Will trial end Illinois’ bad rap?

By SHIA KAPOS

05/01/2023 08:09 AM EDT

Happy May Day, Illinois. If my poker night is any indication, it's going to be a rough week.

The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. | Seth Perlman/AP Photo

The jury's still out — literally — on the ‘ComEd Four’ trial. Jurors are scheduled to return today for a fourth day of deliberations looking at whether the four business leaders and lobbyists schemed to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation.

There's an awkward air of hope and resignation about the federal proceedings and whether they will become just another chapter in Illinois’ storied history of corruption.

Some political insiders are frustrated that this case might end the same way as all the others: There could be a prison sentence or fine, but the gears of the same old machine will keep turning.

What they’re saying: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot fears the case "will have zero impact."

Springfield Dems are mum: House and Senate leaders point to recent changes Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law that restrict government officials from lobbying activities, tighten regulations on registered lobbyists and expand financial disclosure requirements.

A Republican's take: "It's concerning that Mike Madigan might get off the hook. There's not a person in Springfield who doesn't think he's as guilty as hell," said State Sen. Terri Bryant, who sits on the state's bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission. It should be noted that Madigan, who's not even on trial, has denied all wrong-doing. "If those four get off, how can they prosecute Mike Madigan? It looks like everything hangs on this trial," Bryant said.

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— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Democratic State Central Committee took a vote Saturday to pass the "2024 Delegate Selection" plan, which will be submitted to the Democratic National Committee for final adoption.

Diversifying the delegation: The plan includes outreach and inclusion initiatives to ensure Illinois’ delegates are "diverse and representative" of the state and the party, according to a person at the meeting held at the IBEW Local Union 701 offices in Warrenville.

The goal is to avoid a dust-up similar to what the party saw recently when the central committee appointed a white candidate to fill an empty slot on the committee — a move that drew criticism from Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander Democrats.

How to sign up: Beginning this fall, the Illinois Democratic Party will hold programming events to explain the process to become a delegate to represent Illinois at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

— Chicago asking Congress for big boost in federal dollars for 2024 DNC security costs: "Security plans will be developed by Chicago and Milwaukee with the Department of Homeland Security and related agencies for the Democratic and Republican conventions," reports Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

— The secret delegate battle that will decide the 2024 Republican nominee, via Vox

If you are Democratic Party Chair Lisa Hernandez, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected].

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— Illinois ban on high-powered firearms blocked by federal judge downstate; Gov. Pritzker's office ‘confident’ law will be upheld: "The Friday ruling came in a case that consolidated lawsuits brought by a variety of groups, including the Illinois State Rifle Association, against the law passed in the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and signed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January in response to the deadly mass shooting at last year's Fourth of July parade in north suburban Highland Park," by Tribune's Dan Petrella and Jeremy Gorner.

— Downstate Danville has proposed a ban on mailing abortion pills. But civil liberties experts say the ordinance would violate state law, by Tribune's Angie Leventis Lourgos

— Hang loose: A new proposal from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Democratic state Rep. La Shawn Ford would allow motorists to hang items from their rearview mirrors. It's illegal now and has served as a pretext for traffic stops, according to the lawmakers. Giannoulias made it an issue in his campaign. Under House Bill 2389, law enforcement would no longer have the authority to stop a motorist for hanging items such as air fresheners, rosaries or disability placards from rearview mirrors. The bill has passed the Illinois House and awaits a floor vote in the Senate.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Uber is out with a six-figure radio ad buy that opposes a state House bill that sponsors say would hold rideshare companies accountable for the safety of passengers. Uber opposes the bill, saying it's more about ending "frivolous lawsuits," which would make rideshare "more expensive for everyone," according to the ad.

— Former IDOC director on the future of Pontiac Prison, home to the state's highest concentration of ‘seriously mentally ill’: "We have to provide programming, out-of-cell time, and to be able to do that we need to be able to consolidate our resources," he said. WTTW's Brandis Friedman reports.

— Mississippi River waters keep rising in Iowa and Illinois, by The Associated Press

— Editorial | The Blue state exodus accelerates: "New IRS data for 2021 shows voters fleeing Illinois and other states," via Wall Street Journal

— POWER MOVE: Subject Matter and Kivvit are joining forces to create a new national agency called Subject Matter+Kivvit. The firm combines "strategic communications, data analytics and insights, government relations, digital strategy, creative content and advertising services into a single integrated consultancy," according to the announcement. Subject Matter+Kivvit now has more than 200 employees across offices in Washington, New York, Chicago, New Jersey and an emerging presence in Miami.

Leadership at both firms will remain with Steve Elmendorf, Paul Frick, Jimmy Ryan, Dan Sallick and Eric Sedler as managing partners. Nicole Cornish, previously CEO of Subject Matter, will continue as CEO for the new company. The new firm will operate under their current brands in the short term, with expanded leadership roles and rebranding expected later this year. The combined firm is approaching $100 million in annual revenue, according to the statement.

— Lightfoot urges Texas governor not to ship more migrants: "Your lack of consideration or coordination in an attempt to cause chaos and score political points has resulted in a critical tipping point in our ability to receive individuals and families in a safe, orderly, and dignified way," said the mayor in the letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican. POLITICO's David Cohen reports.

