U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, an Illinois Democrat from Highland Park, became the second Illinois Democrat to call on President Joe Biden to step aside for a new nominee. And Gov. JB Pritzker explained a comment picked up by a hot mic on Wednesday. 

Gov. JB Pritzker signs the Healthcare Protection Act at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker signed his top legislative priority into law on Wednesday to make a series of reforms to health insurance policy in Illinois that supporters hope will make it easier for consumers to access health without getting caught up in red tape. 

Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday he believes President Joe Biden can win November’s election. And Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) wants Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy to stay on the job through 2024.  

Gov. JB Pritzker takes the stage on election night in 2022 after winning a second term as governor. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker refused to rule out trying to replace President Joe Biden on the ticket if Biden were to decide to drop out of the race when asked by reporters Tuesday.  

Leaders of the four Chicago area transit agencies testify before the Senate Transportation Committee in Chicago on Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

As state lawmakers begin conversations about public transit reform, the leaders of the Chicago area’s four transit agencies told state lawmakers that the best way to improve services is for the state to increase funding for public transportation. 

The four agency leaders also oppose consolidating their agencies under one roof.

The Illinois Capitol   

The state ended Fiscal Year 2024 on June 30 with revenue falling in line with expectations of the state’s two major budget forecasting offices. 

Despite the news that state revenue officially came in higher than legislators first expected when they passed the FY24 budget in May 2023, the state’s independent budget forecasting office the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) pointed out Illinois has a lot of work to do to improve key economic conditions.  

The John Deere pavilion in Moline. [Illinois Office of Tourism] 

About 600 Illinois and Iowa John Deere employees are set to lose their jobs this summer as the agriculture giant cuts back production and transfers jobs out of the country.  

The Moline-based company also sits in the heart of Illinois’ 17th Congressional District — the state’s only competitive congressional district where voters demand moderacy from candidates and economic issues are closely watched by heartland residents. 

The Illinois Capitol   

Gov. JB Pritzker signed 51 news laws this week, including medical debt relief for Illinoisans and various changes to Illinois’ election code.  

Gov. JB Pritzker signs Illinois’ assault weapons ban in January 2023. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition on Tuesday to take up a challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban as opponents continued working through the legal system to block the law.  

Gov. JB Pritzker signs a pair of bills at the Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday. [Gov. JB Pritzker]   

Ahead of Chicago’s annual Pride Parade on Sunday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a pair of bills he says will benefit Illinois’ LGBTQ community.