| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | With help from Olivia Olander Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Schlemiel! Schlimazel!
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Social issues are top of mind in the upcoming legislative session, says Illinois House Democratic Leader Robyn Gabel. | Campaign photo | With the Illinois House getting into full swing today, we talked to newly named Democratic Leader Robyn Gabel about the upcoming session and its big focus. Biggest discussion points: Legislation making healthcare and childcare more affordable and accessible, investing in job-training and workforce development and, of course, the budget, top the list. “We haven’t focused on these kinds of social issues in a little while and this gives us an opportunity to look at healthcare accessibility and affordability,” Gabel said. “The vast number of people have healthcare, but for the group that doesn’t, it’s a travesty. We should all have access to good healthcare. What the governor wants: The legislative agenda dovetails with Gov. JB Pritzker’s priority list focusing on early childhood education, so expect some kumbaya. Sounds familiar: The House’s reproductive health working group is still in operation and looking at possible follow-up legislation related to the Dobbs abortion decision. And though there’s no trailer bill planned for the new law that bans the sale of assault weapons, Gabel said, “It’s an important issue for many people in the caucus, and we’ll continue to look at it.” What a free-for-all: We asked about a State Journal Register story that says there are nearly 1,700 bills being introduced from both chambers that apply to income tax credits for eligible taxpayers, state agencies and departments. “Once you start doing income tax credits for one group, then everyone says, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s a great idea.’ And everyone is coming in with that request,” Gabel said. “They are great for the people who get them. We’ll be looking at all of them.” What women want: We wondered whether House dynamics will change now that women on both sides of the aisle are in charge of budget negotiations. “I believe women are better listeners and are good at figuring out what they want the end results to be and how to get there,” Gabel explained. “Women like situations that are win-win, where everyone feels like they got something.”
| | THE BUZZ | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The flawed email campaign to recruit student volunteers to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign is now the subject of a negative ad by an independent political action committee. Cue haunting music: “Politicians have no right to enlist public school students as campaign pawns,” the ad says, referring to emails sent by Lightfoot’s campaign to teachers to rally student volunteers. Lightfoot says the emails were a mistake, and the Chicago Board of Ethics is looking into whether they violated the city’s ethics rules. Behind the attack: A group called Americans for a Safer and Better Tomorrow PAC is running the digital ad on Facebook and YouTube. It also plans to send texts to likely Chicago Public School parents based on cell numbers on voting records, according to a person familiar with the PAC’s efforts. (Is that different from sending emails to teachers? We’ll defer to the ethics board.) Connecting the dots: The PAC is the same group behind a poll by M3 pollster in December showing Lightfoot trailing Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Paul Vallas in the mayor’s race. If you are Steve Berlin of the Chicago Board of Ethics, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | At O’Hare Terminal 5 at 9:30 a.m. for its grand opening.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I’d like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois casinos post $114.4M in revenue for December: “Overall, the state’s 11 venues generated $1.35 billion in operator revenue in 2022, an increase of 13.6 percent compared to the $1.19 billion generated in 2021. The two numbers are not true like-for-like comparisons, as capacity limits were in place in the early part of 2021 due to Covid-19,” reports USBets’ Chris Altruda. — ANALYSIS: Illinois legislative oversight is weak compared to other states: There’s “little incentive to allow the Legislative Inspector General full rein to investigate wrongdoing, and instead is able to keep the legislative watchdog on a short leash,” Sophia Van Pelt writes in the Better Government Association’s report.
| | 2023 MUNICIPAL RACES | | — GREAT TAKE: How mayoral candidates would approach 23 different policy issues. WBEZ divided the pack based on their answers to the quiz. Plus a chance for you to take the quiz, too. — Ticked off at utility shutoffs, Willie Wilson says city should help people with their bills, by Sun-Times’ David Roeder and Fran Spielman — Independent PAC enters aldermanic fray, aiming to elect ‘Obama Democrats’ and opposing 2 Democratic Socialists: “The Get Stuff Done PAC chaired by Michael Ruemmler, an adviser to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has raised $1.2 million. The group is supporting 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee, 12th Ward Ald. Anabel Abarca and 24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott. All are appointees of Mayor Lori Lightfoot,” by Tribune’s A.D. Quig. — Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García launched his first Spanish ad in his bid for mayor. In Sueño americano, Garcia talks about his youth, his career and “fighting the machine.” — In the 36th Ward, Ald. Gil Villegas has been endorsed by U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Mike Quigley and Jesús "Chuy" García, also a mayoral candidate. — VIDEO: Mayoral candidate Ja’Mal Green sits down with journalist Laura Washington, via Block Club — The Reader and South Side Weekly co-published a police district councils voter guide, by the Reader’s Jim Daley and Sky Patterson — 11th Ward candidates all say Near South Side needs a new high school, by Block Club’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden — In 49th Ward, Ald. Maria Hadden faces 2 challengers in Rogers Park, by Block Club’s Joe Ward — FUN HISTORY: Why Chicago elections are nonpartisan, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone
