ILLINOIS
AROUND THE STATE
Illinois lawmakers contemplating new delivery fee proposal, fare increase to close transit funding gap
“With a little more than a month to go until the General Assembly’s fall veto session begins, lawmakers are continuing negotiations to pass a transit reform package that will prevent Chicago-area transit from going over a fiscal cliff,” by the Daily Line.
Scott Neville Jr. chosen as next chief justice on Illinois Supreme Court
“The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. has been chosen to be the state’s 123rd chief justice, succeeding Mary Jane Theis, whose three-year term as head of the court expires Oct. 26,” by Crain's Chicago Business.
Darren Bailey to run for Illinois governor, once again, on GOP ticket with Aaron Del Mar
“Four years after the hardline conservative farmer lost to Pritzker by nearly 13 percentage points in the general election, Bailey will officially join the Republican gubernatorial primary race later this month with Cook County GOP Chair Aaron Del Mar as candidate for lieutenant governor, according to sources close to their campaign,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
CHICAGO
MORE FROM CITY HALL
Budget hearing previews the coming fight over Chicago's $1.15B shortfall
“Beyond the city’s $1.15 billion 2026 shortfall, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council must overcome a deficit of trust in order to approve a budget this year,” by Crain's Chicago Business.
Downtown alderman announces run against Preckwinkle for Cook County Board president
“Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly formally announced his intent Wednesday to take on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the March 2026 Democratic primary, arguing “Cook County government is broken and is long overdue for change.” by the Chicago Tribune.
University of Chicago study shows Kaegi has ‘dramatically reduced’ residential assessment regressivity while in office
“Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s Office on Monday highlighted the release of an independent study showing an estimated $1.9 billion in savings to homeowners during the assessor’s tenure compared to his predecessor,” by the Daily Line.
FEDERAL
Cozen Currents - Trump's Fiscal and Monetary Policy Levers
President Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are nearing the final battle of their legal chapter, after an appeals court ruled the measures to be illegal.
The White House’s push to exert greater influence over the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision making is set to reach a crescendo this fall.
President Trump’s attempt to unilaterally rescind foreign aid creates greater uncertainty for the FY26 appropriations process in Congress and increases the risk of a government shutdown.
Read the Cozen Currents here.
Landing the Economic Plane, Beltway Briefing
Eight months into Trump’s presidency, Washington faces shutdown politics, shaky economic signals, and questions about his legacy. As recession fears grow and populism surges, the GOP’s midterm prospects may rest on how Trump lands the economic plane. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Patrick Martin, and Towner French.
Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.