THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Democrats may be banking on abortion again in 2024...Jury gets the "ComEd Four" Trial
April 27, 2023
Good morning, Illinois.
Thanks to the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association for having me at their luncheon yesterday. Special thanks to subscribers Jessica Newbold and Neil Flynn for their invitation and kindness.
I’ll be on WMAY in Springfield with my old pal Jim Leach at 7:10 this morning. I’m sure we’ll wind up yelling at each other about…something. Listen online here.
The House and Senate are back in at noon today. Governor Pritzker doesn’t have anything on his public schedule.
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Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
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Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch doesn’t rule out putting abortion rights on 2024 ballot (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch on Wednesday vowed there wouldn’t be another attempt to ask voters to approve a graduated-rate income tax, but did not rule out putting a proposed constitutional amendment codifying a women’s right to abortion on the 2024 presidential election year ballot to drive Democratic turnout.
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, meanwhile, acknowledged that while her caucus does not have a single lawmaker who supports abortion, she would be open to supporting a suburban GOP candidate who supports the procedure. Republicans were once the dominant party in the suburbs but their hard-line positions on social issues, including opposition to abortion, has eroded the party’s support.
Abortion was one of a number of issues discussed by the state’s top legislative leaders during a panel discussion in downtown Springfield hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, and moderated by Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson.
Asked about a ballot question on adding abortion rights to the state constitution, Welch said a “working group” composed of Democratic abortion rights supporters has been “looking at ways to continue to make Illinois a place that trusts women.”
In rattling off abortion rights legislation the Democratic-led legislature has passed in the last few years, including the 2019 Reproductive Health Act, Welch hinted that an abortion rights amendment could provide an extra jolt of motivation for the state’s Democratic voters in November 2024.
“We have done a really good job in Illinois at being the place that folks across the country know is a place where we value women, we trust women,” he said. “The issue is one that is pretty clear here, especially here in Illinois. If it is on the ballot, it could potentially help Democratic turnout.”
There were a couple of issues Welch either glossed over or didn’t address during the panel discussion yesterday. His spokesperson did not allow us to ask him any questions, though. So, I’ll poke around a little and try to have something for subscribers tomorrow.
Related: Businesses lobby governor, Statehouse leaders in Springfield (Capitol News Illinois)
4 takeaways from Illinois' annual 'Business Day' (Bloomington Pantagraph)
The fate of 'ComEd Four' now up to the jury (Crain’s Chicago Business)
The fate of the “ComEd Four” is in the jury’s hands now.
Jurors were given the case [Tuesday] afternoon after lead prosecutor Amarjeet Bhachu responded to arguments made by attorneys for defendants Anne Pramaggiore, Michael McClain, John Hooker and Jay Doherty.
Bhachu dismissed a repeated argument from defense attorneys — that there could have been no bribery of state House Speaker Michael Madigan because no one was caught on an intercepted recording or in an email arguing that Commonwealth Edison should just get Madigan to pass whatever bill they proposed instead of mounting sophisticated legislative strategies and making compromises.
Those statements weren't made, Bhachu said, "because the defendants weren't that stupid."
"These defendants were careful," he said. "We're not talking about amateurs here. They were not playing checkers. They were playing chess. . . .These were grandmasters of corruption."
“Grandmasters of corruption.” That one should stick.
Related: ‘ComEd Four’ jury asks first questions of court as it deliberates bribery case tied to ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan (Chicago Tribune)
‘Corrupt influence’ or ‘collateral damage’? Jury to decide fate of ‘ComEd Four’ (Capitol News Illinois)
TOP LINKS FROM THE WEEK (SO FAR)
Rep. Moylan on Bears Legislation: "A Bill That Could Actually Pass"
Caulkins Won't Run for Re-Election, Potentially Setting Up Bloomington vs. Decatur Showdown
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Human composting raised in Illinois legislative debate: ‘People should become part of the earth’ (Chicago Tribune)
Providers, unions call for pay increase for staff serving individuals with developmental disabilities (Capitol News Illinois)
Illinois Democrats pushing literacy education reform, bills advancing (State Journal-Register)
Illinois students will learn Native American history under a bill pending in Springfield (WBEZ)
LGBTQ+ advocates rally in Springfield (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Naperville gun shop owner asks U.S. Supreme Court to lift assault weapon sales ban while federal appeal pends (Naperville Sun)
Illinois wants to revamp how reading is taught. Lawmakers want to give it a deadline. (WBEZ)
Biden enlists top Illinois Dems, former Pritzker aide, in re-election campaign (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Illinois’ Blue Cross will stop covering at-home COVID-19 tests when public health emergency ends next month (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois traffic deaths dip slightly in 2022, but fatalities are still above pre-pandemic levels: ‘Not a cause to celebrate.’ (Chicago Sun-Times)
String of losses sets Illinois GOP insiders against each other in fiery media blitz (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Editorial: The Bears don’t need taxpayer help for their move to Arlington Heights? (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Illinois must come through with more money for rape crisis centers (Chicago Sun-Times)
Buckner: It takes a village to raze a Chicago child — and a village to come together and raise the child again (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Providing inmates proper care an intractable problem (Champaign News-Gazette)
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