn’t been endorsed by Donald Trump (neither has his opponent, Darren Bailey), but Bost did win an endorsement from top Trump ally Elise Stefanik of New York. — 20th State Senate: State Sen. Natalie Toro is pushing back at opponent Graciela Guzman’s attack literature trying to paint Toro as not progressive enough. Here’s Toro’s new ad. Look for more drama Saturday at a candidate forum. Details here — Judge hears arguments on lawsuit opposing the Bring Chicago Home referendum: Real estate interests filing the lawsuit hope to prevent the question from appearing on ballots, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig. — Mariyana Spyropoulos has donated $875,000 to her own campaign for Cook County Circuit Court clerk. — County property tax official Larry Rogers Jr. is raking in cash from the property appeals industry, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig — Clayton Harris III has been endorsed by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. Harris is running for Cook County state’s attorney. — Equality Illinois is out with its endorsement list. Details here SPOTLIGHT Ricochet! Mayor Brandon Johnson’s decision to cancel ShotSpotter continues to reverberate. Folks on each side of the issue called Playbook on Wednesday concerned about the issue. They either worried “people will die” as a result of the gunshot detection technology being canceled, or they had a beef with our headline saying the mayor “bowed” to progressives. He just fulfilled a campaign promise, they say. ANALYSIS: What the mayor’s decision on ending ShotSpotter says about his leadership: “If Johnson was so determined to honor his campaign promise to get rid of the controversial gunshot detection system, why did he wait until the last minute to timidly announce the decision?” the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba report. The August Democratic National Convention was a reason to keep the technology in place until September, mayoral adviser Jason Lee told South Side Weekly’s Jim Daley. What’s next: “The contract has already been extended twice, and there’s no option for another extension. That means Johnson must now negotiate new terms” to keep the technology through September, according to the Sun-Times. The company may halt operations completely when it’s contract is up Friday, according to NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern. CHICAGO — GRADING CHICAGO: Truth in Accounting, an Illinois-based group that works to improve accounting standards in government, is out with its annual “Financial State of the Cities” report today. Among the findings: Chicago's financial condition worsened more than $206 million despite increased tax collections and federal Covid relief funds. Report here — La Salle Street blues: As businesses desert the corridor, boosters worry the mayor won’t get behind a mixed-use revitalization plan, by Robert Reed for Chicago magazine — Lurie Children’s Hospital restores parts of communications network knocked offline by ‘criminal threat,’ by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Cook County panel turns down Bears’ tax appeal, but decision isn’t final: “The Board of Review is giving the Bears and three Arlington Heights-area school districts until Saturday to return to the negotiating table to hash out an agreement that could arrive at a lower figure,” by the Daily Herald’s Cristopher Placek. — Memories, pain remain fresh five years after Pratt mass shooting in Aurora, by the Tribune’s Denise Crosby and the Aurora Beacon-News’ R. Christian Smith and Steve Lord — Attorney general orders Dolton to release spending records: The move follows a report about Mayor Tiffany Henyard and allies’ spending on first class airline tickets, luxury hotels and high-end restaurants, by WGN’s Andrew Schroedter. TAKING NAMES — Minyon Moore, the chair of the Democratic National Convention, headlines a fundraiser for the Illinois House Democrats led by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Details here — Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller attended the recent National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., where her resolutions addressing social media safety and maternal health were approved. — The Chicago Bar Association is honoring six people at today’s Earl B. Dickerson Awards Luncheon at the Union League Club. They are: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Maryam Ahmad, Appellate Judge Carl Walker, attorney Christopher Cooper, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Executive Director Erika Harold, Illinois AG Chief of Staff Nathalina Hudson and Sidley Austin partner Byron Taylor.   YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics.      Reader Digest We asked about the quirkiest politician you can think of. Bill Cameron: “Former Congressman Robert McClory. He bucked the party and voted to impeach Nixon.” Dave Dahl: “Tim Johnson, a former state rep and former congressman from the Champaign area.” Roger Flahaven: “Former Gov. Pat Quinn: politician and landscaper.” John Fritchey: “Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has mastered the art of being quirky but effective. And Judy Baar Topinka is quirky emeritus.” John Mark Hansen: “Former Sen. Everett Dirksen, between his bons mots and his odes to the marigold.” Jerry Ostergaard: “Former Congressman Joe Walsh, who used to sleep in his D.C. office. He might have seemed wacky, but he was one of the early folks to call out Trump for misdeeds and lies.” Graham Grady: “The late Ald. Burt Natarus (42nd) hands down.” Robert Kieckhefer: “Dakin Williams (brother of Tennessee Williams) ran for U.S. Senate and governor several times and suggested moving the state Capitol to Chicago — in the Ritz-Carlton.” Entertaining obit by Quincy Herald-Whig. Don Mattoon and Mike Ragen both said former Congressman Ken Gray from southern Illinois. “He drove an Excalibur, wore a mink coat, did magic tricks on the House floor and delivered an over-abundance of parks for his district.” Timothy Powell: Secretary of State Paul Powell Kathy Ryg: “Grace Mary Stern, a former state legislator, used her legendary sense of humor to pave the way for women to run using her baseball cards to remind voters she was ‘Not One of the Boys’ — all while sporting her denim jacket with a bullseye on the back!” NEXT QUESTION: Who’s your favorite fictional president? FROM THE DELEGATION — Congresswomen Robin Kelly, a co-chair of the Caucus on Black Women and Girls, joined in introducing the bipartisan Protect Black Women and Girls Act. The bill would establish a task force “to examine the conditions and experiences of Black women and girls.” THE NATIONAL TAKE — American tragedy: KC Chiefs’ parade turns into day of mourning in Kansas City, via the Kansas City Star — Nikki Haley needs a ‘meteor strike’ to beat Donald Trump in South Carolina, by POLITICO’s Charlie Mahtesian — Bid to remove prosecutors sets up turning point in Trump’s Georgia case, by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan and Kyle Cheney Transitions — David Teeghman is now chair of Sierra Club Chicago's executive committee. He has been political chair for the group and will remain in that role as he takes the new responsibilities. — Crystal Kuruvilla is an associate and Lisa Dauphinais and Rick Howard are paralegals in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg. EVENTS Feb. 27: Illinois Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis headlines a City Club of Chicago luncheon event. Details here HISTORY LESSON — On this day in 1933, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was shot and later died in an assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin Roosevelt in Miami. TRIVIA WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Kristin DiCenso and Judge James Shapiro for correctly answering that Marguerite Stitt Church represented the North Shore in Congress before Donald Rumsfeld. Church succeeded her husband, Ralph Church, who died in office. TODAY's QUESTION: Who’s the Springfield native who also hosted “America’s Next Top Model”? Email skapos@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY Attorney and retired judge Hyman Riebman, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Muzeroll, GBAO Strategies VP Jason McGrath and Alliance of the Southeast Organizing Director Chris White. -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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