THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...Madigan case fallout...Gas tax increases today...Idiots protest outside of Schneider's house in the middle of the night
July 1, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
Rabbit, rabbit.
Happy Independence Day week. We’re expecting it to be pretty slow around these parts, so our intention is to take the rest of the week off. Obviously, if something big happens, we’ll be in your inboxes.
There’s nothing on Governor Pritzker’s public schedule today.
Enjoy our cookouts and fireworks and American flag tank tops. We’ll see you next week.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
Fallout from Supreme Court ruling just beginning in Michael Madigan racketeering case (Chicago Tribune)
The federal judge in the racketeering case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan hinted Thursday that prosecutors may have to significantly alter their game plan if they want to proceed, given this week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that walks back a key bribery statute contained in Madigan’s indictment.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Wednesday that the bribery statute commonly known as 666, which is its number in the federal criminal code, applies only to quid pro quo agreements and does not include “gratuities,” meaning rewards given to elected officials after the fact.
The fallout from the ruling will be particularly acute in Chicago, where federal prosecutors have used the 666 law for years to bring political corruption indictments, including Madigan’s, where it makes up five of the 23 overall counts charged against the longtime speaker of the House.
In a minute order posted to the docket Thursday, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey ordered both sides to meet and confer on the issues — including whether they should proceed with pending motions to dismiss and if the U.S. attorney’s office will seek a superseding indictment — and report back to him by July 8.
There has been no indication that prosecutors will simply drop all the charges against Madigan, and prosecutors have previously said they are willing to forgo any arguments to jurors that the benefits provided to Madigan were gratuities.
Among other options would be for federal prosecutors to trim the indictment down to allegations that do not involve the 666 statute or for them to find a way to use different federal statutes to charge the same conduct.
Madigan, 82, who led the state Democratic Party for more than two decades and served a record 36 years as the leader of the House was charged in March 2022 with participating in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 aimed at using the power of his public office for personal and political gain.
Related: Editorial: What Chicago has at stake in SCOTUS ruling on political gifts (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Opinion: Corruption cases like Ed Burke's can spark ethics reforms. Let's get to it, Chicago. (Chicago Sun-Times)
Opinion: High court's bribery ruling puts grifters in the catbird's seat (Champaign News-Gazette)
Ex-Ald. Edward M. Burke used Catholic card in bid to soften sentence in corruption case (Chicago Sun-Times)
Illinois gas tax is set to increase on July 1. (State Journal-Register)
With the start of a new fiscal year coming [today], Illinois drivers may have to face a slight increase in gas prices, due to a slight increase in the motor fuel tax.
According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, the tax on motor fuel in the state of Illinois will increase to 47 cents a gallon, an increase of 3.5% from the 2023-24 fiscal year. The increase may lead to customers seeing higher prices at the pump, unfortunate timing coming days before the busy Fourth of July travel weekend.
The motor fuel tax, according to IDOR, is a tax that is placed on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle or recreational watercraft in the state of Illinois.
First instituted in 1977, the tax is paid by those who distribute or supply fuel to customers – think those that provide the fuel to your gas station for you to pump into your tank.
Shortly after being elected into office in 2019, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation that would increase the motor fuel tax by 19 cents a gallon, then increasing it further through indexing it with the federal Consumer Price Index, the lead indicator of inflation in the U.S.
The legislation was part of the governor's Rebuild Illinois capital plan, which put forth $45 billion to help rebuild the state's roads and bridges. Pritzker said at the time that the plan would help support hundreds of thousands of new jobs across the state through investing in the state's infrastructure.
The gas tax pays for infrastructure. It’s the sales tax on gasoline on top of MFT that really grinds my gears.
Related: The gas tax hike goes into effect Monday. Here’s how much you’ll pay at the pump (Daily Herald)
Pro-Palestinian protesters march outside Rep. Schneider’s home in middle of night (Daily Herald)
Highland Park police broke up a pro-Palestinian march outside the home of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider early Saturday morning, officials said.
According to a community advisory, police responding to a complaint of people shouting in the area of Woodland Road arrived at 2:47 a.m. to find about 40 protesters in the public right of way.
The protesters carried banners and shouted pro-Palestinian and antisemitic chants using loudspeakers and drums, according to the city’s advisory.
“It’s unfortunate that, instead of seeking a constructive dialogue with Congressman Schneider, a group of people hiding their faces chose to taunt and intimidate a predominantly Jewish neighborhood on the Jewish Sabbath in the middle of the night,” said Caitlyn McNamee, Schneider’s communications director.
According to the city, no one was arrested or cited because the protesters dispersed voluntarily.
“Had the protesters not immediately complied with police orders and voluntarily dispersed, there may have been actions for which citations could have been issued and arrests made under the state criminal code,” a Q&A on the city’s website states.
All protesters left by 3:15 a.m. and officers remained for two hours to complete the investigation and ensure resident safety, according to the city.
If these protestors had decided to stage in front of Schneider’s office or a public event, that would be one thing. But a stunt like this does absolutely nothing to help their cause. It just reminds us all they’re jerks.
Related: Neighbors startled by overnight protest outside US Rep. Schneider's Highland Park home (NBC 5)
Neighbors remain on edge after overnight protest outside Rep. Brad Schneider's home in Highland Park (WBBM)
TOP STORIES LAST WEEK ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
US Sen. Dick Durbin has hip replacement surgery (Chicago Tribune)
‘We’re in a much better place’: Arlington Heights mayor says Bears have responded to proposed deal (Daily Herald)
CTU lobbyist helped craft mayor’s letter to Senate president at heart of Springfield selective enrollment fight (Chicago Tribune)
On Kennedy Expressway, Illinois Tollway, no speed cameras are watching despite what signs say (Chicago Sun-Times)
Secretary of State grants target carjackings, car thefts (Chicago Sun-Times)
‘It’s time for Springfield to make changes’: Report shows Cook County property tax bills increased 4% (Daily Herald)
At Illinois’ for-profit colleges, students often end up worse off than when they started (Chicago Sun-Times)
Manteno man gets 2 years in prison for shoving officer, tossing mug at police during Capitol riot (Chicago Sun-Times)
Suburban Jan. 6 convictions largely unaffected by Supreme Court ruling (Daily Herald)
Opinion: Tax revolt looms as Johnson ponders how much to give his CTU pals (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Opinion: A look back at the role of Illinois Sen. Everett Dirksen in passage of Civil Rights Act (Chicago Sun-Times)
Vallas: Illinois educators see the light on school crime. Will the CTU? (Chicago Tribune)
JOIN US