Crespo ‘disappointed' at his ouster

Politico

16-05-2025

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TGIF, Illinois. Welcome to Beyonce, who brought her rodeo to Chicago for the weekend!
TOP TALKER
CRESPO RESPONDS: Don't read too much into Democratic state Rep. Fred Crespo's absence today from the Illinois General Assembly. It's his birthday, and he promised his wife he'd spend the day with her.
Asked about his ouster from leadership earlier this week, Crespo told Playbook, 'I'm disappointed but not surprised.'
The veteran lawmaker was pushed out from the Democratic caucus for not communicating with House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch's team about working on a fiscally conservative budget bill — something he did last year, too, though the measure didn't go anywhere. Welch also removed Crespo as chair of the House appropriations committee and fired one of his top aides.
'They felt that I was working behind their backs, but as I told the speaker, in the 18 years I've been in office, we always work on bills and we never consult unless we have to,' Crespo said in an interview.
Trying to trim the budget: The fiscally conservative Democrat from Hoffman Estates had been working on a plan to identify 'over $4 billion that we can set aside for next fiscal year' by 'withholding — not cutting' funds, he said. The plan 'protects Medicaid, protects all the programs that we care about.'
Crespo worked on a similar proposal last year, but it was ignored, he said, in part because it wasn't in bill form. 'No one was interested.'
This year, Crespo put his idea in bill form. 'I wanted a document that I can show people so they can better understand because it's complicated. It's easier when you have a document in front of you and can see' what the proposal is.
So many meetings: One complaint Crespo got from Welch is that he didn't communicate the way the speaker has tasked chairs to do. Crespo acknowledges missing one meeting out of five, including one with House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, because he was tied up in another meeting. He said that shouldn't be the reason to bump him from his leadership role.
Crespo also pushed back at speculation that he was working with Republicans. Not so, he said, though he's always been open to working across the aisle. 'I tell people I'm bilingual and not because I speak Spanish and English. It's because I can speak to Democrats and Republicans,' he said. 'People want us to work together.'
The moves against Crespo indicate the challenge Illinois Democrats, who control the General Assembly, have in crafting a budget.
Crespo's concern: 'I just hope people don't see this and shy away from speaking up. They have a responsibility and duty to do that,' he said, via the Tribune's Jeremy Gorner and Olivia Olander.
RELATED: Lower revenue projections mean lawmakers must consider approving new revenue streams or cutting state programs, by Capitol News' Ben Szalinski
THE BUZZ
ENDORSEMENTS are rolling in for 2026 congressional candidates:
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who's running for Senate, has secured support of more than 50 elected officials and LGBTQ+ community leaders, according to her team. Among them are state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Chicago Ald. Maria Hadden, MWRD Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis and Avon Township Clerk Kristal Larson. Here's a letter signed by supporters.
State Sen. Robert Peters, who's running for Congress in the IL-02 District now held by Congresswoman Robin Kelly, was endorsed Thursday by David Hogg. He's the Democratic National Committee vice chair who has drawn criticism for calling some Democrats 'asleep at the wheel.' His post is here.
Hanover Park Trustee Yasmeen Bankole has announced nearly 30 endorsements in her bid for the IL-08 seat now held by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. Among them: Glendale Heights Mayor Rebecca Giannelli, Rolling Meadows Mayor Lara Sanoica and Roselle Mayor David Pileski. Here's the full list
State Sen. Laura Fine, who's running for Congress in the IL-09 District now held by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, has been endorsed by state Rep. Marty Moylan, DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. Here's the full list
If you are David Hogg, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: [e-mail]
WHERE'S JB
No official public events
WHERE's BRANDON
At 3601 West Chicago Avenue at 11 a.m. for The Ave mixed-use development groundbreaking — At Daley Plaza at 1 p.m. for the Chi Food Truck Fest
Where's Toni
At South Suburban College at 1 p.m. to break ground on the new Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email [e-mail]
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will headline the Utah Democratic Party's convention on May 31, via the Deseret News
— NEW TODAY: Ted Mason is running for Cook County commissioner in the 15th District, and he already has secured key endorsements. It's a position Mason knows well. He is chief of staff of current Commissioner Kevin Morrison, who's running for Congress.
'Having served as chief of staff' for the past six years, 'I am excited to continue the work of expanding access to mental health care, bringing resources to our small businesses in the northwest suburbs, and providing Cook County with balanced budgets,' Mason said in announcing his candidacy. Morrison and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle have already endorsed Mason for the job, according to his launch statement.
ILLINOIS' POPE
— Dolton, the Chicago suburb that gave us a pope: 'Dolton was hit with economic hardship after the collapse of the steel industry on the Far South Side. But residents hope their new fame can spark opportunity,' by the Sun-Times' Lauren FitzPatrick and Violet Miller.
— Pope Leo XIV's brother describes 'life-altering event' impacting family, by NBC 5's Natalie Martinez
THE STATEWIDES
— Safety reforms could be coming for Chicagoland transit, but funding still up in the air: 'Officials quiet on other reform plan details, funding options for transit agencies,' by Capitol News' Andrew Adams.
— Illinois is the last state still unlawfully stripping wealth from homeowners in tax foreclosures: 'The law lets private investors take people's homes and equity over unpaid property taxes. Critics say Black homeowners are hurt most,' by Emeline Posner of the Investigative Project on Race and Equity and Carlos Ballesteros of Injustice Watch.
