The politics of Pritzker’s vetoes – POLITICO – POLITICO

Good Monday morning, Illinois. It’s gonna be a hot week, via Tribune.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s recent vetoes — lifting a moratorium on nuclear power facilities and nixing a plan to allow Ameren to build new transmission lines without going through a competitive process — are turning heads among some fellow Democrats.

The measures were supported by legislative allies in Pritzker’s party, including Democratic state Rep. Lance Yednock, who carried the bipartisan nuclear legislation and says he didn’t learn of the veto until 30 minutes before it happened. “I was very surprised. It angered me. No doubt about it,” he told Playbook. Yednock said he plans not to run for reelection, something he decided before the veto. (More on that below.)

The left pushed back: Environmentalists, including the Illinois Environmental Council, criticized the bills, citing they would be costly to consumers.

Pritzker says its policy, not politics: His team had bristled at how the Ameren bill was pushed through by old-school lobbyists with little discussion, a tactic that Pritzker bristled at. As for the nuke bill, Pritzker’s spokesperson said its “vague” wording “could allow for larger nuclear plants to open and that’s not something the governor supports because our current statutes are not currently up to date enough to properly regulate new larger scale nuclear plants.”

The political lens: Still, there’s buzz that the vetoes help Pritzker politically by aligning him with the Democratic Party’s left wing. He’s not running in 2024 but may have ambitions to run again — either for a third term as governor in 2026 or as a presidential candidate.

Pritzker’s political team has always been good at looking ahead at where the electorate might be. At a time when the left is making inroads in the Democratic Party, Pritzker might want to continue to beef up his liberal bonafides. Vetoing a plan to lift the moratorium on nukes fits the bill.

That, and Pritzker’s support of eliminating cash bail, expanding abortion access and raising the minimum wage all put him in good stead with progressives.

He could point to those accomplishments if the left were to criticize him for opposing other measures, such as, say, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to raise the transfer tax on high-end homes. That proposal would need legislative approval. And, perhaps, could face a veto, too.

Yednock’s lament: The Democratic state rep from the 76th District says he made plans not to seek re-election before the governor’s veto. But his comments are telling: “My moderate views at times can make for strained relations in this current House Democratic Caucus,” he said in a statement to Playbook. His full statement is here.

Eyeing Yednock’s seat: His chief of staff, Murri Briel. “I am exploring to see if I have support in the community for a successful run,” she told Playbook.

America’s fight over tipping at restaurants comes to its biggest battleground yet: “Chicago restaurants say they will have to boost prices, cut staff if ‘sub-minimum wage’ proposal becomes law,” reports Wall Street Journal’s Heather Haddon.

“Some places are just getting by. I’m pretty nervous,” said Scott Weiner, co-owner of Chicago’s Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, who estimated his costs for around 500 service staff would escalate 62 percent under the proposal.

The proposal has prompted a debate between restaurant groups in Chicago, home to more than 7,000 restaurants that have gotten increased national attention due to the popular FX series “The Bear.” If the ordinance passes, Chicago would become the second-biggest U.S. city to eliminate the tipped-wage system, after Los Angeles and the rest of California ended the practice in 1976.

In Urbana at 10 a.m. to give remarks marking the first day of University of Illinois classes.

At Beidler Elementary at 8:30 a.m. for Chicago Public Schools’ first day of school. — At Brighton Park Elementary at 9:45 a.m. — At Kenwood Academy at 10 a.m. — At Jackie Robinson Elementary at 2:45 p.m. for a Home Run Inn pizza event for students.

No official public events.

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Vincent Brandys: “My sense of humor and work ethic.” Pic!

Daniel Goldwin: “A passion for hearing and telling dad jokes.”

Lucas Hawley: “Midwestern kindness, thoughtfulness and tolerance.”

Myrna Mazur: “Generosity and understanding with a healthy dose of forgiveness.”

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Dennis Potthast: “Social skills, the ability to interact with people.”

Andy Shaw: “The value of humor in daily life.”

Alison Pure-Slovin: “Respect for all people.”

Reem Townsend: “My assertion.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “Never willing to compromise integrity.”

Steve Weiss: “The ability to say no when everyone else wants to say yes.”

What’s your best piece of advice to an intern? Email [email protected]

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FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Judith Hamill and Tiffany Sostrin for correctly answering that many chicks born at the Museum of Science and Industry are sent to Lincoln Park Zoo, where some are eaten by the animals.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Why was Illinois’ northern border adjusted 60 miles north of its territorial border when it became a state? Email [email protected]

Circuit Court Judge Ilana Rovner, attorney Jonathan Leach, Mariano’s branding exec Amanda Puck, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt (who turns 104!) and belated greetings to Lian Nicholson, special assistant to the lieutenant governor, who celebrated Friday.

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