Happy Thursday, Illinois. Brush your teeth and comb your hair because the president’s coming to town.
When he visits Belvidere today, President Joe Biden hopes to shift the attention from complicated world issues that have dogged him the past month to the economy.
He’ll stand with hundreds of United Auto Workers to call attention to their contract agreement for better wages with the carmaker Stellantis. And he’ll celebrate the company’s reopening of a previously shuttered plant to build midsize SUVs and electric vehicle batteries. About 2,500 jobs are expected to be created for midsize truck production and another 1,300 for batteries, White House spokesman Ben LaBolt told Playbook ahead of Biden’s visit.
The president hasn’t visited Belvidere before but he’s well familiar with the plant, having spoken to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.
Joining the president for today’s visit will be UAW President Shawn Fain and Gov. JB Pritzker, who pushed for the reopening of the Belvidere plant. It had previously produced Jeep trucks.
It’s a perfect setting for a political endorsement, but it’s Biden’s White House team that’s organizing the “official” event — so don’t count on any big announcements that way.
Fundraising follows: Politics will happen after his visit to the plant when Biden headlines a political fundraiser hosted by Glen Tullman, a Chicago health-care entrepreneur.
The president is pivoting to domestic issues after four weeks of focusing on events overseas — namely the terrorist attacks on Israel and subsequent counterattacks in Gaza. Those issues won’t be far away. Protesters will be around town calling attention to the issue.
SPRINGFIELD — There won’t be any fireworks here today, the last day of the General Assembly’s veto session.
There have been movements of heated discussions, but most legislation that popped up during the two-week veto session is being pushed to next year’s spring session.
It’s how veto sessions sometimes go before an election year. No one wants to do anything controversial until after the March primary, acknowledged one veteran lobbyist.
How it works: Veto sessions are either about getting something done by year’s end, or about setting the table for the next session. And this year was table-setting.
One big exception: Lawmakers passed a bill to lift a moratorium on the construction of small, modular nuclear reactors in Illinois. This was a bipartisan win for Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican state Sen. Sue Rezin. Pritzker had vetoed an earlier version of the legislation. The revamped bill with his recommended changes was shepherded by Democratic Senate President Don Harmon along with Rezin. Crain’s Leigh Giangreco has more
Hitting a speed bump: Chicago elected school board plan stalls amid House, Senate divisions, by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles
Response: The Chicago Teachers union is “disappointed” and “frustrated,” it says in a statement.
Chances dim for private school tax credit extension, by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella
Heading to the governor’s desk: State Sen. Cristina Castro carried a measure to establish “a clearly defined” number of days that Cook County taxpayers can file and argue as it relates to property assessment appeals.
If you are Cristina Castro, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]
At Rockford airport at 11:25 a.m. to greet President Biden. At the Community Building Complex of Boone County at 12:45 p.m. for Biden’s remarks on the UAW labor agreement.
At City Hall at 4 p.m. for a City Council meeting.
At DoubleTree by Hilton in Skokie at 7 p.m. for the Shomrim Society Endowment Fund’s Community Heroes Awards Reception.
Hey, it’s two weeks until Thanksgiving. Let’s talk turkey at [email protected]
— Sens. Durbin, Duckworth introduce bill to expand boundaries of the Lincoln Home site: “It includes a proposed replica of the 1844 Lincoln cottage and the Elijah Iles House, named for one of the city’s earlier settlers,” by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie.
— Inside Illinois’ youth lockups, children go without basic services and face “excessive” punishments, by Capitol News’ Molly Parker
— Ho-Ka Turkey Farms in Waterman is closing after 90 years, Kauffman family says, by Shaw Local’s Camden Lazenby
— Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t pay a price for floor leader’s ouster, top aide says: “After the mayor cast the tie-breaking vote that saved Ald. Carlo Ramirez-Rosa from a Council censure, senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee said it was not a mistake for Johnson to empower the chair of the Council’s Socialist Caucus as both floor leader and Zoning Committee chair,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman
— City council disruptions from gallery prompt call for changes for workplace safety, by ABC 7’s Craig Wall
— Push for reparations in Chicago gets new life as mayor earmarks $500K for new panel, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone
— Streeterville boutique hotel becoming homeless shelter, prompting staff layoffs, by the Sun-Times’ Michael Loria
— Mayor’s spending plan set aside $5M to create Department of Reentry to help returning inmates, writes WTTW’s Heather Cherone
— Interview with Obama Presidential Center museum director: “We’re telling the story of a particular president and no museum is ever neutral in its storytelling,” Louise Bernard told the Tribune’s A.D. Quig.
