THE ILLINOIZE: Anti-vaxxers try to shut down Governor's event with disabled kids...Pritzker heads to Europe...Rosenthal to challenge McClure...Talkin' Maps...Five years since Game 7
November 2, 2021
Story time!
I’ve made my position pretty clear on vaccines and masks and not being a jerk to those around you over the past 14 months that I’ve been writing this newsletter. But, as much as I fake it, I don’t know everything. But, that’s why I trust the advice of my doctor.
Take the booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine. I received my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine back in April. I haven’t gotten sick, thank goodness, but I didn’t know if I needed the booster shot yet. I expected to need it at some point as boosters are pretty normal, like the flu shot we get every year.
So, instead of believing what people are saying on Facebook or Twitter or a QAnon message board, I asked my doctor. I have a great primary doctor at the Advocate office in Morton Grove, so I just dropped him a note on the portal asking what he thought I should do. He said it would be good to get it and that he already got his.
I’m getting my booster shot today.
The most frustrating part of this whole conundrum over vaccines is this: when did we stop trusting our doctors?
To be fair, I have a pretty healthy distrust of authority (just ask any boss I’ve ever worked for). But aren’t doctors the people we employ to give us the best medical advice advice possible?
I saw someone the other day try to argue that we’re all entitled to our opinion on vaccines. You’re entitled to your opinion on baseball teams (go Cubs), tacos (el pastor, please), or shoes (Allen Edmonds Strand). Facts aren’t opinions. Data isn’t an opinion. And believing Bernadette from Facebook over your doctor makes absolutely no sense to me.
Be smart and be safe.
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PS- it was five years ago today the greatest baseball game ever played was played on a rainy night in Cleveland. Some thoughts from Burt Constable of the Daily Herald.
Let’s get to it.
PRITZKER HECKLED, ANNOUNCES GUN RELATED EXECUTIVE ORDER
When Governor JB Pritzker took the stage yesterday at an outdoor event celebrating the groundbreaking of the new A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative in Burbank near Midway Airport, there was an interesting sound of hecklers in the background.
In a Facebook post by Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), he said the protestors were a group of supporters of gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia). Bailey has been outspoken in his criticism of Pritzker’s executive orders related to the pandemic and sued the Governor over his actions last year.
Zalewski wrote the protestors “loudly heckled, changed, and jeered during the entire program,” which included two special needs children.
Zalewski was, rightfully, frustrated with the group.
“Today, a select few made it clear there’s nothing they won’t put their personal politics above,” he wrote. “And that’s saying a helluva lot.”
I haven’t been able to confirm if Bailey’s campaign was directly involved with organizing the protestors, but a vague tweet from Bailey’s campaign around the time of the event kind of erases the doubt.
Pritzker, meanwhile, issued an executive order Monday declaring gun violence a public health crisis in the state and said he would increase funding for violence-prevention programs in future state budgets.
“Gun violence is devastating communities, neighborhoods, blocks and families,” Pritzker said Monday. “Mothers, fathers, brothers, friends, are experiencing senseless tragedies in the deaths and serious injuries of their loved ones. This work is urgent.”
Pritzker said the current state budget includes $50 million in violence prevention programs and claims he wants another $100 million each of the next two years.
Meanwhile, the City of Chicago has reported 675 murders so far this year.
It almost feels like politicians aren’t doing enough to address the real problems impacting gun crimes around the state.
PRITZKER HEADS TO EUROPE
Governor JB Pritzker and his team are heading to Europe later today to take part in a weeklong trip to participate in the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
What’s on his agenda? Who’s paying for the trip? Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business has more:
Pritzker leaves [today] after a reception at the Field Museum [last night] thrown by the British Consulate in Chicago. He’ll be accompanied on the trip by Chief of Staff Anne Caprara, Deputy Govs. Andy Manar and Christian Mitchell, First Assistant Deputy Gov. Christy George and Deputy Policy Director Jessica Himes.
The Legislature’s top two officials, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch,” also will be headed east. But no Republicans or business leaders, according to what I’m told.
The crew's first stop will be in London, where Pritzker will hold “one-on-one meetings with CEOs and senior sustainability officials,” according to his office, most of them “to encourage collaboration and investments in Illinois’ green energy economy.” Exactly who is involved has not been disclosed, but Pritzker’s office does say it includes “energy startups and automotive companies.”
Pritzker also is to deliver a speech to the Center for Climate & Energy Solutions on Sunday and attend the U.N.’s Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, about an hour’s plane flight north of London.
Who’s paying? According to a spokeswoman, Pritzker himself will pay all costs of his travel. Staff airfare will be paid by Intersect Illinois, a private/public group that acts as the state’s corporate recruitment arm, with the state (taxpayers) picking up staff lodging costs.
The sort of trips aren’t anything new…many governors take them…governors of both parties. Though, many previous trips have focused on trade and less on climate change and direct appeals to CEO’s.
ROSENTHAL PLANNING TO PRIMARY McCLURE
Subscribers got a heads up on this story yesterday, but I spoke to Rosenthal last night, so there’s something new here.
Former GOP State Rep. Wayne Rosenthal tells me he will run for State Senate next year. If the current map holds up, that means he’ll be in a primary with incumbent Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) in the new 54th district in the next June’s primary.
Rosenthal was State Representative from Morrisonville from 2011-2015 and left the General Assembly to serve as then Governor Bruce Rauner’s Director of the Department of Natural Resources.
He’s a former Brigadier General in the Illinois National Guard.
Rosenthal told me last night he wants to see what sort of changes Republicans and other plaintiffs in the legislative map lawsuit propose. Those submissions are due November 8th. McClure is expected to announce his run for re-election this week. He told me yesterday afternoon he’s not focused on anyone else.
The new 54th district eliminates most of Springfield from McClure’s current 50th district. It includes western Sangamon County, Menard County, Montgomery County, then shoots east picking up Taylorville, Shelbyville, Effingham, and parts of Decatur.
Rosenthal says he’s not specifically targeting McClure.
“The way the map looks now, once Darren Bailey leaves, there won’t be any ag interests in the Senate Republican caucus,” said Rosenthal, a farmer. “This is an ag district, and I believe it needs ag representation.”
Rosenthal is 71 (McClure is 37, by the way), and he wasn’t really a prolific fundraiser when he ran in 2010, 2012, and 2014. But McClure only had about $68,000 cash on hand when the third quarter ended. Rosenthal remains close with Rauner, but he says he hasn’t discussed the race with the multi-millionaire former Governor and hasn’t discussed campaign contributions with him.
TALKIN’ MAPS
We sat down over Zoom with the great Rick Pearson of the Chicago Tribune to discuss the new congressional district maps, the potential Marie Newman/Sean Casten primary, Adam Kinzinger’s exit, and the ongoing fight over legislative maps.
Click here to watch our conversation!
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to my good friend Gordy Hulten, who has been named the new Chief Operating Officer at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. As part of the new role, he’ll be overseeing IMA’s government relations efforts. A great guy, a great friend, and one of the most talented dudes I know.
CONDOLENCES
Our thoughts with the family of former State Representative Naomi Jakobsson from Urbana, who lost her husband, Dr. Eric Jakobsson, Thursday after a battle with cancer. He recently served on the Urbana City Council and was a longtime professor and researcher at the University of Illinois.
BEFORE WE GO…
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Have a great day.