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* Not too shabby…
My first time in the makeshift Illinois Senate chambers in the Howlett Building. The Senate will meet here through 2024 as renovations continue on the north wing of the state Capitol. It’s actually pretty nice. Still has that “new Senate chamber smell.” #twill pic.twitter.com/lLCMRBwapn
— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) November 16, 2022
* Here’s a quick roundup to start your day…
* Capitol News Illinois | Technical SAFE-T Act changes could happen, nothing certain in last 3 days of session: “I will say, when it came to the idea of gutting it, that was a bipartisan thing that was real, and I will acknowledge that,” Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said at a news conference Tuesday. “But what I will say is that, after Tuesday, the main thing is to make sure it’s technical and we can implement it the right way.”
* WTVO | Illinois lawmaker files amendment to SAFE-T Act: The controversial criminal justice law was a major talking point during the election. Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett filed an amendment on behalf of the state’s attorney association that would clarify. […] Bennett’s proposal is still the only one officially filed in the capitol so far. The legislature is expected to come to a new compromise on the law before it goes into effect January 1.
* Daily Herald | New leader hopes to bring balance to state House GOP:State Rep. Tony McCombie said Wednesday that her top priority when she becomes the next House minority leader will be to rebuild the GOP caucus following last week’s elections that were, for Republicans, a disappointment. “The top priority is to bring balance to the Republican Party,” she told reporters during her first Statehouse news conference since being elected leader. “I mean, we need some numbers, seriously. We need to collaborate on our messages. We need to bring our caucus all together to have opinions.”
* Sun-Times | New state Senate GOP leader welcomes billionaires’ bucks but warns party must ‘diversify our fundraising’: “We have to broaden that appeal because we’re getting heavily outspent in all our races all across the state,” new state Senate Minority Leader John Curran said.
* Quad | City Times | Q&A with incoming Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie: Q: You’ve worked on many bills over the past few years — some of the DCFS bills, for instance, that featured bipartisanship. How important is it to have that moving forward? A: “You know, as leader, I might actually get that bill passed now. So, we’ve been fighting for Pam Knight for a long time. We’ve done it in the House and it died in the Senate. Again, with the tragic loss we had (of DCFS worker Deidre Silas) here in Springfield, we thought we were going to get that through with the Senate and the House again, and we did not. Common sense legislation should be easy. And my conversations and relationships, I hope, will bring those issues around.”
* WGNTV | Illinois State Senate unanimously approves legislation banning state investment in Russia: The Illinois State Senate unanimously approved legislation prohibiting the investment of state funds in Russia Wednesday. The proposed law, House Bill 1293, would require the state to divest or withdraw any existing investments in Russian banks and companies and prohibit such investments moving forward on top of several other stipulations.
* WCIA | Lawmakers considering legislation to close interest rate loophole for pawn shops: In 2021, the state passed the Predatory Loan Prevention Act (PLPA), which caps the interest rate on consumer loans at 36%. But the law doesn’t apply to pawn shops. After the PLPA passed, pawn brokers asked the courts for an injunction so that the law wouldn’t apply to them and they received one.
* Ted Slowik | Rural counties vote to break from Illinois. Here’s what they should do instead: The growing movement by dozens of Downstate counties to break away from the rest of Illinois to form a new state shows how toxic politics has distorted our reality. I wish politicians who represent red parts of the state would offer their constituents more realistic solutions to address concerns. I have visited Cairo and other small towns ravaged by blight. I have seen similar conditions in south suburban Harvey, Dixmoor and Robbins.
* WREX | Illinois Native Americans Gathered in Springfield to Ask for Inclusion and State Recognition: A group of Native Americans gathered in Springfield to ask for inclusion and state recognition. The Chicago American Indian community collaborative held a Native American summit today at the state capitol, and at the top of the agenda, was an effort to introduce legislation requiring native American history in Illinois public schools starting next year.
* Crain’s | What do Lightfoot’s ads tell us about the state of the mayoral race: Rolling out three video ads in two days, it’s a sign that Mayor Lightfoot has some money to spend—and quite probably it’s an indication that she has reason for political worry.
* Tribune | Mayor Lori Lightfoot chastises security detail for parking in a bike lane while she picked up doughnuts: Following an uproar on social media, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot chastised her security detail for parking in a bike lane while she picked up doughnuts. The controversy began on Twitter after @bikelaneuprise posted photos Nov. 9 showing Lightfoot’s security detail parked in the street outside Roeser’s Bakery on North Avenue while she was inside picking up doughnuts.