— A total of 54 potential jurors have been questioned since Monday, via Tribune report by Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau
— Expect opening statements to start this afternoon, the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel reports
— Harvey residents have to make way for flood prevention: “Thirty-one properties in the south suburb will be acquired to complete the project and some residents object,” by WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde.
— Ex-CTA clerk who pleaded guilty to stealing $350K from Retirement Fund sentenced to year in prison, by WTTW’s Matt Masterson
Here’s a lengthy list of politicos past or present who could coach the Bears.
James Castro: The late Ald. Fred Roti, also a former state senator, who was often linked to the mafia.
Graham Grady: Former mayoral candidate Don Haider, who also was a rugby player inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame.
Bryce Harris: The late Gov. “Big Jim” Thompson. “He would successfully coach the Bears and would also be able to keep them in Chicago.”
Robert Kieckhefer: Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “They deserve each other.”
Laura Kotelman: Former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert Thomas.
James LaCognata: The late Mayor Richard J. Daley. “He knew how to win.”
Ed Mazur: Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. “She’s good with figures — win, losses, percentages — and will see that Bears players are fairly compensated.”
Joan Pederson: The late Congressman Dan Rostenkowski.
Barry Salzman: Former Ald. Ed Burke. “He’s shrewd, tough inside, knew how to game plan … as long as he can avoid consequential late-game penalties.”
David Schwartz: State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz. “She has a good instinct for how to read the field and when/how to make a move.”
Andy Shaw: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “She’s a die-hard Bears fan who is rougher, tougher and occasionally meaner than most players — and 10 times smarter than all the coaches. ‘Monstress of the Midway!’”
Charles Keller and Warren Silver say Tommy Tuberville is a natural. “He has coaching experience and more importantly it would get him out of the Senate,” says Silver.
Jesse Weinberg: Former 25th Ward Ald. Vito Marzullo, “who was fond of saying, ‘I’ve got the clout, and I’m going to have the clout as long as I live.’ The Monsters of the Midway would run like a well-oiled machine.”
Have you ever called your alderman? Email [email protected]
— Rod Blagojevich has thoughts about the Trump trials: “The former Illinois governor lauded Trump for ‘the kind of chutzpah he shows … right there in the lion’s den,’” by POLITICO’s Eric Bazail-Eimil.
— Judith Allen, clinical director and COO at Communities In Schools of Chicago, an education nonprofit, spoke at Kimbal Musk‘s Big Green Annual event in Colorado addressing food injustice. Big Green has helped build 700 learning gardens at Chicago Public Schools. Musk, Elon’s brother, also cofounded Kitchen American Bistro in Chicago.
— DEBATE RECAP: Who won, who lost and who went ‘unhinged’ in Miami, via POLITICO
— As U.S. bombs Iranian sites in Syria, Houthis shoot down drone over Red Sea, by POLITICO’s Paul McLeary
— The Supreme Court dismantled Roe. States are restoring it one by one, by POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein, Megan Messerly and Jessica Piper
— Dems all agree, Tuesday’s elections were a romp. They disagree about why, by POLITICO’s Holly Otterbein, Elena Schneider and Jonathan Lemire
— Ray Williams, a Maywood trustee, is the new political director at SEIU Local 73. Williams was deputy political director and political field director for Local 73.
— Cybil Rose has joined Morreale Communications as executive VP. She was VP of communications at KemperLesnik.
— Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke on the House Floor on Tuesday to recognize Decatur Township Supervisor Lisa Stanley, who died recently after a long health battle. Budzinski’s speech honored Stanley’s lifetime of service.
— Nov. 17: CAN TV is holding a 40th Anniversary Gala. Details here
WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jon Maxson, senior adviser to the Illinois House speaker, for correctly answering that the Home Insurance Building was built at the corner of Adams & LaSalle Streets, and its 10 stories were completed in 1885.
TODAY’s QUESTION: Where is the only bend in the Mississippi River where the river flows east to west located? Email [email protected]
POLITICO Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris, former Congressman Michael Patrick Flanagan, former state Rep. Sid Mathias, Kirkland & Ellis partner Douglas Gessner, CalMatters exec Trevor Eischen, Glen Ellyn native and Detroit Free Press investigations reporter Matthew Dolan and Beer Distributors of Illinois President Bob Myers who turns the big 6-0.
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