Latest news with #IllinoisFreedomCaucus
Axios
4 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Illinois governor escalates redistricting showdown with Trump and Texas
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker hosted Texas state legislators on Friday, offering up a strong signal that state Democrats are ready to fight Republican redistricting efforts in the U.S. House. The big picture: President Trump has said he wants Texas Republicans to redistrict their congressional maps to squeeze at least five more GOP seats in the midterm. That announcement was countered by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who threatened to do the same in his state for Democrats. The latest: Now, Pritzker has entered the fray. How it works: States redraw the maps based on new population counts from the census at the beginning of each decade. Democrats have controlled Illinois congressional district maps for decades, and Republicans have long argued that the maps amount to political gerrymandering. The 2021 map snatched two seats from Republicans, giving Democrats control of 14 of Illinois' 17 districts. Zoom out: Pritzker said he wants Texas Republicans to be "fair" in the redistricting process, infuriating local Republicans who have cried foul against Pritzker and Illinois Democrats for redistricting maps to favor their party. "These state Democrats have the morals of a tomcat," Illinois Freedom Caucus Chair Chris Miller tells Axios. "They will lie to the public, just like the last map that they drew. They said it was the fairest map that's ever been drawn in Illinois. It's laughable." Between the lines: If Pritzker chooses to counter Trump and Texas Republicans, there is nothing in the state constitution that would stop him from doing it. Even though the U.S. Constitution calls for the census to inform congressional districts once every 10 years, that doesn't stop states from mid-decade adjustments. In California, voters would have to approve any redistricted maps. That's not the case in Illinois, although any unprecedented move would probably end up in court. Reality check: Pritzker can't increase how many seats the state has in the House, and it would be difficult to redraw districts in a way to make more seats safe for Democrats. Also, it's only three districts, not enough to counter Texas and Trump's plans alone. Yes, but: With supermajorities in both chambers, it wouldn't take long for Illinois to act, even as early as this year, before the 2026 midterm elections. The intrigue: higher offices or retire, which could make it easier for the legislature to squeeze more seats.
Politico
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
A Springfield ‘publicity stunt'
Presented by Good Thursday morning, Illinois. Enjoy the sunshine and our Playbook. TOP TALKER Kristi Noem created a firestorm in Springfield on Wednesday by invoking the name of Emma Shafer to criticize the Pritzker administration on the issue of immigration. The attention-grabbing event backfired when the parents of Shafer, who was stabbed to death in her home, condemned the Department of Homeland Security secretary for advancing 'a cruel and heartless political agenda,' according to a statement sent via the governor's office. Standing with Noem were Republican legislators, members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus and families of victims of crimes allegedly committed by noncitizens. The point of the media event was to criticize Gov. JB Pritzker for following Illinois' sanctuary status law that limits local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officials. The law doesn't stop federal officials from doing their job. 'Where's the compassion for Emma who died on this street and her killer is still roaming free,' Noem said, criticizing that the suspect is still on the run for her murder. 'For two years, JB Pritzker has protected individuals like that so that he can stand up and say that he's a sanctuary city in a sanctuary state,' Noem said. Here's the video Pritzker responded, calling Noem's visit a 'Trump-Noem publicity stunt,' according to a statement. Noem's visit also drew scrutiny from Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, who wrote a letter to Noem requesting 'a full accounting' of her 'taxpayer funded travel' for the 26-minute media event. Here's her letter. RELATED Noem visit sets off a war of words with Illinois Democrats, illustrating the stark partisan divide over immigration, by the Tribune's Jeremy Gorner New study suggests insuring immigrants in Illinois gives hospitals a financial lift: 'The findings come as Illinois lawmakers negotiate a budget that cuts health insurance for more than 30,000 people without legal status,' by WBEZ's Kristen Schorsch. A Trump administration effort to deport immigrants to Libya would 'clearly violate' court order, judge says, by POLITICO's Myah Ward, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein THE BUZZ MAYOR's BIG WIN: The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson's 'Green Social Housing' plan, a $135 million effort to boost affordable housing construction through low-interest city loans. The 30-18 vote marks one of Johnson's first major victories in accomplishing his progressive agenda — a talking point he will surely use in any future campaign event. 