THE ILLINOIZE: Ethics reform (finally) moving...Bill to gamble on Illinois college games "doable"...State can't afford Bears stadium in burbs...LaSalle Vets' Home inquiry...(Not that) Daley indicted

April 30, 2021

Good morning.

We’re on the doorstep of May. So, strap in and get ready for the most intense 31 days in Illinois politics. Another pandemic budget, ethics reform (more on that coming up), gaming reform, gaming, redistricting, and more all have to get settled before May 31, especially if Democrats plan to do it without Republican votes.

So, don’t forget, beginning next week, we’re moving to a paid subscription model. Subscribers will get three newsletters per week, breaking news alerts, video exclusives, my eternal gratefulness, and more fun stuff as we go on. A subscription is only $7.99 per month and $75 for a year. I hope you’ll join us. Click here.

(If you have a group of multiple addresses, we’ll cut you a deal or want to talk through any questions or options, just drop me a note at patrick@theillinoize.com.)

Let’s get to it.

ETHICS PACKAGE COMING SOON

I’m told a long-awaited ethics reform will begin making its way through the Senate next week.

In a new story this morning, we have more on the measure, sponsored by Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) focuses on three main things: a “cooling off” or “revolving door” period for legislators before they can become lobbyists, banning sitting legislators from registering as lobbyists of another government body, and strengthening the state’s financial disclosure filings.

You see the picture above of former Rep. Luis Arroyo, who was indicted for trying to bribe a sitting Senator while he was registered to lobby the Chicago City Council.

Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) the top Senate Republican negotiating the package says Democrats have left some loopholes in the bill, like one that would potentially allow a legislator to resign a day or two before their term ends and start lobbying immediately after.

“It’s a pretty blatant and glaring loophole,:” he said.

Democrats are expected to add another amendment to the bill before a full vote, but we don’t know everything that will be included.

Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) says many members want the state’s current ineffective economic interest statements clarified.

“What you hear from members a lot is that it’s difficult to understand what exactly is being asked for,” she said. “So, I think most people would welcome a plain English explanation of what needs to be disclosed in these statements.”

Listen, there are a lot of legislators who become lobbyists. That isn’t inherently bad. As someone who has been a registered lobbyist in his career, I’ll defend the need for lobbyists. There are a lot of really good ones and there are some I wouldn’t trust to babysit Rod Blagojevich. But cleaning up the playing field helps everyone.

ILLINOIS COLLEGE SPORTS BETTING LEGISLATION “DOABLE”

When the legislature enacted online sports gaming in 2019, and when it launched in 2020, one of the most notable restricts prevented betting on college teams from Illinois.

Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) is renewing his push to include Illinois schools in sports betting, despite the objections of every Division I athletic director in the state.

A House Committee this week heard from University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman, who remains adamantly objected to the idea.

“[There is a] growing concern around the physical and, in particular, the mental health and wellbeing of our student athletes,” he said, referring in part to abusive and racist tweets sent to Illinois basketball player Kofi Cockburn earlier this year. “The commentary is vile, abusive, it’s threatening, and, in some cases, it directly references gambling losses. I think we can all appreciate if they’re that angry without discussion about gambling, if you insert the possibility that someone may have lost $100, or $500, or $1,000 on a bet, that narrative is only going to intensify.”

I asked Zalewski yesterday afternoon if he believed the bill could pass amid high profile objection.

“I do, yes,” he said.

Expect a lot more on this topic between now and the end of May.

PAYING FOR A SUBURBAN BEARS STADIUM

Surely you’ve seen the stories this week of how the Chicago Bears are interested, at least, in building a stadium on the site of the current Arlington Park racetrack, which is expected to close and be sold at the end of the 2021 season.

I had two immediate thoughts when I saw this: it would be way easier to get to a Bears game by taking the Metra for three stops than trying to get to Soldier Field (where there isn’t an easy way in from anywhere.) The second was: wait, who’s gonna pay for that?

That’s the subject of my opinion piece on the website now.

The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority issued nearly $400 million in debt for the 2003 Soldier Field renovation project, and, according to a 2019 report from the agency, has barely paid off the interest on the project in 20 years. The Sports Facilities Authority is mostly paid for by hotel lodging taxes in Chicago, but the city of Chicago and state government are each expected to pay $5 million per year to the agency.

But, get this. Over the last few years, state taxpayers have sent over $65 million each year to fund the Sports Facilities Authority. A state budget report explained the expenditure was for “funding for ISFA’s operations, stadium insurance and maintenance, capital improvements, and $46.6 million for fiscal year 2021 debt service payments.”

With the gigantic drop in hotel tax revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and outstanding debt, you’re already on the hook for Soldier Field, and could be on the hook for more.

LEGISLATURE LAUNCHES LaSALLE INQUIRY

In a move that probably should have happened months ago, and I’m sure to the chagrin of the Governor’s office, the House has instructed the Illinois Auditor General’s office to investigate the deaths of 36 residents in a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.

The Governor’s office had refused an Auditor General’s investigation, claiming an investigation from the Department of Human Services was sufficient. Of course, DHS is under the Governor’s purview and many Republicans and a few Democrats we have spoken with have questioned whether the investigation would really be independent.

The resolution was introduced by Rep. David Welter (R-Morris), who doesn’t even represent the facility. That would be Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa). The resolution passed 111-0.

PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON INDCITED

Chicago Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson, grandson of former Mayor Richard J. Daley and nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, was indicted by U.S. Attorney John Lausch yesterday.

First, to see any Daley get pinched is unbelievable to many of us.

Here’s what the Chicago Tribune’s ace reporters Jason Meisner and John Byrne wrote about it:

Thompson, who has served as 11th Ward alderman since 2015, was charged in a seven-count indictment with filing false tax returns and lying to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. officials about $219,000 in loans and other payments he’d received from Washington Federal Bank for Savings before it was shuttered in 2017.

Washington Federal collapsed in 2017, leading to federal charges against a number of the bank’s executives and former customers alleging a multiyear, $31 million embezzlement scheme that preceded the institution’s failure.

An arraignment date for Thompson has not been set.

In a statement released by his lawyer Thursday afternoon, Thompson said his “conscience was clear” and that he was guilty only of “inadvertent tax preparation errors.” He said he’d subsequently paid the back taxes owed and repaid the rest of the loan in question.

“I did not commit any crime, I am innocent, and I will prove it at trial,” the statement said. He also noted that the alleged offenses were committed before he became alderman.

Former alderman Ricardo Munoz was indicted yesterday, too.

CONDOLENCES

Our thoughts with the family of south suburban concrete businessman Marty Ozinga, who passed away this week. Ozinga ran for congress in 2008, losing to then-Sen. Debbie Halvorson. His son, Tim, is a freshman in the Illinois House.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday today to Congresswoman Robin Kelly and former State Sen. Chris Nybo.

Tomorrow, Sen. Jason Barickman celebrates number 4-6. Senate GOP staffer (who sits in my old office) and former WICS reporter Mike Brooks celebrates a birthday Sunday along with former State rep. Deb Graham. Former House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie celebrates Monday.

ONE LAST THING…

Please don’t forget to like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or send us an e-mail with whatever is on your mind to patrick@theillinoize.com. I’ll be back down in Springfield next week, so if you have any tips for where the bodies are buried, let me know.

And, as always, even if they only subscribe to our free version, we hope you’ll forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues with the button below.

And, don’t forget, our first paid subscriber edition of the newsletter will hit inboxes next Wednesday. You don’t want to miss the fun and excitement, do you? Subscribe now.

Have a great weekend, everyone.