THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Pritzker signs key health insurance priority into law...McCann to prison...Pritzker stand with Biden
July 11, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
We told subscribers late yesterday that 2022 GOP Senate nominee Kathy Salvi has jumped into the race for Illinois GOP chair. Applications were due at the end of the day yesterday. Salvi, Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and State Central Committeeman Aaron Del Mar all filed. Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) didn’t.
I played phone tag with Salvi last night. Hopefully we’ll have some comments from her for subscribers today.
Get those comments and the breaking news alerts subscribers get by joining us today. Click below!
Governor Pritzker attends the opening of the new St. Clair County Public Safety Center in East St. Louis at 11am and is at Southwestern Illinois College for a ribbon cutting at 2:15.
Let’s get to it.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker says new law will curb ‘predatory practices’ by insurance industry (Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed legislation advocates say will do away with health insurance practices that make it harder for patients to receive needed care.
“For too long, insurance companies have used predatory tactics to make an extra dime at the expense of Illinois consumers. … For too long, shoddy networks, price gouging and overly complicated bureaucracies have stood in the way of our families getting the care that they deserve,” Pritzker said at a West Side signing ceremony. “Today, with my signature, Illinois is addressing and rectifying that.”
The legislation, which passed by wide margins and with bipartisan support in the General Assembly this spring, marks a key policy victory for Pritzker, who promised in February to put his “shoulder to the wheel” to pass health care reform.
The new law includes a prohibition on insurance plans requiring what is known as “step therapy,” which is when the insurer requires a customer to try different treatments or medications before those prescribed by their doctor. Doctors and patient advocates say the practice can worsen patients’ conditions, while the insurance industry argues it keeps costs down.
The law also prohibits insurers from requiring prior authorization, cases where patients need permission from insurance companies before receiving treatment for in-patient, or overnight, mental health care at a hospital. In addition, it bans the sale of short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans, which don’t cover as many medical services as typical plans, and allows the state’s Department of Insurance to reject unreasonable price increases proposed by certain large group health insurance policies.
Related: Pritzker signs health insurance reform measures (Capitol News Illinois)
Pritzker signs law banning health insurance companies’ ‘predatory tactics,’ including step therapy (Associated Press)
Ex-senator, Illinois governor candidate McCann gets 3 1/2 years for fraud and money laundering (Associated Press)
A former Illinois state senator and candidate for governor was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 3 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering and tax evasion.
U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless, who also ordered William “Sam” McCann to pay $684,000 in restitution, noted during sentencing that McCann continued to siphon campaign money for personal use even after federal authorities confronted him. And she said he fraudulently claimed that he was physically and mentally unable to stand trial during a bizarre series of delays leading up to his February bench trial.
McCann, 54, who declared “God’s got this” after firing his attorneys in 2023 and announcing that he would represent himself, later capitulated and started trial with new representation before throwing in the towel on the third day of testimony. He entered a no-strings open guilty plea to seven counts of wire fraud and one count each of money laundering and tax evasion. He faced up to 20 years in prison for each count of fraud and money laundering alone.
A state senator from 2011 to 2019, McCann formed the Conservative Party of Illinois in a 2018 bid for governor. His candidacy drew $3 million in contributions from a labor union which considered him a worker-friendly “lunch-pail Republican.”
Campaign finances paid off a personal loan, made installments on two separate personal mortgages, and were used for more than $100,000 in credit card payments, a Colorado family vacation, store and online purchases and cash withdrawals. After his gubernatorial candidacy ended, he used a payroll service to disguise $187,000 in Conservative Party contributions he paid to himself and another $52,000 for payroll taxes.
Related: Former Illinois state senator sentenced for wire fraud, money laundering (State Journal-Register)
Former GOP state lawmaker, candidate for governor sentenced to 42 months in prison (Capitol News Illinois)
McCann sentenced to 42 months (Illinois Times)
Pritzker 'all in' for Biden despite debate performance (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday set aside talk of a switch at the top of Democratic presidential ticket, proclaiming that he is "all in" for President Joe Biden despite widespread concerns within the party about the 81-year-old incumbent's viability.
"Joe Biden’s gonna be the nominee of the Democratic Party," Pritzker said, making his first public comments since meeting with Biden at the White House with other Democratic governors last week. "I'm gonna go out there and wholeheartedly campaign for him. I've endorsed him and (Vice President) Kamala Harris.
"He's going to be at the convention in August accepting the nomination and I'll be cheering for him in the audience."
At the same time, Pritzker sidestepped questions about his own presidential ambitions, telling reporters in Chicago that he was not "engaging in any hypotheticals" when asked if he vowed not to run even if Biden stepped aside.
Pritzker, a top Biden campaign surrogate, has said throughout the past couple weeks that he would continue to support the president as long as he was the party's nominee. He reiterated that position on Tuesday, while acknowledging that Biden's debate performance did not help the Democratic party.
"What you have to do is stand up, say, 'I didn't do it well,' which I think he's said, and prove people wrong about what they want to say about him," Pritzker said. "He's doing that. He's getting out there and talking, and I think he's having an impact."
Related: Pritzker 2024? Not so fast. Governor holds steady with support for Biden (State Journal-Register)
Biden gets strong backing from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson (Chicago Tribune)
Pritzker ‘all in’ for Biden following visit to White House last week (Capitol News Illinois)
TOP STORIES SO FAR THIS WEEK ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Transit heads again ask state for funding help, reject proposals for oversight reform (Capitol News Illinois)
New Illinois budget invests heavily in education. Why do some say it's not enough? (State Journal-Register)
Illinois AG Kwame Raoul joins Democratic counterparts in defending DEI initiatives (Chicago Tribune)
Madigan attorneys still aiming for October trial despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Chicago Sun-Times)
After violent holiday weekend, Chicago civic leaders announce $100 million for crime-fighting efforts (Chicago Tribune)
Suburban lawmakers, Citizens Utility Board partner to fight rising water costs (Shaw Media)
In second year, Chung takes on 'bigger lifts' in Springfield (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Halbrook thinks 'successes are hard to find' this spring session (Herald & Review)
Doris Turner touts bills addressing Carlinville funeral home scandal (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Illinois’ Trump delegates head to Milwaukee at a time of upheaval in the state Republican Party (WBEZ)
Downstate man who wore Revolutionary War costume and gas mask at Jan. 6 riot gets 2.5 months in jail (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: Predawn targeting of Rep. Schneider’s home wasn’t legitimate protest. It was hate. (Chicago Tribune)
Buckner: While we debate changes to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, let’s focus on the lakefront (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Illinois economy OK, but still lags behind other states (Champaign News-Gazette)
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