Pritzker's new budget

Politico

19-02-2025

Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. It's Budget Day at the Capitol.
TOP TALKER
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker, who at times has been a lone voice criticizing President Donald Trump's efforts to upend the federal government, is expected to take another swipe today when he gives his State of the Budget address.
Leaning into Trump: Along with focusing on fiscal discipline and government efficiency, Pritzker is also expected to call out what he's dubbed 'the Trump Tax on Working Families' — essentially trade tariffs, a person close to the governor told Playbook.
Here's a snippet of Pritzker's speech: 'We ought to be focused on making life more affordable for everyday Illinoisans. With the new tariffs already put in place by President Trump and the ones that he has proposed, the cost of everyday goods like tomatoes and beef and beer is likely to rise again,' according to an excerpt of Pritzker's speech revealed to Playbook. 'It's confounding that when that happens, it seems like large corporations just hike up prices to drive up profits, while everyday people get stuck with the bill. It's not right, and we ought to call out the federal government and the companies on it.'
Along with leaning in to Trump, we'll be watching for how Pritzker plans to dodge cutting services while providing new revenues.
After a briefing Tuesday from the governor's team, Democratic leaders are breathing easier about the budget.
'I do think that there's some pleasant surprises with revenue projections, but then there's some other things that they've done to close the gap,' House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch said, via the Tribune.
Some background: This is Pritzker's seventh balanced budget. The person close to the governor told us it preserves the progress Illinois has made over the past six years in getting on better financial footing.
In addition to a balanced budget, Pritzker is set to introduce new policy proposals that affect working families and residents, including lowering prescription drug costs and improving access to affordable education.
Here are more budget details:
— Pritzker will ask state legislators for $500M to attract new business with ready-to-go real estate, by Crain's John Pletz
— Governor to call for expansion of 4-year degree offerings at some community colleges, by Capitol News' Peter Hancock
— Pritzker to back 'screen-free schools' and join national trend to ban cellphones in class, by The Associated Press' John O'Connor
— Governor proposes crackdown on crypto ATMs to address scams, money-laundering, by the Sun-Times' Tom Schuba and Frank Main
ON THE OTHER SIDE: Senate Republicans' priorities: Eliminating immigrant spending, boosting education funding, by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting
THE BUZZ
NEW POLL: A statewide poll on a range of issues shows 49 percent of Illinois voters 'strongly disapprove' of President Donald Trump's job performance so far, and they don't like Elon Musk or DOGE, either.
Who's behind it: The numbers come from a poll commissioned by Dave Nayak, who ran for state Senate in a Democratic primary two years ago and is mulling a run in 2026 — as a Republican. The poll of 750 Illinois 2024 voters was conducted by Chicago-based pollster M3 Strategies from Feb. 15 to 17. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.58 percentage points.
Lips sealed: We asked Nayak about his intentions for a possible run for office, but he demurred. 'I'll do what's needed to ensure Illinois children have access to a quality education, our citizens feel safe and that Illinois once again becomes a place where businesses thrive instead of leaving,' Nayak said in a statement to Playbook.
The survey also shows Gov. JB Pritzker's favorability numbers are mixed, that voters are divided on Trump's tactics in managing the migrant crisis — and they prefer Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. Polling data here
If you are Elon Musk, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: [e-mail]
WHERE'S JB
In the Illinois House Chamber at noon to deliver his State of the Budget address — In the Governor's Ceremonial Office at 3:45 p.m. for a roundtable on lowering prescription drug costs
WHERE's BRANDON
At City Hall at 10 a.m. to preside over the City Council meeting
Where's Toni
No official public events
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email [e-mail]
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
— TRUMP ON IVF: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that calls for reducing the costs of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, for Americans who are managing fertility issues. At an event at Mar-a-Lago, White House staff secretary Will Scharf told reporters that the order directs the Domestic Policy Council 'to make IVF and other fertility treatments more affordable for more Americans.' The order requests that the council make policy recommendations within 90 days to protect access to IVF and 'aggressively' reduce costs for the treatment, via CBS.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who authored the Right to IVF Act that would protect individuals' rights to access IVF and make it more affordable, questioned Trump's veracity on the issue. 'Don't be fooled,' she said in a statement. 'Donald Trump's executive order does nothing to expand access to IVF. In fact, he's the reason IVF is at risk in the first place. But if he is actually serious about taking real action to accomplish his own campaign promise to make IVF free for everyone, there's a simple way he can prove it: He can call on Senate Republicans to immediately back my Right to IVF Act that would require insurance plans to cover IVF.'
— Trump's Friday firings leave EPA Chicago office down dozens of scientists, staff: 'Dozens of probationary employees were cut because they didn't have job protections,' by the Sun-Times' Brett Chase.
