| | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. ��It’s Abe Lincoln’s birthday, and state and local government workers have the day off. Enjoy!
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Congressman Jonathan Jackson departs a Congressional Black Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | SCOOP: Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) has formed the new Congressional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Caucus, whose members are “committed to safeguarding the human and civil rights of all Americans,” according to the letter he filed with the House Administration Committee. “Our mission is to protect and promote diversity, equity and inclusion within American institutions” and to raise awareness in legislation, Jackson, the son of Civil Rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson wrote in the filing. In an interview with Playbook, Jackson said “diversity, equity and inclusion is an American value, and it’s good for business." He said Trump’s executive orders ending such programs are “breaking down economic, social and racial progress.” Lining up: Congress members from Louisiana, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have already joined the caucus. It's a notable step: Jackson’s move comes as some Democrats have criticized congressional leaders for their less than aggressive response to Trump’s efforts to remake the federal government. That appears to be changing. Jackson isn’t the only Illinois Democrat making waves in D.C. In the Senate, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin delivered remarks on the floor Tuesday calling out the crimes that Jan. 6th rioters have been charged with since Trump’s decision to pardon them for storming the U.S. Capitol. Durbin’s team has been keeping track. Watch his speech here. And Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) criticized cuts that could affect housing, SNAP and Medicaid benefits for underserved Americans. “The demonization of benefits recipients is appalling,” he said during a House Oversight Committee meeting. Krishnamoorthi shared that the issue is personal for him. His family relied on SNAP benefits for a time when he was a child, he said. Watch here.
| | THE BUZZ | | SOUNDS TRUMPY: President Donald Trump isn’t the only one wanting to oust government workers who aren’t on board with his ideology. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said this week that he wishes he would have “cleaned house faster” after taking office. He has regrets: “There were a number of people that I inherited in my administration. And I was trying to show Godly presentation that we can work with people who come from other administrations. They don’t have to agree with me 100 percent to work within my administration,” the mayor told attendees at a New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church gathering Monday. That didn’t work out, he said: “Yeah, I wouldn’t have done that. If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go. So, now I’m in a position now where I’ll be making some decisions in the days to come because playing nice with other people who ain’t about us — it’s just a waste of exercise.” Stay tuned: “So, there’s a whole bunch of people saying, `Oh, shoot. Who’s about to get fired?’” Johnson added. “Well, you about to find out. Stay tuned.” Watch it here (at about 48:20) The mayor’s office would not elaborate Tuesday on what Johnson meant, reports the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. “Speculation about whose days might be numbered centers around three holdovers from former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration: Chicago Park District Superintendent Rosa Escareno, Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee and Transportation Commissioner Tom Carney, recently elevated by Johnson,” Fran reports. We’re curious: Chicago Chief Operating Officer John Roberson dodged our questions last week when we asked about possible changes being afoot in Parks or Aviation. He praised Rhee at length for her work. As the mayor said: Stay tuned. If you are Jamie Rhee, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | 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
| | | | We’ve re-imagined and expanded our Inside Congress newsletter to give you unmatched reporting on Capitol Hill politics and policy -- and we'll get it to your inbox even earlier. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Competing visions for mass transit overhaul emerge in Springfield: “Organized labor is weighing in with its ideas, which include changing a requirement that riders’ fares make up half the budgets of Metra, CTA and Pace. Another idea is testing a road-usage fee rather than the state’s traditional fuel taxes. Its plan also would give the Regional Transportation Authority control over fares in hopes of delivering on the elusive goal of allowing a riders a single way to pay for trips on the various train and bus services,” by Crain’s John Pletz. — Education issues to watch in Springfield: “The wild cards during this legislative session are the policy changes that President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress are making or discussing,” by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie. — House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch has created working groups to address reproductive rights, gun safety, education and healthcare access, among other issues that are expected to be addressed in the governor’s upcoming budget. — Illinois Realtors unveils legislative agenda aimed at easing housing shortage, by Crain’s Dennis Rodkin — County board OKs $10M Massey settlement; critics say it was 'woefully inadequate,’ by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie
| | CHICAGO | | — Heartland Alliance Health shutting down clinics and food pantries, affecting thousands in need: “The community health care nonprofit is shuttering and will close its Uptown and Englewood clinics and three food pantries by April. The closure comes less than a year after the group broke off from parent organization Heartland Alliance,” by the Block Club’s Madison Savedra and Melody Mercado. — MEDIA MATTERS: After a five-year absence, Playboy magazine is back in print: “The new Playboy comes almost 72 years after the first. That was the creation of a Chicago copywriter/cartoonist named Hugh Hefner,” by the Tribune’s Rick Kogan.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — DuPage County Board votes to strip Congressman Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse: “While two parties voted along partisan lines, Democrats Lynn LaPlante of Glen Ellyn and Lucy Chang Evans of Naperville abstained from the vote and expressed disappointment that the matter was raised. The courthouse will now be known as the DuPage County Judicial Office Facility,” by the Naperville Sun’s Tess Kenny. — Survey says! Mariyana Spyropoulos, the recently elected Cook County Circuit Court clerk, is asking for input about the office’s 12 different locations and how they operate. Survey here — Plan to turn Evanston-owned mansion into an event venue and hotel advances, by Crain’s Rachel Herzog — For 2 Years, 211 helpline has connected Cook County residents to social services, by WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan — Endorsement: Steve Hackney, a candidate for Evanston City Council, has been endorsed by former Evanston Mayor Jay Lytle. Hackney faces incumbent Council member Clare Kelly in the First Ward.