— A tenfold surge in migrants arriving in Chicago fuels crisis, aldermen told, as families sleep in police stations, by Tribune's Nell Salzman

— Police reports paint picture of April 14 violent disturbance in the Loop: "The police department has opened an internal investigation to probe allegations that officers failed to intervene after they saw a couple being attacked by a mob of teens. Sources have said the unruly gathering was exacerbated by a slow response from CPD leadership," by Tribune's Sam Charles and Rosemary Sobol.

— New book examines two decades of city's policing strategies, by WBEZ's Chip Mitchell

— Chicago is finally taking out toxic lead pipes when it replaces water mains, by Tribune's Michael Hawthorne

— 40 years later, the Lee Elia tapes are just as enjoyable as ever — thanks to the ‘Grobber,’ by Tribune's Paul Sullivan Here's the famous Elia rant.

— Cook County prosecutors take step to streamline evidence tracking in court system long plagued by delays, by Tribune's Joe Mahr and Megan Crepeau

— Muslim trustee from DuPage Township faces racist comments during public meeting, by Shanzeh Ahmad

— Police investigating noose found on tree outside Naperville middle school, by Naperville Sun's Suzanne Baker

— Park Ridge-Niles District 64 taps Maine South's Ben Collins as its next superintendent, by Pioneer Press’ Caroline Kubzansky

GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE.

— Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co., which invented the pizza pot pie, is embroiled in a messy legal battle: The question of ownership is now in the court, reports Wall Street Journal's Joe Barrett.

— Maple & Ash restaurant accused of misusing federal pandemic relief aid for businesses, by WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos

— Helene Gayle was installed as president of Spelman College on Friday. Gayle has been doing the job since last year. She previously was president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust. Attending the event: former presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett, education advocate Barbara Bowman, Cleveland Avenue founder Don Thompson and Liz Thompson, Chicago Foundation for Women CEO Felicia Davis Blakley and journalist Derrick Blakley, Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer, Loop Capital CEO Jim Reynolds, Health Communities Foundation President Maria Pesqueira, Coleman Foundation President Shelley Davis and Trinity United Church pastor Otis Moss.

— Samantha Steele, the Cook County Board of Review commissioner, has received the "Assessment Administrator Specialist" designation by the International Association of Assessing Officers.

— Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 200 List includes Illinois entrepreneurs: SPAAN Tech CEO Smita Shah, Petite Plume CEO Emily Hikade, Asutra CEO Stephanie Morimoto and lulafit CEO Colleen Werner.

We asked which Chicago restaurants could team up with the state delegations for the Democratic National Convention.

And it was apparently just too much to think about except for assigning California delegates to California Pizza Kitchen.

What under-the-radar issue could have an oversize role in Illinois’ 2024 election? Email [email protected]

President Joe Biden gave a hat tip Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner to the Chicago Black media outlets that shined a light on the Civil Rights movement when they published the open casket photos of Emmett Till.

"[It's] a story of a nation's reckoning with hate, violence, and the abuse of power," Biden said in his after-dinner remarks in Washington.

"It's a story that was seared into our memory and our conscience — the nation's conscience — when Mrs. Till insisted that an open casket for her murdered and maimed 14-year-old son be the means by which he was transported. She said, ‘Let the people see what I’ve seen,’" Biden said.

"The reason the world saw what she saw was because of another hero in this story: the Black press. (Applause.) That's a fact. Jet Magazine, the Chicago Defender, and other Black radio and newspapers were unflinching and brave in making sure America saw what she saw."

Biden: ‘Journalism is not a crime,’ by POLITICO's Kelly Garrity

— Hispanic voters have soured on Biden. Now he needs to win them back, by POLITICO's Marissa Martinez

— How Jill Biden helped Joe get to yes on running for reelection at 80, by POLITICO's Eugene Daniels

— Under-the-radar issues that could shake up 2024, via POLITICO interviews with national political players visiting Chicago

— Sekile Nzinga, deputy chief of staff for the state's Office of Equity, has left her position. Gov. JB Pritzker praised Nzinga, saying she "brought thoughtful dedication to her work and has shaped the Office of Equity into what it is — a one of a kind, nation-leading office dedicated to prioritizing equity and accountability across all levels of state government. I’m sad to see her go, but I know the impact of her work will be felt across the state for many years to come."

May 10: A combined birthday party for state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, state Rep. Kam Buckner and political consultant Larry Luster will be held at Truth Lounge in Springfield from 7 p.m. to midnight.

FRIDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Ed Mazur for correctly answering that Macoupin County's "Million Dollar Courthouse" took 40 years to see its debt paid off.

TODAY's QUESTION: Where’ the Chicago memorial honoring Chinese Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces? Email [email protected]

State Rep. Harry Benton, former state Sen. Jason Barickman, former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Illinois Retail Merchants Association CEO Rob Karr, criminal prosecutor Christopher Pfannkuche, former Ald. Ike Carothers, nonprofits consultant Lisa Acker, politics wonk Liz Stark and Mayer Brown attorney Joe Seliga.

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