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— Suit asks court to block appointment of newly appointed state Sen. Darby Hills: The lawsuit claims Hills, who was appointed to former state Sen. Dan McConchie's seat, 'doesn't have much in the way of Republican bona fides. She hasn't signed a Republican candidate petition or a statement of candidacy as a Republican in at least 23 months, nor has she voted in a Republican primary in at least 23 months, the complaint states,' by the Daily Herald's Russell Lissau.
THE STATEWIDES
— U of I soybean lab's pending closure due to USAID cuts hinders global disease research, by Illinois Times' Bridgette Fox
— Committee advances bill to ban vehicle searches based on smell of cannabis, by Capitol News' Ben Szalinski
— Over in Indiana, lawmakers there advanced a bill to redraw state boarders allowing Illinois counties to secede, by the Sun-Times' Kade Heather
— TAKING NAMES: State Rep. Maurice West will perform original saxophone compositions at tonight's Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Soiree, via WREX.
CHICAGO
— Back-loaded repayment schedule for $830M bond issue adds $2B to borrowing costs, experts say: 'The City Council is scheduled to take a final vote on the general obligation bond issue at Wednesday's meeting, but any two alderpersons can use a parliamentary maneuver to postpone the final vote. They don't need to provide a reason for that delay,' by the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman.
— Mayor makes final appointment to 21-member partially-elected school board: 'Cydney Wallace, a Black Jewish activist and mother of four, is Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's final pick to sit on the city's new 21-member Board of Education,' by Chalkbeat's Becky Vevea.
— Johnson downplays departures of some top city officials, saying they weren't fired but left for 'personal decisions,' by the Tribune's Jake Sheridan
— United Center development, Black Ensemble Theater expansion approved by City Council's zoning committee, by the Block Club's Madison Savedra and Molly DeVore
COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS
— Skokie digs out from water main break disaster; will declare emergency: 'Village advises those harmed to file insurance claims,' by the Pioneer Press' Richard Requena.
— Arlington Heights mayoral candidates face off in upcoming forums, by the Daily Herald's Christopher Placek
— Libertyville Township has unrelated O'Connors facing off for supervisor; 'We were just blessed with the same last name,' by the Lake County News-Sun's Joseph States
— The Homer Township Reset slate is challenging Freedom Caucus incumbents in Republican Primary, by the Tribune's Michelle Mullins
Reader Digest
We asked how you embrace the Midwestern cold.
Kirk Dillard: 'Cold weather lets me wear sweaters (sweata weather like SNL) or sweatshirts and cook or eat soup, which I love.'
Leslie Dimas: 'Layers of smart and stylish clothes/accessories. A few cute coats and warm fashionable weather boots are a necessity!'
Eileen Dordek: 'I bundle up — two pairs of pants if necessary.'
Donna Gutman: 'Needlepointing. Hot chocolate. Rewatching old movies.'
Jim Lyons: 'Have a cup of tea and look out the window.'
Joe Moore: 'I retreat to Florida from the beginning of February until the middle of May. I still enjoy the change of seasons, but by the end of January, I've had enough.'
Erika Poethig and Ray Sendejas: 'Having seat warmers in our car was a game changer. Warm behinds make the cold much easier to face.'
Kathy Posner: 'I pretend that minus 10 degrees is actually 'refreshing' and that the wind chill is just giving me a free face exfoliation.'
Jeff Schoenberg: 'I make a big five-gallon pot of chicken soup and matzah balls to get me through it.'
Patricia Ann Watson: 'Fireplace, warm footies, cups of tea, good books, views of outside.'
Judith Weinstein: 'I send screenshots of my weather app to friends in warmer climes to boast about my superior coping skills. Their pity warms my soul.'
Next question: What makes a good political speech? Email [e-mail]
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— Musk-linked group flexes its muscle in a crucial Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, by POLITICO's Jessica Piper and Liz Crampton
— Trump snaps back at Zelenskyy, blaming Ukraine for the war, by POLITICO's Eli Stokols
— Trump signs order to claim power over independent agencies, by POLITICO's Megan Messerly and Bob King
IN MEMORIAM
— Craig Roberts, a fixture on Capitol Hill as the long-serving chief of staff to former Congressman John Shimkus, has died, via the Republican Club of Capitol Hill
TRANSITIONS
— Cara Hendrickson is taking a leadership role with the Illinois Attorney General's Office. She's now executive director of Impact for Equity.
— Ebony Scott-Anderson is now manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion partnerships at the Illinois Power Agency. She was head of external affairs for the Inclusive Economy Lab, a policy organization connected to University of Chicago.
EVENTS
— Thursday: Jesse Jackson Jr. headlines an event at the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Details here
— Thursday: The Illinois Commerce Commission is holding a hearing. On the agenda: the impact of data centers and other emerging industries on the Illinois power grid. Details here
TRIVIA
TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Eric Lane for correctly answering that Seth Meyers was the longest running Illinois cast member on Saturday Night Live. The Evanston native was on for 13 years.
TODAY's QUESTION: What iconic food item was invented by Schiller Park baker Jimmy DeWar? Email [e-mail]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Former U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feinerman, former state Rep. Ron Stephens, Illinois Democratic Party Communications Director Gwen Pepin, D.C. legislative director Alejandro Renteria and sportscaster and restaurateur Lou Canellis
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