ILLINOIS
AROUND THE STATE
It’s not just Chicago. Downstate public transit agencies face funding challenges
“State lawmakers are spending this spring’s legislative session debating how to solve a $771 million funding gap the Chicago area’s public transportation agencies face in 2026. But downstate public transit agencies are also facing a similar plight as costs rise beyond the state’s longstanding funding commitment,” by Capitol News Illinois.
IL property tax bill called bandage avoiding ‘bigger problem’
“An Illinois lawmaker calls his bill a “Band-Aid,” and urges Democrats to look at the “bigger problem” when it comes to property tax relief. Senate Bill 2086, filed by state Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, seeks to raise the income limit for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption to $75,000 for taxable year 2025,” by The Center Square.
State Sen. Emil Jones III bribery trial set to begin 2 ½ years after indictment
“Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday morning in the federal corruption trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, who stands accused of accepting alleged bribes from a red-light camera company executive whose cooperation with the feds has also brought down several other Chicago-area politicians,” by Capitol News Illinois.
Illinois still tops nationally in nuclear energy, No. 3 in carbon-free electricity
“Thanks to generating more nuclear power than any other state, Illinois ranks third nationally in producing carbon-free electricity, according to analysis by Inside Climate News of data from the Energy Information Administration,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Youthful offender sentencing bill would provide hope to hundreds of inmates serving lengthy terms
“The proposal would apply to people in prison for crimes they committed when they were under 21. It marks one of the latest efforts by lawmakers to allow retroactive sentencing reforms that would give long-term prisoners, some essentially locked away for life, a chance at freedom,” by the Chicago Tribune.
CHICAGO
MORE FROM CITY HALL
City Council OKs Quezada to represent 35th Ward — but not without some friction
“City Council members confirmed the appointment of Anthony Joel Quezada as their newest colleague today, representing the 35th Ward seat left vacant by former Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
Chicago mayor threatens to sue Trump administration over DEI
“Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson threatened to sue the Trump administration if it follows through on a threat to withhold billions in federal education funding to states and districts over diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,” by Chalkbeat Chicago.
Progressive Caucus leaders turn up the volume on their beef with Johnson
“Disappointed with the response to their concern that Mayor Brandon Johnson was seeking to oust them from his City Council leadership team, three leaders of the Progressive Caucus are amplifying their criticism of the Fifth Floor,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
As environmental justice ordinance nears City Council introduction, activists express hopes and frustrations
“More than a year after its planned introduction, an environmental ordinance that aims to address decades of discriminatory planning, zoning and land-use policies in Chicago will finally be brought before the City Council,” by the Chicago Tribune.
Resisting mayoral pressure, Choose Chicago picks tourism vet Kristen Reynolds as CEO
“After fending off pressure to hire an ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson, the city’s tourism marketing agency has ended a more than yearlong search for a president and CEO. Choose Chicago said Thursday it has named Kristen Reynolds to fill the key post, which has been the highest-paid public position in Chicago,” by WBEZ Chicago.
How a plan to streamline Cook County, state computer systems led to massive costs and delays
“The Cook County property records project, which started in 2015 and was supposed to be completed in December 2019, is now set to launch April 28 after five years of delays that forced the county to spend tens of millions of dollars more on upkeep to the 1970s-era technology,” by the Chicago Tribune.
FEDERAL
Cozen Currents - Trump’s Full Court Press
Litigiousness is not a bug, but a feature, of Trump 2.0 with the goal of taking some priorities to the Supreme Court and setting new precedents while overturning some existing ones.
Republicans are signaling that they intend to use budget reconciliation to raise the debt limit to avoid negotiating with Democrats. That might be easier said than done though.
Both parties are incentivized to kick the can down the road on Social Security reform due to the unpopularity of a comprehensive solution, but with nonpartisan projections suggesting a fix is needed within the next 10 years, one or both parties will need to step up in the not-so-distant future.
Read the Cozen Currents here.
Beltway Briefing - US Tariffs Spark Global Backlash, Economic Uncertainty
Trump’s tariff announcement disrupted global markets, catching international leaders and the business community off guard and fueling economic anxiety. Why the surprise? How can they still engage the administration productively? The news of the tariffs, along with elections in Wisconsin and Florida and Senator Booker’s marathon speech, gave Democrats a chance to show momentum. Did they present a fresh vision or fall back on the usual anti-Trump narrative? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Patrick Martin.
Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.