* Block Club Chicago | Weed Dispensary Green Rose, Owned By Phil Stefani, Former Police Commander, Opens In River North: Green Rose is owned by GRI Holdings and qualified for the state’s social equity license by having members of the management and ownership team who are Black, Latino, veteran and part of the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to Stefani, former police Cmdr. Thomas Wheeler, former CTA executive John Trotta and veteran Dana Oswald are owners, according to the Chicago Tribune. Ownership is “diverse and includes Black, Latinx, veteran and females,” a company representative said.
* Sun-Times | Village of Oak Lawn approves $10 million settlement in 2019 hit-and-run accident involving then-village manager: Mark Berkshire was hospitalized for months after he was hit by Larry Deetjen’s car in nearby Chicago Ridge in 2019, according to a lawyer for Berkshire. He is still unable to walk and requires around-the-clock care, according to attorney Victor Henderson. Deetjin was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failing to render aid, failure to give information after striking a person, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to exercise due caution.
* Politico | GOP civil war spreads to Georgia runoff: But Senate Republican infighting isn’t the only dispute affecting the Peach State race. Georgia GOP activists are worried about the potential effect of Donald Trump launching his 2024 run on Tuesday, an announcement that local party leaders fear could depress turnout among moderate Republicans — votes that Walker needs to beat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who finished just ahead of him in last week’s election. Despite even some of Trump’s own allies urging him to delay an announcement until after the runoff election, Trump declined to wait.
* Illinois Times | The next chapter for Avery Bourne: “I don’t want a eulogy written. People keep coming up to me with a sad look in their eyes and saying, ‘You had such a wonderful career.’” At age 30, state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, says she has plenty of career still ahead of her. She is leaving the General Assembly in January after an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
More to come!
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 8:26 am
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==Following an uproar on social media, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot chastised her security detail for parking in a bike lane while she picked up doughnuts.==
MLL sure Delivers alright, even if said method of picking up items for eventual delivery runs afoul of traffic laws.
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 8:44 am
I get that rural counties feel a sort of disconnect with urban areas especially as I am decades familiar with family in rural counties in a state with large urban areas. but the question is how topics are treated with value. People vote, land does not, but we can value what happens on the land, with the land, all the land, and the needs of people. Communication is vital and the Gov has keyed in on the internet as a way to help. One state, many counties. We just need to help see each other.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:06 am
Kudos to Ted Slowik‘s column.
Although I might add that the people in Ottawa and Peru at Starved Rock tend to vote Democratic along with the Chicago metro area.
Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:07 am
Could not have imagined 20 years ago ever reading about a Chicago police commander opening up a marijuana store…
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:14 am
And she didn’t notice when she got out of the car to go into the bakery where they were parked, or didn’t notice as she waited for her order, or didn’t notice when she got back to the car? Any of those times she could have told them to drive around the block after dropping her off or asked why they didn’t do that when she got back. Just like the maskless hair cut, wait til you get caught then try to blame someone else.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:15 am
Temporary Senate digs look small, which is good.
My experience, the closer you are physically to someone, the more cordial everyone is.
Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:16 am
I love Ted Slowik’s opinoin piece on rural counties. Excellent.
Finding solutions to existing problems, finding common ground with our fellow citizen, and rejecting snake oil politicians.
Excellent advice.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:17 am
Recreational marijuana in Illinois is really just a who’s who of politically connected people. Even the social equity licenses appear to have been gamed by the connected. And the result is we have higher prices here than any other state where weed is legal.
Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:36 am
“I wish politicians who represent red parts of the state would offer their constituents more realistic solutions to address concerns”
It’s a catch-22: don’t pander to the base’s prejudices and lose in the primary to extremist candidates. Pander and win, but become more of a super-minority. Or in Irvin’s case, pander and lose massively, because of a moderate/liberal record (RINO).
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 9:40 am
Rich:
You didn’t read the lead editorial in the NYT?
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 10:36 am
===You didn’t read the lead editorial in the NYT? ===
This is Isabel’s post. Also, what NYT editorial?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 10:39 am
Patterson is in the house…well, Senate, actually. The Chambers look nice, but it’s a bummer that there’s no gallery. Yea, there’s a corridor with TVs but that’s just not the same. I love sitting in the gallery when my bills are being considered so I can watch the people and the board. Two years will be a long time.
Comment by New Day Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 11:12 am
Isabel:
My mistake. Lead editorial in WSJ, “Democracy Dies in Illinois”.
Comment by Anon III Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 11:12 am
=== Lead editorial in WSJ===
LOL
You want us to start running Proft editorials now too? Same dif.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 11:13 am
“Democracy Dies in Illinois”
They misspelled “GOP”
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 17, 22 @ 11:34 am