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Politico
03-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
Corn farmers tip hats to Rahm Emanuel
Happy Tuesday, Illinois. There's a lot going on for a slow summer day. TOP TALKER 🌽WE'RE ALL EARS: Rahm Emanuel wrote the book on cities — literally, it was called 'The Nation City: Why Mayors Are Now Running the World' — but since his time as U.S. ambassador to Japan, he has gained a new appreciation and expertise in agriculture. A-maiz-ing: The Illinois Corn Growers Association is honoring the former Chicago mayor at an event today in Bloomington for his efforts to establish a partnership in 2024 among the U.S., Japan and the Philippines on an initiative that opened new doors for American corn-based ethanol producers. The alliance is seeing ethanol sourced from Midwestern corn, refined in the Philippines and used in vehicles manufactured in both the U.S. and Japan. Kernels of truth: Garrett Hawkins, a Waterloo corn farmer and president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, credits Emanuel with boosting ethanol sent to Japan. 'As recently as 2020, Japan would only allow 42 percent of their imported ethanol to be U.S. ethanol,' he told Playbook through a spokesman. At the time, Brazilian ethanol was the go-to source. That changed, Hawkins said, when Emanuel got involved. 'The U.S. enjoys up to 100 percent market share in Japan,' Hawkins said. 'We are also looking at long term market growth with E10 coming to Japan as soon as 2028 and E20 blends in the country as soon as 2040.' No bull: Tom Vilsack, the former U.S. secretary of agriculture during the Obama and Biden administrations, also gave Emanuel farm props. 'He got not just one, but three deals done for America with Japan — soybeans, corn and beef — to help farmers all across America. That's really unheard of,' Vilsack said through a spokesman. The timing is kinda corny: The Corn Growers award comes as Emanuel is weighing his political future: a possible run for president — or governor of Illinois. Having the Corn Growers tip their hat to Emanuel could resonate with downstate voters who wonder if he can relate to the big sky of farm country in the same way he embraces the speed of the city. Awe, shucks: 'I've been in a lot of rooms negotiating a lot of deals,' Emanuel said in a statement to Playbook. 'But few have felt as close to home — or as important to the future — as the ones where we connected Illinois cornfields to the highways of Asia.' 🍿This pops, too: Emanuel is also being honored by the Chicago History Museum with the Harold Washington Making History Award for his work in public service. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A delegation of high-level executives from Japanese companies interested in Illinois' growing prominence in the quantum technology space are set to visit Chicago next week, from June 8-10. The delegation is being organized by the Japan External Trade Organization along with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Intersect Illinois, World Business Chicago, Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. THE BUZZ SUPREME NEWS: The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear Congressman Mike Bost's appeal over Illinois allowing mail-in ballots to be counted 14 days after Election Day. In his 2022 lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections, Bost claimed counting ballots after the election violated federal election law. The case has been through the lower courts, which have ruled that the case lacks legal standing, but Bost appealed and now the nation's highest court has agreed to hear it later this year. Questionable outcome: 'It seems unlikely that the justices will deliver a definitive ruling,' writes POLITICO's legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein. 'Lower courts dismissed Bost's lawsuit, in part, on the grounds that the harm he expected to suffer from counting late-arriving ballots was too speculative to give him legal standing to sue.' Josh's full story is here. Staying optimistic: Bost praised the Supreme Court's decision. 'With the American people's confidence in our elections at a discouraging low point, it's more important than ever we work to restore their trust,' he said in a statement. 'A big part of that effort is ensuring all votes are tallied by Election Day, not days or weeks later.' If you are Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB At the Hyatt Regency Chicago at 11:30 a.m. to deliver brief remarks at the Chicago Chamber of Commerce annual meeting WHERE's BRANDON At City Hall at 10 a.m. for a weekly media availability — At the Hyatt at 11:45 a.m. for the Chamber meeting Where's Toni At Daley Plaza at 11 a.m. for the annual Live Healthy, Discover Nature event — At the Hyatt at noon for the Chamber meeting Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Junaid Ahmed is joining the Democratic race to replace Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th Congressional District. Ahmed will be a familiar name to voters in the suburban district, having run against Krishnamoorthi in 2022 — and garnered nearly 30 percent of the vote. 'I've spent my life rolling up my sleeves — volunteering after natural disasters, distributing food to families in need, organizing and fighting corporate greed. This community welcomed my family and lifted us up. I'll never forget that,' Ahmed said in a statement ahead of today's campaign launch. 'It's time we turn the page on the special interests who put profit over people. It's time we send a progressive fighter to Washington.' — In IL-09: Bushra Amiwala, who serves on the Skokie School Board, has launched her campaign for Congress for the seat now held by retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. 