THE ILLINOIZE: Digging into state revenue...Pacione-Zayas replacement...Campaign updates

July 11, 2023

Good morning, Illinois.

Northwestern canned football coach Pat Fitzgerald after a hazing scandal engulfed the program in recent days. The story was broken by Daily Northwestern student journalists (my Medill grad wife was very proud) and essentially turned the college football world upside down.

Gov. Pritzker (a Northwestern Law School alum) was asked about it yesterday before the firing and said those responsible should be held accountable. Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), who played college football at Illinois (Go Illini!) said he would be introducing a “Student Athlete Bill of Rights” bill in coming days.

Hazing, by the way, is illegal in Illinois, so while Fitzgerald has made some moves to contest the firing, he should be careful what he may say in public or in a deposition in the future. Fitzgerald announced last night he hired former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb as his attorney. Yikes.

Meanwhile, both Northwestern football fans out there are gutted. (zing)

There’s nothing on Governor Pritzker’s schedule today. The House and Senate don’t return until October.

Let me know what’s on your mind. Drop me a note anytime at patrick@theillinoize.com.

Let’s get to it.

STATE REVENUE PICTURE NOT AS ROSY AS PROJECTED

After the bipartisan, bicameral Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) last week released final revenue numbers for the fiscal year that concluded June 30th, many headlines focused on record revenues brought in to state coffers.