News in brief: Rabine launches bid for governor; ‘bridge’ phase delayed due to hospitalizations

Sims pushes back against GOP redistricting critics 

The Senate redistricting process turned into a back-and-forth on Monday between Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) during a subcommittee meeting focused on Will and Kankakee counties that featured little public testimony.  

When the Senate Redistricting Kankakee and Will Counties Subcommittee convened early Monday evening, just four witnesses offered testimony, including three from the same organization, during a meeting that lasted a little more than 30 minutes.   

Preckwinkle endorses Clean Energy Jobs Act: ‘the urgency...is crystal clear’ 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Monday threw her support behind the Clean Energy Jobs Act, urging lawmakers to take action on one of two major energy measures advancing in the state legislature. 

Sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), HB 804 seeks to increase development of renewable energy sources, reduce the state’s carbon production and pollution in Illinois and create jobs. Earlier this month, the House Energy and Environment Committee approved the Clean Energy Jobs Act, sending it the House floor.  

Pritzker, Black Caucus tout economic measures aimed at boosting Black farmers 

Gov. JB Pritzker joined Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton and members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Monday to promote an upcoming disparity study meant to reduce inequities between Black farmers and their white counterparts. The study is part of the economic access, equity and opportunity pillar in the Black Caucus’ recent legislative package Pritzker signed into law last week.  

The new law, SB1792, calls for the state to collect data on the "economic, land ownership, education, and other related differences between African American farmers and white farmers.” 

‘Bridge’ phase could be delayed due to recent COVID-19 spike, Pritzker says  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday expressed concern over a recent rise in COVID-19 cases that could prevent Illinois from entering the so-called “bridge” phase that would prelude the state’s full reopening.  

Under the governor’s reopening plan, 70 percent of adults 65 and older need to receive at least one vaccine dose before the state can enter the bridge phase. As of Friday, 67 percent of the state’s seniors had been vaccinated.  

Concerns over data, minority community involvement continue to consume redistricting process  

Witnesses who testified during the latest Senate redistricting committee meeting on Friday reiterated an ever-increasing chorus of criticism, calling for lawmakers to bolster their efforts to engage community members.  

The Senate Redistricting Northwest Cook County Subcommittee listened to testimony from six witnesses, many of whom expressed disappointment and confusion about the ongoing process, with one high school student calling for redistricting to be taken out of lawmakers’ hands. 

Dilara Sayeed, Jay Young and Darek Lau testified before the Senate Redistricting Chicago South Subcommittee on Thursday.

Representatives from organizations in Chicago’s South Side called for more public input and offered warnings Thursday about the potential for minority groups to be undercounted if lawmakers don’t use decennial Census data during the redistricting process.

Similar to what other witnesses said during the first four Senate redistricting hearings, members of the Senate Redistricting Chicago South Subcommittee listened to testimony from seven witnesses who expressed desires to improve public participation while making a host of recommendations on how to bolster engagement.  

News in brief: Senate approves vote-by-mail expansion and health care reform bill, sending both to Pritzker’s desk

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday vetoed his ninth bill since taking office.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday rejected his first bill in two years and issued his ninth veto since taking office, dismissing a measure approved during the January lame duck session that pitted attorneys and business groups against one another.

The governor’s veto, however, was a temporary setback for the measure, as lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a new version of a bill that culminated from recent negotiations. 

Representatives from organizations in Chicago’s South Side called for more public input and offered warnings Thursday about the potential for minority groups to be undercounted if lawmakers don’t use decennial Census data during the redistricting process.

Similar to what other witnesses said during the first four Senate redistricting hearings, members of the Senate Redistricting Chicago South Subcommittee listened to testimony from seven witnesses who expressed desires to improve public participation while making a host of recommendations on how to bolster engagement.