THE ILLINOIZE: House GOP to propose inflation tax credit...Gryder considering run for congress...Pekau officially in 6th district race...Zalewski's new podcast...Manzullo on civility
November 23, 2021
Good morning, everyone.
Thursday is Thanksgiving. While it is our yearly opportunity to take stock in the blessings we have in the world, I’m feeling a little more sentimental this year.
Yesterday, my wife (many of you Springfield-area folks would know her as Katie Heinz who reported at WICS from 2008-2013) hit 40 weeks in pregnancy, meaning we’re expecting our first child literally any day. Add that on to turning 38 today, and I’m kind of feeling the enormity of what’s happening in life.
You know, I shouldn’t be here. It’s a serendipitous situation for a guy who got lucky to get out of a circle of poverty and dysfunction.
Sitting here in my townhouse in one of Chicago’s “nice” suburbs with a pregnant wife sitting on the other end of the couch and readers all over the state who care (or at least, pretend to care) about what I have to say is a reminder that the world works in mysterious ways.
I have no clue how to be a dad. I suppose I can figure out how to change a diaper or warm a bottle, but how do I know how to provide the love and support that a real human requires? I honestly don’t know.
I’m hoping for some more good luck to figure it all out.
Lord knows I’ll need it.
More on our plans for December below, but I hope you’ll help out the diaper fund by joining us as a paid subscriber. It’s $7.99 per month or $75 per year and you can become one of our insiders. Click below.
Let’s get to it.
HOUSE GOP TO PROPOSE INFLATION TAX CREDIT
House Republicans will propose a tax credit later this morning to help battle rising costs due to inflation.
Sources tell us the credit, which would probably have to pass quickly in January if you want to claim it on your April 15, 2022 taxes, would focus on helping families and individuals to help manage rising costs of everyday life due to inflation. I couldn’t get anyone to share details of the proposal or how much the credit may be, but the IRS increased the standard deduction claimed by most Americans by $800 for married couples or $400 for single people in 2022, which would be claimed in 2023.
Inflation nationwide is around 6% over the past year, compared to a little over 1% in calendar year 2020. Broadly, because I barely passed Econ 101, inflation is the rate at which the value of the dollar is falling, which drives up the price of goods and services.
It doesn’t appear at this point that Republicans will ask the legislature to cut the income tax rate or to freeze property taxes.
The legislature isn’t scheduled to return until early January and House Democrats haven’t seemed super excited about moving key Republican policy initiatives, so we’ll see if they get a hearing on the bill.
Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), who has statewide ambitions, and Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville), who is said to be on short lists as a GOP candidate for Lt. Governor, are holding the Zoom news conference this morning at 10:30. We’ll post a story on the website.
KENDALL CO. CHAIR GRYDER CONSIDERING UNDERWOOD CHALLENGE
After conservative radio host Mike Koolidge announced he is challenging Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville), more candidates and potential candidates are starting to emerge.
One is Kendall County Board Chairman Scott Gryder, a Republican from Oswego, who has been chairman since 2012. Gryder is President and General Counsel for a Chicago-based commercial and residential land title service and sought the appointment earlier this year to become chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.
Gryder confirmed to me last night he’s considering the race after being encouraged to run by some local Republicans and business owners. He calls himself a “pro-growth Republican who is tired of the nonsense in D.C., Springfield. and Chicago.”
Gryder says he’ll make a decision over the holidays.
Another Republican candidate in the 14th district race is retired Army Major Mike Pierce of Naperville. He has a PhD and has been working as an analyst with government personnel serving overseas.
FIREBRAND ORLAND PARK MAYOR DECLARES IN 6TH
We told you about this last week, but controversial Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau officially entered the 6th congressional district race yesterday.
Pekau, a Republican, has drawn significant criticism (and praise, depending on what circle you’re in) for his hard charging actions against Governor JB Pritzker’s emergency pandemic measures, mask mandates, and school closures. He was criticized spending $70,000 of taxpayer money for defending lawsuits against the Pritzker administration.
Pekau, 55, owned a landscape company and works for a management consulting firm. He was a decorated Air Force Captain who served in Operation Desert Storm. He was elected Mayor of Orland Park in 2017 and re-elected earlier this year.
If he wins the nomination, he would likely face a Democratic incumbent. Congressman Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) and Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-LaGrange) are expected to face off for the Democratic nomination.
More from the Chicago Sun-Times:
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times — and foreshadowing a campaign theme — he framed both Casten, from Downers Grove, and Newman, from LaGrange, as holding “radical left positions.”
Democrats, in control of redistricting in Illinois, designed the new 6th to be a Democratic district. Biden won the new 6th in 2020 with 10.8% of the vote.