— Plan to limit scope of 'crime-free housing' ordinances clears Illinois Senate committee: Housing advocates argue the crime-free ordinances 'have been used to evict people in instances where the actual residents of the homes in question committed petty offenses or no crimes at all,' by Jade Aubrey via Capitol News.
— Illinois considers lowering scores students need to be considered proficient on state exams, by Chalkbeat's Samantha Smylie
— A new study ranks Illinois 50th among 50 states in something called 'fiscal stability,' but it fares better in other categories, via U.S. News.
CHICAGO
— Chicago Teachers Union leaders face challengers in election today: 'A slate of four teachers is running to try to unseat the current union leadership, led by CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. Results are expected Saturday,' by the Sun-Times' Emmanuel Camarillo.
— Chicago tourism inches up, but business travel still drags, by Crain's Danny Ecker
— Hyde Park residents threatening lawsuit against city for planned permanent homeless shelter, by ABC 7's Sarah Schulte
— Parking meter company could get $15.5M more from Chicago in settlement, by the Tribune's Jake Sheridan
— Violent crime incidents in Chicago are down 22%, via CBS 2
— Of 20 best cities in the world for culture, Chicago is the only U.S. town on the list, via Time Out
SPOTLIGHT
— SCOOP: The National Museum of Mexican Art is returning a Maya frieze to its place of origin in Mexico, according to the Chicago museum. The repatriation came about after the museum worked with officials in Mexico. The artifact had been in a private collection and then displayed at The Brooklyn Museum in the 1960s and 1970s. The family of the late Chicago-area philanthropists Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan sought the National Museum of Mexican Art's help in returning the sculpture to Mexico.
TAKING NAMES
— Christian Perry has been named to the board of Cultivate Collective, an umbrella organization to oversee green job training and solar energy learning labs. By day, Perry is the political director for Chicago's mayor.
— Hardik Bhatt has joined the board of Intersect Illinois. Bhatt is CEO of SDI Presence LLC.
Reader Digest
We asked what political battle you can't wait to see unfold:
Mimi Cowan: The 'Sophie's Choice question' for the U.S. Senate race.
Kirk Dillard, chair of the Regional Transportation Authority : 'Mass transit reform and funding. It impacts 1.2 million riders every workday and is responsible annually for $2.5 billion in regional economic growth.'
Lucas Hawley: 'The state Senate race with Nick Uniejewski' going against incumbent state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz.
Dennis Johnson: 'The open primary for Sen. Dick Durbin's seat and the possible resulting musical chairs.'
Jim Lyons: 'The race for Sen. Dick Durbin's seat.'
Dan Mattoon: 'The Democratic primary to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin.'
Tomás E Revollo: 'Rahm Emanuel v. JB Pritzker for president. (JB all the way).'
Timothy Thomas: 'It will be interesting to see who backs down first in the political standoff involving three black women (if Lauren Underwood jumps in) in the 2026 Senate race to avoid the spoiler label.'
NEXT QUESTION: If Beyonce ran for president, what would her campaign slogan be?
FROM THE DELEGATION
— Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) pressed Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins during a House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday. Her concern: Employees are being asked 'to do more with less' as a result of the department's reduction in force. Here's a clip. ... Budzinski also signed a letter urging the VA to continue health research focused on women veterans. Here's the letter
— Sen. Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Commitee, joined in a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to reverse his firing of the head of the U.S. Copyright Office and his removal of the librarian of Congress.
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— Coastal Republicans express anger at red-state leaders who won't help them with SALT deductions, by POLITICO's Jonathan Martin
— James Comey sparks Republican outrage with Trump social media post, by POLITICO's Gregory Svirnovskiy
— Some Republicans are angry about climate law cuts. Will they tank the GOP megabill? via POLITICO
TRANSITIONS
— Michael Negron has been named a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, where he'll work on policies 'to improve economic growth, equity and financial security,' according to an announcement. He was a policy fellow at Groundwork Collaborative, but playbookers know him as having worked for former President Joe Biden, Gov. JB Pritzker and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
— JR Patton is interim village administrator in Glenwood. He is a former City Council member and former city administrator of Calumet City.
— Amica Nesbitt is now an associate at Blank Rome, where she'll work in the business litigation group. She was at Reed Smith.
EVENTS
— May 28: Wintrust and Conlon Public Strategies present 'Leading in the Face of Unprecedented Change,' the first of three breakfast discussions with nonprofit executives and board leaders. Panelists are from UCAN, Northwestern Settlement, Thresholds, The Night Ministry, Chinese American Service League and Erie Family Health Centers. RSVP here
TRIVIA
THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Jarod Hitchings for correctly answering that Park Ridge was called Pennyville, then Brickton, before being incorporated in 1873.
TODAY's QUESTION: Which public servant has a stretch of I-72 named in their honor? Email [e-mail]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Today: Former Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore, state Rep. Fred Crespo, state Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, state Sen. Emil Jones III, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Danny Goldberg and FanDuel State Government Relations Director James Hartmann
Saturday: Governor's Senior Policy Adviser Michael Elliott, state Treasurer's Office Assistant General Counsel Tory Horton, DuPage County Senior Adviser Jeremy Custer, Microsoft senior writer Rebecca Nelson Kay, journalist Robert Feder and Joe Moore Strategies and MLS Public Strategies 'chief everything officer' Barbara Moore
Sunday: Former Corn Products CEO Sam Scott and Institute for Intergovernmental Research Training Consultant Carmen Navarro Gercone
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