'At a time when federal funds for housing are uncertain, we continue to develop tools to make Chicago the safest and most affordable big city in America,' Johnson said in a statement after the vote. The plan sets up a revolving loan fund to help developers build more affordable units, with loans repaid in three to five years. The city expects to create around 120 affordable units annually. During the course of the debate about the plan, some Council members worried it doesn't go far enough or won't benefit underserved neighborhoods. Others raised concerns about oversight. 'Finance Committee Chair Pat Dowell (3rd) has been dead-set against mayor's plan because the financing structure — 70% of the units would be market rate and 30% would be affordable — means that the new housing would be built in 'affluent' neighborhoods — virtually bypassing, for at least a decade, 'marginalized' African-American communities that need the most help,' writes the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. Johnson will likely point to the plan as evidence he is delivering on his agenda, the Tribune's Jake Sheridan reports. If you are Pat Dowell, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB No official public events WHERE's BRANDON At 7901 South Exchange Avenue at 10 a.m. for the Thrive Exchange topping off ceremony Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — Congresswoman Lauren Underwood teased a potential run for Sen. Dick Durbin's seat: 'I don't have an answer today. ... I am certainly taking a look,' she said in a wide-ranging interview about immigration, Joe Biden and the 2024 election on CNN. The full interview is here. — Rachel Ruttenberg is running for the 9th District Illinois state Senate now held by state Sen. Laura Fine, who is making a bid for Congress. Ruttenberg, the former deputy chief of staff on policy for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, is deputy committeeperson for the Evanston Democratic Party. 'Our state and our communities face real obstacles, unlike any we have seen in our country's history,' she said in a statement announcing her bid. 'We must work toward making our communities more affordable, strengthening our schools and healthcare systems, and protecting our constitutional and civil rights.' — JB Pritzker, aka Coconutbigboy, is ready to be memed: 'The Illinois governor is subtly embracing his online persona as Genghis Khan,' by the Bulwark's Lauren Egan THE STATEWIDES — Illinois regains access to $77M in federal education funds following judge's order: 'Judge blocks Trump administration order cutting off access to pandemic relief money,' by Capitol News' Peter Hancock. — Beyond the bus: A group of advocates, parents and community leaders have launched STEER (Student Transportation & Education Equity Roundtable), which is dedicated to ensuring school kids have transportation beyond traditional school buses to get to school. The group kicked off its effort in Illinois, which has seen bus-driver shortages, routes that have been cut and accessibility barriers, according to organizers. The group is supporting a pilot program being considered in Springfield that would allow school districts to partner with third-party transportation providers. — Rideshare drivers from across the state gathered at the Howlett Secretary of State Building in Springfield on Wednesday to call on state lawmakers to support upcoming legislation that grants app-based drivers the right to collectively bargain under the union of their choice. — Illinois fixing physician shortage by changing foreign-trained doctor licensing, by Illinois Policy's Chris Coffey CHICAGO — There's a move to allow CPS chief to lead without required license — which would allow mayor's chief of staff to serve in the role: 'If approved, the appointment would be a major shift in Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration and elicit strong reaction from critics of the mayor and his strongest ally, the Chicago Teachers Union,' by the Tribune's Nell Salzman and Alice Yin. — Former CPS principal who admitted stealing $300K found dead ahead of sentencing, by the Sun-Times' Jon Seidel and Cindy Hernandez — Amid budget tensions, Council members push to bring some sunshine to city spending: 'Other big city governments have robust watchdogs, paid for by taxpayers, to analyze city budgets and financial deals. The City Council's anemic office could use some brawn, some alderpeople argue,' by Illinois Answers Project's Alex Nitkin. — APPOINTMENT: Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Francisco 'Frank' Velez to lead the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, according to the mayor's office. HIGHER-ED — Congressional Republicans accused of political witch hunt in antisemitism hearing involving DePaul president: 'University president Robert Manuel faced three hours of heated questions, while a civil rights lawyer compared a Washington hearing Wednesday to a long-discredited anti-communism campaign from the Cold War era,' by WBEZ's Lisa Kurian Philip. ANOTHER TAKE: DePaul president apologizes for antisemitism on campus at congressional hearing, by the Tribune's Ikram Mohamed — Penny Pritzker is at the center