'This campaign is rooted in a belief I've held since the very first time I ran for office: Government should reflect the people it serves — in values, in vision and in voice,' said Amiwala, a Democrat who was the first Gen Z elected official in the country when she won her school board seat in 2019. — Krishnamoorthi's support: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has been endorsed for the U.S. Senate by Illinois AAPI Leaders, including state Sen. Ram Villivalam and state Reps. Janet Yang Rohr, Sharon Chung, Hoan Huynh and Kevin Olickal. The full list is here. — Stratton's support: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has won endorsements for the U.S. Senate from Lake County, including from Lake County Democrats Chair Lauren Beth Gash and Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart. The full list is here. — Republicans see Darin LaHood as 'best chance' for Senate flip in blue Illinois, by Washington Examiner's Rachel Schilke — Not running: State Rep. Anna Moeller has announced she won't seek the congressional seat that opened up with Krishnamoorthi running for the Senate. A Democrat, Moeller said she was 'honored by the encouragement' to try for the federal job. She'll seek reelection to her seat in the Illinois General Assembly. — In the state Senate: Rachel Ruttenberg is being endorsed by former state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg in her bid for the 9th District seat, which Schoenberg once represented. The seat is now held by state Sen. Laura Fine, who's running for Congress. THE STATEWIDES — Lawmakers OK new perks for manufacturers that stick with Illinois: 'Legislation passed over the weekend allows the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity to offer a tax credit of 3 percent to 7 percent for manufacturers who invest at least $10 million in upgrading or expanding their facilities,' by Crain's John Pletz. — Illinois to raze and redevelop some state-owned properties, including in Lincoln and Dwight, by Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore — Legislators left Springfield without funding public transit (for now). What that means for CTA, Metra, Pace: 'Service cuts are not slated to start until Covid-19 relief funding runs out in January, or even later into next year. That means there is still time for lawmakers to go back to Springfield to take another stab at passing legislation that would plug the budget gap,' by the Tribune's Talia Soglin and Jeremy Gorner. — A southern Illinois peach and apple farmer's uphill quest to feed poor families, and his own, by The New York Times' Elizabeth Williamson — Online wagering tax in perspective: The new tax on each wager will effectively put Illinois' tax for top operators on par with New York's 51 percent, reports Chris Altruda for InGame. — Amid challenge from banks, Illinois legislators move to delay ban on certain credit card fees, by the Tribune's Olivia Olander CHICAGO — ICE detains two in Pilsen without warrants, Ald. Sigcho-Lopez says, by the Sun-Times' Violet Miller — Energy Department cuts federal grants for Kraft Heinz and Diageo's Illinois projects, by the Sun-Times' Amy Yee — CTA launches annual 'Pride Train' to run on Red Line through June, by the Block Club's Jake Cox — Mayor's photographer fired after allegedly bringing gun on city property, by the Tribune's Alice Yin TAKING NAMES — Jerry Payonk is the new board chair of American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. In his day job, he's board chair at Clark Dietz and is an engineer specializing in traffic analysis and streetscape. Other officers include: Laura McGovern, Lou Gallucci, PJ Fitzpatrick and Amar Rajpurkar. Reader Digest We asked what national holiday you'd like to see created. Michael McAuliffe, a former state rep: 'I believe we have enough, but day after the Super Bowl would make sense.' Denise Barreto: 'Election Day needs to be a paid holiday.' Nick Boyle: 'Malcolm X Day.' Michael Burton: 'May Day to honor Chicago's Haymarket martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the eight-hour workday.' Burton's band sings about it. Michael Churchill: 'James Baldwin's birthday on Aug 2.' Dave Clarkin: 'Union Victory Day on April 9 to commemorate the day in 1865 when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.' Joshua Evans: 'National Disability Independence Day, which is an observed day but not a federal holiday.' Lucas Hawley: 'May 22, Harvey Milk's birthday.' Kevin Lampe: 'Election Day.' Barry McAnarney: 'Ethnic Pride day for all those who don't fall under St. Patrick's, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, etc. And for non-ethnics, Happy Festivus!' Ronald Micelotti: 'Opening day of baseball season for teams playing in the USA.' Marilynn Miller: 'The day women got the right to vote.' NEXT QUESTION: What's the one exercise you try to do every day? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have introduced the Wear Orange Resolution, designating June 6 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The resolution honors Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot dead in 2013, a week after she performed in President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Her family and friends started the Wear Orange movement to raise awareness about gun violence. — Congressman Danny Davis is urging the Trump administration to not dismantle the Job Corps. 'While the Job Corps program has not been perfect, it has trained millions of individuals who have gone on to secure jobs in high-demand industries and trades,' he said in a statement. