Good Monday morning Illinois. We’re getting into that single-digit weather period that makes us all proud to live in Illinois. ��
TOP TALKER
Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch at a state Capitol ceremony in 2023. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO
MENDING FENCES: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch hasn’t talked to Gov. JB Pritzker since last week when a debate about a hemp bill caused a division in their relationship.
But he insists he and the governor will be aligned as they embark on what’s expected to be a challenging legislative session as they try to shore up a $3.2 billion budget deficit.
Singing praises: “I love our governor. He’s been a great governor for the state of Illinois. I've helped him land some big priorities in my four years as speaker, and I'm going to continue to be a collaborative partner. We're not done getting big things done together,” Welch said in an interview with Playbook.
Welch’s comments follow Pritzker telling reporters that he’s turning the page on the kerfuffle that saw a hemp bill he supported get squashed in Welch’s caucus — even though it would have passed had it been introduced on the House floor because it had the support of Republicans.
“Every day’s a new day to do the right thing,” Pritzker said last week.
The bill would have banned the sale of some hemp products, like those that are infused with synthetic THC and too easily available to children.
Welch's methodology: It was a bill that Welch supported. But because he couldn’t get 60 Democrats to vote for it — his unofficial rule on legislation — he didn’t let it go to the floor.
“Some people may disagree with it, but I'm charged with leading a large and diverse caucus. I'm going to listen to all of them," Welch said. "I have given them guidelines that say, you know, diversity is our strength. Power comes from our unity.”
Another shift: The Illinois House speaker also announced a new management team, including replacing and reshuffling committee chairs.
“We're tasked with serving the common good, and this leadership team that you're about to see is going to help us do that,” Welch said. “It’s a really talented group of people, they're dedicated to collaborating. They're already established leaders. I just think that this is an exciting group.”
The team has plenty of familiar faces, with Rep. Robyn Gabel remaining as majority leader. Rep. Kam Buckner moves up as speaker pro-tempore and co-budgeteer, a position previously held by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth. She is now assistant majority leader.
Off the team is Rep. Aaron Ortiz, who missed a crucial budget vote last spring without notifying anyone that he was leaving town.
MIGRANT MOVES | The Biden administration says it will extend temporary deportation relief to nearly 1 million people from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela, via POLITICO’s Myah Ward.
The move comes days before Donald Trump takes office with a promise to restrict the program.
Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement saying the city and the mayor “reaffirm our commitment to the welcoming city ordinance. The City of Chicago will remain in compliance with the Illinois Trust Act,” which prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Here are the guidelines.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Ald. Bill Conway is introducing legislation that would provide the City Council oversight of mayoral appointments to the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education. Conway says the Board of Ed is the only city agency in Chicago “for which mayoral appointments are not reviewed and approved by the City Council.” His proposal comes ahead of Wednesday’s swearing-in of newly elected board members.
— High-tech: Ald. Raymond Lopez is planning a gunshot detection pilot program between the City of Chicago and Alarm.com for the Chicago Police Department’s 9th District in his 15th Ward, according to a statement.
— Rahm Emanuel is stepping down as ambassador to Japan on Tuesday and is embarking on a speaking tour this spring of the service academies of the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Japan.
— State Rep. Jehan A. Gordon-Booth, Circuit Court Judges Adrienne Davis and Chantelle Porter, Blue Island Park District Commissioner Tonya Howard and Intersect Illinois Christy George are among the Chicago Defender's Women of Excellence honorees.
— Jesse Jackson Jr.'s name popped up in a White House press briefing. A reporter asked whether President Joe Biden would consider pardons for the former Illinois congressman or former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden could issue more pardons but is “not yet ready to announce specific names.” Watch here
Henry Haupt: “Vacuuming. I vacuum the house every weekend, which takes just enough time to listen to Ian Grossman’s American Association of Motor Vehicles podcast.”
Charles Keller: “Cleaning the garage. It's basically all my stuff anyway, and you need to take inventory of your stuff so you don't buy more stuff that you already own.”
Jim LaCognata: “Walking the dog.”
Jim Lyons: “Doing laundry.”
Marilynn Miller: “Grocery shopping — and putting it all away. I don't enjoy the cost though!”
Donovan Pepper: “Cooking, cleaning dishes and folding laundry! Yup, all three! What can I say — I’m a renaissance man!”
Michael Stokke: “Feeding the birds and the deer.”
Timothy Thomas: “Making the bed first thing in the morning.”
Patricia Ann Watson: “Cleaning, organizing, ordering, is soothing.”
Next question: What’s the worst fall you’ve ever experienced? Email skapos@politico.com
FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that the 1730 massacre of Fox Indians occurred near Bloomington in McLean County.
TODAY’s QUESTION: What was the first newspaper in Illinois to have a daily circulation and when did it start? Email skapos@politico.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray, City of Chicago spokeswoman Melissa Stratton, APS & Associates President Alex Sims-Jones, businessman Ken Norgan and Keiana Barrett, who was the DNC Host Committee senior adviser.