| | CHICAGO | | — Lightfoot strikes franchise deal with ComEd and wants a fast City Council vote: “Commonwealth Edison will continue to serve the city of Chicago for at least the next 15 years under an agreement struck with the Lightfoot administration to extend the franchise, which expired more than two years ago. The pact, which needs City Council approval and is set to be introduced at Wednesday's meeting, features $100 million in shareholder cash from ComEd. Most of that will go to launch a nonprofit dedicated to promoting clean-energy projects in the city, according to sources who were briefed,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz and Justin Laurence. What consumers could see: The deal includes promises of at least $520 million for “hundreds of energy and equity community benefit projects to advance the 2022 Climate Action Plan,” which promises to reduce carbon emissions in Chicago by 62 percent by 2040, reports WTTW’s Heather Cherone. — Bracing for greater need amid changes to SNAP benefits, by Sun-Times’ Elvia Malagón — After Memphis Police Scorpion unit is disbanded, watchdogs take issue with Chicago Police specialized units, by CBS 2’s Megan Hickey — Meanwhile … More than 1,000 cops left the city’s force last year, reports WGN 9’s Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedter — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge is scheduled to visit Chicago this week to discuss federal efforts to address homelessness with a focus on the American Rescue Plan. — A running club in Pilsen mobilized to help tamaleras who had been robbed. The event’s success inspired other efforts, by Tribune’s Laura Rodríguez Presa — Committee OKs ordinance to protect paramedics ‘taking a beating’ from patients, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — LABOR OVERVIEW: Chicago’s always been a union town. Now the face of organized labor is changing, writes Crain’s Brandon Dupré
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — No more censure threat after DuPage sheriff, county board chair come to terms on weapons ban, by Daily Herald’s Alicia Fabbre — McHenry County challenge to Illinois assault weapons law transferred to federal court, via ABC 7
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Jury finds Alex Acevedo — son of former state Rep. Edward Acevedo — guilty of tax evasion charges with ties to ComEd bribery probe: “Though relatively minor in scope, the indictment against Acevedo, along with separate charges filed against his younger brother and their father, received widespread attention due to the connection to the ComEd probe,” writes Tribune’s Jason Meisner.
| | ...SWAMP THINGS... | | — Springfield man who waved Trump flag on Senate floor on Jan. 6 found guilty of federal charges: “Thomas B. Adams, Jr. was found guilty of entering a restricted building and obstructing an official proceeding,” by Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Federal jury awards $99,000 to CTA electrician who claimed harassment at work, including noose hung at a rail garage, by Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry — Cook County not pursuing sex crime charges against R. Kelly following federal convictions, by WTTW’s Matt Masterson — Alleged Highland Park parade shooter due back in court today, by News-Sun’s Cliff Ward — Suburban school worker charged with stealing $1.5M worth of chicken wings from district, by WGN’s Ben Bradley and Sam Charles
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what political campaign motivated you more than any other: Kelly Kleiman: The 1970 campaign to elect Parren Mitchell to Congress. “He was the first Black representative from Maryland since the Reconstruction. I was 15 ,and stuffing envelopes on that campaign turned me into the political animal I am today!” Edward McClelland: The 2000 presidential campaign. “I thought George W. Bush was going to start a war and wreck the economy.” Mary Kay Minaghan: The 1992 Senate campaign of Carol Moseley Braun. Omari Prince and Patricia Ann Watson: Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign. Barry Salzman: “The 1964 Senate race in California that saw featherweight actor George Murphy (R) defeat JFK's Pierre Salinger (D) and set the stage for Ronald Reagan's successful gubernatorial run in 1966.” Bill Velazquez: Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. Claude Walker: Harold Washington in 1983. “I've never rung so many doorbells in such frigid conditions.” What celebrity did you have a crush on as a teenager? Email skapos@politico.com
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Sen. Dick Durbin, the majority whip and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is urging the Senate to pass a policing reform bill in wake of Tyre Nichols’ death. “The videotapes of the deadly assault on Mr. Nichols by Memphis police officers ... are horrific and sickening,” Durbin said during a speech on the Senate floor that also recalled the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Laquan McDonald. Video of his speech here — Congresswoman Delia Ramirez has been appointed to the House Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security committees. She sees the VA work as being “critical” to helping Illinois veterans and she will focus on deportation issues on the Homeland Security Committee, according to a release.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden to end Covid health emergency declarations in May, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn — Trump’s slow-rolling 2024 bid cobbles together new Senate support, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine — ‘Intellectually bankrupt’: Biden allies blast GOP debt-limit backup plan, by POLITICO’s Zachary Warmbrodt — Chicagoans brave below-freezing temps to protest police brutality in wake of Tyre Nichols’ death, by Tribune’s Adriana Pérez
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Vintage Tribune: From Black Panther to congressman, Bobby Rush changed with the times, by Ron Grossman with historical photos
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Illinois Tollway faces more turnover as Dorothy Abreu steps down as board chair: “Less than a year after being appointed chairwoman of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board by Gov. JB Pritzker, Abreu cited health issues for leaving.” Vice Chair Jim Connolly will assume responsibilities of director and board chair until someone permanent is named. Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth reports. — Nykia Wright exits as Sun-Times CEO: “She joined the paper in 2017, leading it through new digital efforts and its conversion to nonprofit status as part of Chicago Public Media,” reports Sun-Times’ David Roeder. — Phil Jurik, who’s overseen the Tribune’s government reporting, is promoted to managing editor, via Tribune — Elizabeth “Liz” Jurinka is operating director for health care policy at Vistria Group, a private investment firm. Jurinka most recently worked in D.C. as a special assistant to the president working to advance the policy agenda of the White House. Earlier, she was chief health care adviser to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
| | EVENTS | | — Today at noon: Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas outlines his economic development plan at a City Club luncheon. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Peyton Bernot for correctly answering that Jose and Kitty Menendez, murdered by their sons Lyle and Erik, met while attending Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections? Email skapos@politico.com
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