of the fight over Harvard, by The Wall Street Journal COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Cook County housing authority facing potential multimillion-dollar budget shortfall as agencies brace for funding cuts: 'The agency attributes the shortfall to an increase in its voucher usage rate and rising rents, which eat into its limited dollars allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,' by the Tribune's Lizzie Kane. — Incoming Hinsdale leader Greg Hart has good words about the village's leadership over the years, by Patch's David Giuliani — New Lisle mayor shakes up village leadership with appointments, by the Daily Herald's Katlyn Smith — Geneva mayor, council members take oaths of office, by Shaw Local's Brenda Schory SPOTTED — QUANTUM FUN: The Lincoln Forum hosted an event earlier this week on all things quantum including the story behind Gov. JB Pritzker placing his bets and muscle behind making Illinois a global destination for the industry. The panel was moderated by P33's Brad Henderson and panelists included Pritzker chief of staff Anne Caprara, Illinois quantum and microelectronics Park CEO Harley Johnson, Intersect Chief Quantum Officer Preeti Chalsani and DCEO director Kristin Richards. Some 250 people attended, including Lincoln Forum's Pat Brady and Tracy Slutzkin, SPAAN Tech's Smita Shah, Clayco's Michael Fassnacht, Civic Federation's Joe Ferguson, Amazon's Julian Federle, C-Strategies' Becky Carroll, Powers and Sons' Kelly Powers, PsiQuantum's Mo Green, Clayco's Lisa Dziekan, One Future Illinois' Jonathan Swain, Canadian Consulate's Cory Olishansky and Metro Edge's Craig Huffman. Reader Digest We asked what movies you know by heart. Lissa Druss: 'Airplane.' Marty Green: 'Lots of good leadership quotes in 'Patton,' including 'I don't like paying for the same real estate twice.'' Lucas Hawley: 'The Big Lebowski.' Favorite line: 'You know man, that is just like your opinion!' Mark Heffington: 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Bob Kieckhefer: 'National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation.' Favorite line: 'This bread puddin' is extra runny tonight!' by Cousin Eddie. Shayna Jaskolka: 'Wicked.' Charles Keller: 'Idiocracy.' Kevin Lampe: 'The Candidate.' Russell Lissau: 'Rounders.' Jim Lyons: 'Slap Shot.' Kathy Posner: 'The Jerk' with Steve Martin. Favorite line: 'The new phone book's here. The new phone book's here! I'm somebody now!' Timothy Powell: 'I can quote the entire script for Woody Allen's 'What's Up, Tiger Lily?'' Bill Roberts: ''The Godfather' including the line, 'leave the gun, take the cannoli.'' Mike Stephenson: 'Caddyshack.' Alison Pure-Slovin: 'Princess Bride.' Peter Skosey: ''Shrek,' from watching with my daughter over 20 years ago.' Timothy Thomas: ''Julius Caesar' (1953 version with Marlon Brando) and Scarface (Al Pacino version).' Peggy Tolleson: ''The Wizard of Oz.' There truly is no place like home!' Judith Weinstein: 'Elf.' Corrine Ann Williams: 'Titanic.' Notable line: 'You jump. I jump. Right?' Brent Zhorne: 'The Blues Brothers. Only seen the movie about 350 times.' Favorite lines: 'Are you the police? No ma'am. We're musicians.' NEXT QUESTION: If you had to run for office, what would your totally unserious campaign slogan be? THE NATIONAL TAKE — Trump says 'full and comprehensive' U.K. trade deal coming Thursday, by POLITICO's Matt Honeycombe-Foster — Republicans miffed with Trump's threats to ignore funding, by POLITICO's Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus TRANSITIONS — Adam Chilton has been appointed dean of the University of Chicago Law School effective July 1. He is the Howard G. Krane professor of law and the Walter Mander research scholar at the university's law school, according to the announcement. — Ray Hanania is retiring this week from the town of Cicero, where he's served as spokesman for the past 15 years. Bianca Yarborough is now communications director. — Richard Kienzler has rejoined the Littler law firm as a shareholder attorney in its Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group in Chicago. He was general counsel at RHM Staffing Solutions but before that worked at Littler. EVENTS — May 20: One Aim Illinois is bringing together advocates, survivors and community leaders in Springfield to advocate for gun-violence prevention legislation. Advocacy Day sign-up here — May 20: The Wally's Caucus is hosting a happy hour at Boones. The group is composed of anyone who likes the super-sized convenience store and gas station in Pontiac, and the event is sponsored by the Illinois Fuel & Retail Association. Details here TRIVIA WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Abdon Pallasch for correctly answering that Ernest Hemingway was born in the Oak Park neighborhood of Cicero Township, which later became the Village of Oak Park, allowing both towns the right to claim him. TODAY's QUESTION: When did the U.S. Population Center jump the Mississippi from Illinois to Missouri? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ald. Bill Conway, former state Sen. Heather Steans, former state Rep. Roger Eddy, Brookings Institution senior fellow MarySue Barrett, University of Chicago Associate VP of comms Jeremy Manier and restaurateur Ron Onesti -30-
