THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Pritzker...Duckworth...Labor holds out hope for stadium deals
August 22, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
It's the final day of the DNC. I'm jam packed on on the radio this morning and the whole world is watching Chicago. Buckle up!
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)
Gov. JB Pritzker hammers Donald Trump in DNC speech (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker used his prime-time address on the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to tie the progressive policies he’s advanced in two terms in Springfield to the message of economic progress promoted by the party’s presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Pritzker, a billionaire Hyatt Hotels heir who was a driving force behind bringing the convention to his hometown, also used his stage time to assail Republican nominee Donald Trump, with whom he’s sparred throughout his time in office.
“Donald Trump thinks we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich,” said Pritzker, whose fortune Forbes has pegged at $3.5 billion. “But take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.”
In a bit of awkward programming, Pritzker’s speech was preceded by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who railed against the “billionaire class” and “the need to get big money out of our political process.”
“Billionaires in both parties should not be able to buy elections, including primary elections,” said Sanders, who received a more enthusiastic reaction than Pritzker from the United Center crowd.
Pritzker spent more than $300 million of his own money to win two elections as governor in Illinois and gave at least $27 million to the Democratic Governors Association two years ago to spend on boosting his preferred opponent in the 2022 GOP primary for governor.
After Pritzker’s speech, the DGA sent out a fundraising message in his name soliciting $3 contributions.
Touting infrastructure improvements, clean-energy investments and a recently signed measure eliminating the state’s grocery tax that has yet to take effect, Pritzker said, “More than anything, Democrats want economic policies that are kind, not cruel, but Trump chooses cruelty every time.”
Related: ‘He tells it like it is’: Pritzker speech draws kudos from Illinoisans at convention (Daily Herald)
Pritzker blasts Trump's 'stupidity,' praises Kamala Harris in high-profile DNC speech (Chicago Sun-Times)
JB Pritzker embraces billionaire persona as an asset to progressive policy goals (Bloomington Pantagraph)
In primetime DNC speech, Pritzker leans into role of benevolent billionaire (Capitol News Illinois)
Gov. JB Pritzker’s national moment has come at the DNC. But it’s much different than first imagined. (Chicago Tribune)
Gov. JB Pritzker teases 3rd term as Illinois governor during DNC event (Chicago Sun-Times)
Pritzker teases bid to bring DNC back to Chicago in 2028 (Crain’s Chicago Business)
On the DNC breakfast circuit, Gov. JB Pritzker explains ‘concern’ he had over Biden candidacy (Chicago Tribune)
DNC notebook: Pritzker coy about future, Colbert shouts out Mount Prospect (Daily Herald)
US Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who struggled with infertility, says IVF in danger if Donald Trump is elected (Chicago Tribune)
What’s a hometown girl like Susana Mendoza to wear to the DNC? ‘I love Chicago’ T-shirts, of course (WBEZ)
South suburban school board member lone Illinois delegate not to back Harris nomination (Chicago Tribune)
Planned Parenthood mobile clinic near DNC offers free medication abortions, vasectomies (Chicago Sun-Times)
In the national spotlight, Illinois Democrats talk up abortion as ‘fundamental’ election issue (Daily Herald)
Brandon Johnson on what's next after the DNC (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Editorial: Barack and Michelle Obama showed Kamala Harris what she must do at the DNC Thursday night (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois labor leaders say fight for public stadium funding isn't over (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Illinois labor leaders said today they’ll continue to push for public funding for sports stadiums despite resistance from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state legislators.
"I don't know that it's a matter of changing (Pritzker's) mind — it's continuing to work on the legislation to make the case,” said Bob Reiter, head of the Chicago Federation of Labor.
Tim Drea, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, noted Pritzker “hasn’t said no.”
“Nothing is immutable,” Reiter added.
The comments came during a press conference following the Illinois delegate breakfast as part of the Democratic National Convention.
Reiter and Drea said the Chicago Red Stars deserve to be involved in any stadium subsidy discussion.
“Unions want to build, and if the Red Stars could get in the mix for the stadiums, we’re all for building it,” Drea said. Legislation could include language to support an agreement “to make sure more women would be working on our projects so we can start training young women for a career in the building trades,” he said.
"I think it's fair and right that the Red Stars have the opportunity to have a venue where they don't keep getting bumped out of because they're considered not the primary tenant when it comes to games or practices,” Reiter said.
The Red Stars entered the stadium shuffle in February when they pushed legislators to include the National Women's Soccer League club in any discussions about public funding for new Chicago sports team stadiums.
Principal owner Laura Ricketts also co-owns the Chicago Cubs with her family.
Both the Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox want to tap into the ISFA’s bonding authority for their own plans. The agency was created to build the current Guaranteed Rate Field and had its authority extended to pay for renovations at Soldier Field.
Despite the backing of labor and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s vocal support for the Chicago Bears' potential lakefront stadium, Pritzker and state legislators have said public subsidies for billionaire-owned sports teams are not a priority.
Related: Amid a ‘really, really big week for labor,’ Illinois unions, Democrats held up as model (Capitol News Illinois)
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POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Despite expected surge in arrivals, no buses carrying migrants have come to Chicago during DNC (Chicago Sun-Times)
On second night of DNC, march outside Israeli consulate sees confrontation with police and demonstrators detained (Chicago Tribune)
What will Stateville shutdown mean for higher education programs behind bars? (WBEZ)
‘Hitting kids should never be allowed’: Illinois bans corporal punishment in all schools (Associated Press)
Opinion: In utility permitting process, local control is all about power (Shaw Media)
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