| | POT-POURRI | | — Record-breaking Illinois pot sales light up ‘thriving cannabis industry’ — despite unregulated hemp market: “The average price of bud has fallen gradually, numbers show. Recreational sales grew 2.5% last year, with dispensaries logging $1.72 billion in sales,” by the Sun-Times’ David Struett.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — What’s next for pardoned ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich? A book and no apologies, by the Tribune’s Rick Pearson and Jeremy Gorner
| | | | A new era in Washington calls for sharper insights. Get faster policy scoops, more congressional coverage, and a re-imagined newsletter under the leadership of Jack Blanchard. Subscribe to our Playbook Newsletter today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what Rod Blagojevich might title his book. Sara Feigenholtz, the state senator: "All Shook Up" (He’s a big Elvis fan.) Kristopher Anderson: “Hair Apparent!” Leah Brennan: “Fool’s Gold” Eli Brottman: “Witch Hunt” Andrew Davis: “A Little Less Conversation” John Engle: “Serbs You Right” Lucas Hawley: “The Path of a Trump Apprentice” Carlton Hull: “Redemption Of Rod!” Charles Keller: “I’ve got this thing, and it’s fucking golden” Kevin Lampe: “The Hairbrush and Me” Kathy Posner: “From Springfield to the Slammer and Back” Dennis Rendleman: “Blago-Away” Mark Rosenberg: “Pardon Me!” Barry Salzman: "Grounded Elvi: The crash and burn of Rod Blagojevich" Andy Shaw: “Up, Down and Still Around: My Life on the Political Firing Lines” Rodrigo Sierra: “Fucking Golden” Rachel Ventura: “All Things Golden” Next question: What new name would you give to the Chicago River? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Blagojevich and the Democrats enabling Trump’s DOJ demolition, by POLITICO’s Charlie Mahtesian — Associated Press blocked from Oval Office for not using ‘Gulf of America,’ by POLITICO’s Ben Johansen — Top ICE officials removed as White House ramps up pressure on deportations, by POLITICO’s Myah Ward — Treasury officials: Musk ally ‘mistakenly’ had power to alter payments system, by POLITICO’s Michael Stratford and Kyle Cheney — ‘Absolute nightmare’: Feds fret as Trump’s resignation plan stalls, via POLITICO
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Will Shih is now director of economic development in Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s Chicago office. He was executive secretary in the White House for the U.S. trade representative and earlier was a policy adviser on Duckworth’s D.C. team and a Chicago City Hall alum during the Lightfoot administration. — Kate Doyle is now managing director of Per Scholas Chicago, a national workforce development nonprofit that is expanding its presence in Illinois. She was CEO of KindWork.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Bill Callahan, popular Woodlawn Tap owner who fought City Hall, dies at 78, by the Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek
| | EVENTS | | — Thursday: Demi Palecek and Maggie O'Keefe, Democratic ward leaders in the 46th and 40th wards, respectively, are hosting a Galentine’s Night party to raise funds for Chicago Abortion Fund and play Drag Bingo. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Clem Balanoff for correctly answering that the Hotel LaSalle Garage at 215 West Washington Street was the first high-rise parking garage in Chicago — and the country — built in 1918. It was demolished in 2005. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who served as grand marshal of the Auto Show before going on to national political fame? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Chicago Ald. Michele Smith, WVON commentator and former state Rep. Ken Dunkin, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Comms Director Phil Davidson, GOP insider Barb Frobish, Fidelity Investments investment pro Matthew Nadherny, ethicist Leon Kass, Crowell & Moring attorney Jeremy Iloulian, public-relations pro Beth Silverman, POLITICO Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels and POLITICO Editorial Director of Newsroom Platform Innovation Kristen East -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 | | | |
