THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Dems aim to protect incumbents in hasty election bill...Bears still "non-starter" for Pritzker...State insurance covering weight loss shots
May 2, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
Happy Thursday. Busy couple of days in Springfield. Lots to catch up on.
The House and Senate are in at noon. The Governor speaks at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony near the Capitol at 11. He’s at Rivian in Normal at 1:30 and speaks to the Citizens Club of Springfield at 6pm.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions (Capitol News Illinois)
Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot.
It’s a move that caused minority party Republicans to vote “present,” then walk off the House floor without even debating the measure, while four Democrats voted against the bill that would amend ballot laws for the election cycle that is already underway.
Republicans were particularly critical of a provision that prohibits political parties from appointing a candidate to a general election ballot if no member of that party filed nominating petitions for the primary.
The minority party also criticized Democrats’ hasty movement of the proposed changes from introduction to floor passage. Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, filed the amendment to an unrelated bill, Senate Bill 2412, Wednesday morning before it was quickly moved to committee for passage, then to the floor within hours. It now awaits action in the Senate.
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, noted at an impromptu news conference on a Capitol stairwell that the GOP has grown accustomed to legislation moving with little public notice – but it usually happens closer to the General Assembly’s end of May adjournment.
“But we don't understand the sense of urgency right now, unless the goal – the end goal – is to stifle the democratic process through the changes on slating candidates,” she said.
At the same time the amendment was moving through the House, senators were being briefed separately on the proposed changes.
In the Senate Executive Committee, which meets one floor below the House chamber, Republican Leader John Curran, of Downers Grove, argued that changing the rules in the middle of an election cycle would be unfair to potential candidates who are operating under existing rules.
The slating rule is a direct effort to save Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) from a tough General Election with a slated Republican. The GOP is also slating candidates in a handful of other races in the state, but Stuart is clearly the most vulnerable. It’s a pretty comical incumbent protection ploy.
Related: House Democrats advance November ballot questions aimed at driving party turnout (Chicago Tribune)
Bears stadium proposal a 'non-starter,' Team Pritzker says after briefing (Crain’s Chicago Business)
The Chicago Bears face something akin to a 4th and long situation as they try to reach a deal in Springfield this month to receive public subsidies for a new lakefront stadium.
That was the message coming from lawmakers after the team unveiled its plan for a domed stadium last week, and it hasn’t changed after a meeting between the team and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s top staffers [Wednesday].
Bears executives briefed Deputy Gov. Andy Manar and Pritzker's chief of staff, Anne Caprara, this afternoon. Pritzker did not attend the meeting.
“The governor’s office appreciates the opportunity to discuss the Bears’ proposal and appreciates the organization for taking the time to discuss it,” Pritzker’s press secretary, Alex Gough, said in a written statement.
“As the governor has said, the current proposal is a non-starter for the state. In order to subsidize a brand new stadium for a privately owned sports team, the governor would need to see a demonstrable and tangible benefit for the taxpayers of Illinois. The governor’s office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of tax-payer dollars remains the foremost priority,” the statement said.
The Bears later issued a statement of their own: “We had a productive conversation with the governor’s office. We share a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions.”
Related: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office calls Bears’ stadium proposal ‘non-starter’ after meeting (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois governor’s office says Bears’ plan for stadium remains ‘non-starter’ after meeting (Associated Press)
Pritzker: Bears lakefront stadium proposal still ‘a non-starter’ (Daily Herald)
Arlington Heights still wants Chicago Bears to consider moving there: ‘I don’t think it’s anything close to a done deal’ (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Bears do not have a right to taxpayer money (Chicago Sun-Times)
Weight-loss drug coverage for Illinois state workers could cost hundreds of millions of dollars (WBEZ)
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office pushed to expand coverage of high-priced weight-loss drugs for state government’s workforce, a quiet maneuver that could cost Illinois taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars starting this summer.
These boutique weight-loss drugs have been championed by former NBA star Charles Barkley, comedian Amy Schumer and others because of how they trigger dramatic changes in a person’s waistline. The results can be akin to bariatric surgery but at a prohibitive cost — in some cases, more than $16,000 a year.
In making highly sought-after injectable medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic available to eligible enrollees in the state’s group health insurance program, Pritzker’s administration is seeking an estimated $210 million to fund the first full year of broadened coverage, starting July 1.
That’s when all health insurance carriers involved in the state health program have to cover those drugs for state workers, legislators, judges and their dependents.
Pritzker’s administration says access to the medication will yield important health benefits for those who take advantage of the benefit and would equitably give access to the medication across the state’s insurance plans.
But one economist who has studied the cost impact of this new class of drugs told WBEZ the state’s yearly outlay could cost as much as three times the state’s estimate, depending on the number of people who access the program.
That Illinois may soon experience such sticker shock is classic Springfield — as in, always read the fine print.
In an 899-page budget bill approved the final day of the spring legislative session last May, a four-sentence provision codified for the first time that carriers in the state program “shall provide coverage for all types of injectable medicines prescribed on-label or off-label to improve glucose or weight loss for use by adults diagnosed or previously diagnosed with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or obesity.”
The Governor said Wednesday the weight loss drugs are already covered by most state health insurance plans.
TOP STORIES ON THEILLINOIZE.COM THIS WEEK
Legislators Propose Merger of Chicago-Area Mass Transit Agencies
Pritzker "Following the Request" of Slain Officer's Family in Avoiding Funeral
Pritzker Administration Proposes Transferring Logan Inmates to Stateville
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Springfield taking cautious approach with Tier 2 pension changes, avoiding sweeteners (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Logan women’s prison would be moved to Stateville site under IDOC proposal (Chicago Tribune)
Lincoln mayor pledges to fight Logan Correctional Center move (Bloomington Pantagraph)
CTA, Metra and Pace could be merged into one transit agency under bill proposed in Springfield (Chicago Sun-Times)
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination (Capitol News Illinois)
At secret meeting, right-wing radio host Dan Proft dangled $20 million to Darren Bailey’s governor run (Chicago Tribune)
Family of Officer Luis Huesca didn't want Mayor Brandon Johnson, Gov. J.B. Pritzker at funeral (Chicago Sun-Times)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and wife donate key Civil War document to Lincoln presidential library (Chicago Tribune)
Pritzkers donate Lincoln's Civil War order to Springfield museum (State Journal-Register)
Harmon, Welch would get national Democratic Party spots under proposal from state party chair (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Taking the fight South? Pritzker's nonprofit spends $500K in Florida — battling DeSantis and GOP over abortion rights (Chicago Sun-Times)
Poshard to Illinois Democrats: 'Our messaging isn't working' for Biden (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Homer Township Republican committeeperson race to be decided by lot following judge’s order (Chicago Tribune)
Dan Brady announces candidacy for Bloomington mayor (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Editorial: Illinois lawmakers shouldn't leave solitary confinement policies alone (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: Northwestern deserves credit for ending an encampment without resorting to force (Chicago Tribune)
Darin: Say no to CO2 pipeline projects in Illinois until safety is assured (Chicago Sun-Times)
Opinion: To protect children, Illinois must crack down on products with dangerous delta-8 (Chicago Sun-Times)
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