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Insurers, states warn of Obamacare chaos due to GOP megabill, by POLITICO's Robert King — Cuomo, reportedly under probe by Trump's DOJ, wants to organize Dems nationally, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg — White House vows no Medicaid cuts — except to those who don't deserve it, by POLITICO's Adam Cancryn and Jake Traylor EVENTS — Wednesday: Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski headlines a panel discussion on 'how best to promote a policy agenda for today's working class.' Sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Details here — Thursday: The West Side United Annual Community Convening will be held. Details here TRIVIA MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Mary Kay Minaghan for correctly answering that Ernie Terrell was a boxer who lost to Muhammad Ali before he ran for alderman. TODAY's QUESTION: Keeping the boxer theme: Who was the Golden Gloves champion who was elected alderman? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY State Sen. Jason Plummer, Ald. Derrick Curtis, Faegre Drinker Director Brad Tietz, Future Founders CEO Scott Issen, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies Executive VP Patrick Martin, Playbooker Cindy Lynch, Tribune reporter Christy Gutowski and Crain's group publisher Jim Kirk -30-
Reuters
04-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
With Trump's tariffs, Illinois farmers worry about losing corn sales to Mexico
JACKSONVILLE, Illinois, March 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports from Mexico carry an outsized risk for farmers in Jacksonville, Illinois, as retaliation by Mexico could prompt corn buyers in that country to turn to rival growers in South America. Mexico, the world's top corn importer, is a crucial market for U.S. farmers, at a time when grain prices have slumped and costs are rising for seeds and chemicals needed to produce crops Farmers around Jacksonville, a city of about 17,000 people, benefit more than most from Mexican demand. They live near a grain facility that loads corn onto railcars before it travels more than 1,000 miles to livestock producers south of the border. The farmers drive from up to 60 miles away to make sales to the facility owned by privately held crop handler Bartlett, which growers said often pays higher prices for their harvests than other buyers do. Trump's new 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada have fed fears Mexico may respond with duties that could reduce its demand for American goods, such as corn. China already retaliated on Tuesday against fresh U.S. tariffs, with hikes to import levies covering $21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products. Lower grain prices from reduced shipments to Mexico threaten all U.S. farmers, though those in Illinois would be hit particularly hard. About 60% of all corn exports to Mexico were by train last year, and 40% of those train movements originated in Illinois, according to U.S. government data. "We need their markets and I hope that they need us, but it's a competitive world," said Marty Marr, 70, who farms with his sons and plans to plant corn on about 2,000 acres near Jacksonville this spring. Marr said he worries that tit-for-tat tariffs may prompt Mexico to buy more corn from South American suppliers and less from the U.S. That would be painful. About 36% of total U.S. corn export commitments are for sales to Mexico in the marketing year that ends in August, U.S. government export sales data show. "It's so important that we maintain good relations with them," Marr said. Trump's trade policies and tariffs on China during his first term damaged American farm sales. U.S. farmers never fully recovered the market share they lost for soybean exports when China focused tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods in retaliation for Trump's levies. Illinois is a top supplier of U.S. corn to Mexico because it is the No. 2 corn producing state, and a rail hub in Chicago connects farmers to buyers south of the border. Overall, about a third of the corn grown in Illinois is exported, said Collin Watters, director of exports and logistics for the Illinois Corn Growers Association. By contrast, top producer Iowa exports about 15% of its corn, according to the Iowa Corn Growers Association. "The direct rail access into Mexico, it's a real advantage for us," Watters said. "But the flipside is that there's a lot of uncertainty right now." Jacksonville farmer Dale Hadden, 61, sells corn to Bartlett during the autumn harvest, when growing supplies generally pressure prices. Bartlett often offers higher prices than other handlers for its purchases to supply Mexico on the Kansas City Southern railway, he said. "They have the best bid," Hadden said. Bartlett employees declined to comment at their South Jacksonville facility, where railcars were parked on tracks in a long line. The company's website says it is a leading U.S. exporter of grain to Mexico. Less than 10 minutes away by car, shoppers in downtown Jacksonville could hear train whistles blowing while they browsed at clothing and record stores around a historic square with a towering Civil War monument. Residents of the 200-year-old city said they are worried that tariffs on Mexico and Canada will raise prices for goods sold in the U.S. Still, they said Trump should have time to pursue his plans. About 65% of voters in Jacksonville's county chose Trump in the 2024 election. "He's trying things that have been very unorthodox but at least he's not in the same rut doing what everybody is telling him to do," said Sue Fox, 68, who supported Trump and runs Times Square Sewing Complex in Jacksonville. Many farmers said they want to avoid the type of extended trade disruptions that led Trump to pay them billions of dollars in aid to offset lost exports to China during his first term. "That is absolutely not what the farmers want," said Dan Newton, 64, a farm manager in Jacksonville.