Asked about recent House votes, Pekau said he would have voted against the infrastructure bill Biden signed into law last week.
He also would have not supported Biden’s “Build Back Better” climate change and social spending measure passed several days ago, facing an uncertain fate in the Senate.
Newman and Casten were champions of the infrastructure bill, and Pekau’s lack of support for it could emerge as an issue.
Newman said in a statement, “Though Mayor Pekau and I may be on different sides of the aisle, I have worked closely with the Village of Orland Park to secure funding for much needed local infrastructure improvements.”
Casten communications director Jacob Vurpillat said, “Pekau is anti-mask, anti-union, anti-vaccine and anti-science. In Congress, Sean is committed to protecting our environment, expanding access to quality health care, and creating economic opportunity for all.”
I’m told there are a couple of moderate-leaning Republicans considering the 6th district race, but don’t have any names to share with you at this point. We’ll keep on it.
ZALEWSKI’S PODCAST IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Our kudos to Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) on his new podcast “Have All Voted Who Wish?”
He sat down with Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) in a fun back and forth between two guys who don’t agree on a bunch of stuff. He also had an enlightening conversation with Democratic consultant Tom Bowen.
Check it out, download it, subscribe to it, etc.
MANZULLO: “CIVILITY NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT AND RETAUGHT”
In the spirit of the season, here’s an op-ed from former Congressman Don Manzullo, who lost his seat a decade ago in Illinois’ last redistricting effort.
Manzullo writes in the Rockford Register-Star that those of us who can actually discuss politics with each other without it devolving into a twitter flame war have to set the tone for the rest of our parties, state, and country.
America has always had issues with civility. The 1800 election of incumbent John Adams and challenger Thomas Jefferson has been referred to as one of the nastiest presidential campaigns in our history.
Abraham Lincoln and his running mate Andrew Johnson in the 1864 election received this missile from Manton Marble in his New York World: “The age of statesmanship is gone. The age of rail-splitters and tailors, of buffoons, boors and fanatics has succeeded.”
Lack of civility today is, in my opinion, very high, perhaps not as high that caused the Civil War, but it is still very present. Regardless of the era in American life, including today, the principles of civility need to be taught and retaught to every generation.
We have seemingly eroded from referring to someone as “my worthy opponent.”
A particular issue is now often referenced in pejorative-laced expletives attacking the individual or characterizing that issue with names that unfortunately today have become acceptable even though vulgar, rude and offensive.
We are all challenged by the age-old scriptures and other sources that say, “As far as it depends on you, be at peace with everybody,” and “A soft answer turns away wrath.” We all fall short, but we have to realize that lowering the temperature is a life-long process — for the individual and our nation.
We can all do our part to do better.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
This is likely the last newsletter you’ll see from me this year. Unless anything significant breaks this afternoon or overnight, we won’t send a newsletter out the rest of the week as things slow down for the Thanksgiving holiday.
By next Monday, this little freeloader in my wife’s belly will likely be here. I’m not going to take the entire month of December off, but I want to take a step back from the late nights of writing and digging through things.
So, here’s the plan: our friend Ben Garbarek, a suburban native and former political reporter for WSYX-TV in Columbus, OH, who moved back here last year, will take over the Free for All posts. (Be nice to him and send him your tips and links at ben@theillinoize.com.)
We have a great list of guest hosts confirmed for you for our main newsletters, including Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea, Illinois Policy Institute President Matt Paprocki, former Democratic Congressman Bill Enyart, former Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady, talk show host Jim Leach, and others.
Free for All e-mails will go out on Mondays and Wednesdays. Newsletters will go out to everyone on Tuesday and Thursday. We’ll skip Fridays in December unless something crazy happens.
Our goal isn’t to subscribe to anybody’s ideas or policies, but to give you a variety of liberal and conservative voices. We all get smarter when we talk with (or read from) people who disagree with us.
I hope you enjoy. I’ll still be around, working, reporting for the site and newsletter, but just trying to manage The Illinoize and my PR business in fewer than 18 hours a day.
As always, reach out anytime at patrick@theillinoize.com. I may be delayed getting back to you, but I’ll get back to you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
Today- Congressman Bobby Rush (75), Congressman Sean Casten (50)
Thursday- Former Rep. and Judge Kent Slater
Friday- Senate President Don Harmon (55), former Rep. Lou Lang, PR guru Ryan McLaughlin
Saturday- Former Urbana City Council member and former state Senate candidate (the other) Michael Madigan
Sunday- Longtime Senate GOP spokesperson and great human Patty Schuh
Monday- former Congressman, White House Chief of Staff, Chicago Mayor, and current nominee for US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
ONE LAST THING…