| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | 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. The full list is here. RELATED Welch to the mayor: Get ready to hear ‘no’ a lot in Springfield, by the Tribune’s Rick Pearson ANALYSIS: To say it was a turbulent week inside the Capitol last week would be an understatement, writes Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore Debate over the future of CTA, Metra, Pace, RTA to heat up in Springfield this year, by the Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat
| | THE BUZZ | | 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. In Chicago: Immigration advocates warn that a proposal for Chicago police to help ICE could be illegal: “The proposal would allow police to help with deportations, but the city’s law department says it violates state law. Advocates say it could also have a chilling effect on immigrant communities,” by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg. 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. Statewide: When it comes to deportations, Illinois offers legal protections that other states don’t, by Illinois Public Media’s Emily Hays. Some migrants from Venezuela are encountering violence and chaos similar to what they risked everything to leave behind, by the Tribune’s Nell Salzman and Armando L. Sanchez
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Dr. Ngozi Ezike, ex-public health chief behind Illinois' Covid-19 response, fined $150K for ethics violation: “Ezike, a regular face on Illinois TV screens in the worst days of the pandemic, acknowledged she violated the state’s “revolving door” ethics law when she took the job as CEO of Sinai Chicago in 2022, but she says she didn’t do it intentionally,” by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. — Electric vehicle charging funds coming to the Quad Cities, by KWQC’s Abi Lee — New lawsuits against ComEd allege racist and retaliatory behavior, by The Triibe’s Corli Jay — Endometriosis, ovarian cysts among conditions added to Illinois medical marijuana qualification list, by WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky — Chuck Redpath Sr. is Springfield's city clerk, ending a nearly three-decade tenure on the city council, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie — Hallelujah: Kennedy Expressway reversible lanes opening early Monday, IDOT says, via ABC 7
| | CHICAGO | | — 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. — CTU President Stacy Davis Gates compares CPS CEO to a special education student who can't be suspended: “Gates quickly apologized for her comment, which she made at a meeting of hundreds of union members this week,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp. — City Hall insists ‘full-blown’ River West casino will thrive despite lackluster temporary casino performance, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout. — Federal arts funding becomes a glaring question mark during a second Donald Trump presidency, by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers — Former Chicago journalists Becky Schlikerman and Kim Janssen among those displaced by LA wildfires, by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo — City Council vote planned to lower Chicago speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, by Crain’s Justin Laurence — Red Line extension secures $2B in federal funds before Trump takes office, by the Block Club’s Maxwell Evans —Plowin’ in the Wind and other names in the ‘You Name A Snowplow’ Contest, by the Block Club’s Mack Liederman
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Former high-level assessor’s office employee under Joe Berrios charged with taking bribes from lawyer, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner — In Evanston, Biss pushes Envision plan to be decided before April 1, when a new city council comes in: “Critics have demanded more time for deliberation and public input,” by Evanston RoundTable’s Alex Harrison. — In Elgin, another fire breaks out at homeless encampment, as city moves closer to relocating residents, by the Daily Herald’s Steve Zalusky
| | TAKING NAMES | | — 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. He’s on a media blitz, too, calling China, North Korea and Iran ‘axis of autocrats,’ according to the Hong Kong Free Press, and defending American troops and their standing around the globe, via Stars and Stripes’ Seth Robson — 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 — Mike Ditka lands buyer for Florida home as he moves back to Chicago, by Crain’s Dennis Rodkin
| | Reader Digest | | We asked about your favorite household chore. 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
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Illinois congressional Democrats plot ways to blunt policies after Trump takes office: “They plan to enlist business allies in their fight against higher tariffs and immigration raids and promote bipartisan proposals while Trump pursues a more polarizing agenda,” by Daniel Vock for the Tribune. — How Brad Schneider and his New Democrat Coalition could make a difference in Congress, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau. — Duckworth says Defense nominee Hegseth is 'dangerously unqualified,' by St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer — Durbin demands answers on Bondi's foreign, corporate lobbying clients, by Common Dreams’ Julia Conley
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Moon over Mars? Congress is determined to kill Elon Musk’s space dream, by POLITICO’s Sam Skove — ‘Things are going to be bad, really bad’: The U.S. military debates possible deployment on U.S. soil under Trump, by Michael Hirsh for POLITICO Magazine — Little daylight between the candidates hoping to lead Democrats out of the wilderness, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren, Elena Schneider and Brakkton Booker
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — José 'Cha Cha' Jiménez, human rights activist and former chair of Young Lords organization, dead at 76: “Jiménez spent much of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s fighting gentrification in Lincoln Park, allying with other organizations in Chicago to uplift minority and low-income communities, and rallying for an independent Puerto Rico,” by the Sun-Times’ Violet Miller.
| | TRIVIA | | 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. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
