THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Session runneth over...Judge stops law restricting GOP legislative candidates
May 23, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
We told subscribers late last night the House and Senate adjourned for the night without moving a budget, essentially guaranteeing the legislature will miss its self-imposed Friday budget deadline.
Paid subscribers got three updates during a tumultuous session day yesterday. You should join the club, it’s really worth it.
Catch all of our content from the week at www.theillinoize.com.
I’m back on WMAY in Springfield this morning as I continue to fill in on their morning show this week. We’ll talk a ton about the General Assembly, Nikki Haley disappointing me and more. We’ll also be joined by Mike Militech of WAND-TV, and Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. Listen online here from 6am-9am.
The Senate is in at 9:30, the House is in at 11. Governor Pritzker is in Madison County at 10.
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)
House and Senate to Miss Self-Imposed Friday Budget Deadline (The Illinoize)
The House and Senate adjourned Wednesday night, all but assuring the self-imposed Friday deadline for passing a budget and leaving Springfield will be blown for the second year in a row.
One chamber needed to move a budget bill Wednesday to fulfill the three days reading requirement, meaning, now, Saturday will be the earliest a budget can pass.
But, according to many legislators on both sides of the aisle, getting there is still going to be the toughest challenge. The Sun-Times reported tonight about a poll of House Democrats on Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed sports gaming tax increase and his plan to end the sales tax discount for retailers across the state.
A House Democrat clarified Wednesday night he poll was actually taken a “couple of weeks ago,” but admitted the “vibes” around the proposal are still not good.
In conversations with numerous House Democrats Wednesday night, mostly off the record, members tried to play down the “chaos” narrative around the building about negotiations in the caucus, though, we’re told they’re still not particularly close on finding consensus in the caucus.
House members were being polled Wednesday afternoon on weekend availability, but it’s also possible budgeteers could hunker down over the weekend, get sign off from the caucuses on Tuesday, and get out by late next week.
Related: Illinois General Assembly budget talks stall over sportsbook tax hike, retailer discounts (Chicago Sun-Times) [note: we told subscribers last night the poll of House Dems actually happened a couple of weeks ago.]
Judge temporarily blocks hastily passed election law that favored Democrats in November (Chicago Tribune)
A judge in Springfield on Wednesday issued a temporary injunction blocking a law passed by Democrats that would have prevented Republicans from slating candidates for legislative races not filled in the March primary.
Sangamon County Judge Gail Noll issued the order pending a hearing on June 3, which had been the statutory date for filling the unfilled candidate slots on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure into law on May 3 shortly after Democratic majorities in the House and Senate passed the legislation in a two-day tour de force.
Previously, local committees for the political parties could fill legislative ballot spots in which their party did not field a primary candidate after the primary election. The slated candidate was still required to obtain candidacy petition signatures to appear on the general election ballot.
The new law was viewed as giving Democrats, who have significant supermajorities in the House and Senate, an additional leg up in keeping their advantage over Republicans by preventing any late-arriving general election challenges.
The lawsuit argues that the law violated the ballot access rights of the four potential candidates by changing the law in the middle of the election process.
This case has sort of felt like a slam dunk from the start because of the restriction on changing election law in the middle of a cycle. But I’m not an attorney.
ISSUES AND NOTES
Legislation to end subminimum wage for tipped workers stalls, but advocates plan to keep pushing (Chicago Tribune)
Efforts to end subminimum wage for tipped workers in Illinois stalls, disabled workers advancing (State Journal-Register)
Suburban mayors ask state legislature to boost their share of income tax (Daily Herald)
Ban on wildlife killing contests ‘unlikely’ to clear state Senate this session (Capitol News Illinois)
Lawmakers trying to ensure women’s sports aren’t left out of any Chicago Bears stadium deal (Chicago Tribune)
Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort (Capitol News Illinois)
Fix for Illinois arsonist registry heads to governor's desk (Bloomington Pantagraph)
In possible DNC preview, Gov. J.B. Pritzker mocks ex-President Donald Trump (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Sports betting could help the Illinois treasury. But new taxes applying only in Chicago are folly. (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Statewide public defense office would help Illinois counties in need of support (Chicago Sun-Times)
