>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARIS.
>> POLITICALLY INTRIGUE AT THE
ILLINOIS STATE FAIR AS IT IS
DEMOCRATS' DAY AND THE CHICAGO
TEACHERS' UNION IS AT AN IMPASSE
WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL OVER
COVID-19.
SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON
THAT AND MORE THAT WE WILL TALK
ABOUT IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS
AND HERE WITH THE ITEMS ARE
AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER
CHERONE.
>> AMANDA STILL WITHOUT A DEEP
FRIED TWINKIE UNLESS YOU ARE
HOLDING IT BELOW THE CAMERA.
LET'S START OUT WITH THE
POLITICAL, THERE IS TRADITIONAL
BREAKFAST AND ABSENCES THE
GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER
IS THERE ANYTHING TO READ INTO
ABOUT THAT?
>> THE HOUSE SPEAKER, MAYBE HE'S
EVIDENTLY ON VACATION AND THAT
HAPPENS ALTHOUGH THIS IS ALWAYS
ON THE CALENDAR OTHER THAN LAST
YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC
WHEN THE ENTIRE FAIR WAS
CANCELED.
ALSO THE STATE SENATE PRESIDENT
HARMON IS RECOVERING FROM A MILD
CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
SURE, I MEAN THERE IS A LOT OF
TALK YOU CANNOT IGNORE THAT
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WASN'T
THERE WHEN THERE WERE AN
ESTIMATED 1,000 DEMOCRATS.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
AND IT COMES AS THERE IS A LOT
OF TALK OF THIS RIFT BECAUSE
PRITZKER SUPPORTED CHICAGO
ALDERWOMAN MICHELLE HARRIS OVER
CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY.
AND YOU ARE HEADING INTO AN WILL
BION CYCLE.
I THINK PERHAPS SHOWS SOMETHING
THE GOVERNOR TRIED TO SAY, HEY
YOU ARE MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF
NOTHING.
I THINK IN PART WHAT IT SHOWS IS
THAT HE'S CONFIDENT GRANTED IT
IS A WAYS OUT FROM THE 2022
ELECTION CYCLE BUT HE IS
CONFIDENT ABOUT HIS CHANCES.
>> AND THE OFFICIAL PARTY
APPARATUS IS NOT GOING TO NOT
SUPPORT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER
IN REELECTION.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE INDOORS COVID
THAT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION,
TOO.
THE GOVERNOR DID SHOW UP LATER
AND HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HE HAD
TO SAY TO HYPE THE CROWD UP.
>> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHEREVER
DEMOCRATS PUT UP A STRONG FIGHT
WE WIN.
IN 2018, WE WON THE LARGEST
VICTORY OVER AN INCUMBENT
GOVERNOR IN A CENTURY.
WE WON DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF
EVERY STATE-WIDE SEAT IN
ILLINOIS.
>> THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR
ESPECIALLY IN ELECTION YEARS THE
KICKOFF THE CAMPAIGN SEASON.
IS THAT THE POINT HERE TO JIN
PEOPLE UP AND GET PEOPLE
THINKING ABOUT DONATING?
>> ABSOLUTELY ALTHOUGH IT IS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN THE
CENSUS FIGURES.
TYPICALLY THE PRIMARY WOULD BE
IN MARCH.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN JUNE OF 2022
WHICH MEANS THERE'S MORE TIME
FOR POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND BACK
AND FORTH.
MOST OF THE FOCUS IS GOING TO BE
ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
RACE.
THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES ALL OF
WHOM WERE FRONT AND CENTER TODAY
AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.
JOCKEYING FOR POSITION TALKING
TO REPORTERS AND THAT'S GOING TO
BE REALLY THE MARQUEE RACE UNTIL
WE KNOW WHO THE REPUBLICANS WILL
NOMINATE FOR GOVERNOR AND THEN
ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE TOP OF
THE TICKET.
>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE
MAPS AND THE CENSUS BECAUSE WE
HAD ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS ON A
LITTLE BIT AGO SAYING THAT IF
THE DEMOCRATS INDEED DRAW NEW
MAPS AND THOSE MAPS MAKE IT
TOUGH FOR HIM TO RUN FOR
REELECTION HE WILL THINK ABOUT
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
AMANDA, DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING
ABOUT WHETHER THAT MIGHT BE THE
CASE?
>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT THESE MAPS AND IN FACT WE
KNOW THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE
BEEN SURVEYED AS TO WHETHER THEY
WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO
SPRINGFIELD THE WEEK BEFORE
LABOR DAY AND THAT WOULD BE OS
TENSIBLY TO --
OS TENABLELY TO VOTE ON AN
ENERGY PACKAGE BUT YES THE MAPS.
THE CENSUS DATA IS FRESH AND
PRESUMABLY THE MAP MAKERS ARE
WILL FOOLING AROUND ON THE
COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND LIKELY
GOING IN THEY HAD SOME NOTION OF
WHAT THE CENSUS FIGURES WERE
GOING TO BE.
YES, THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION WHO THEY MAY WANT
TO RUN AGAINST J.B. PRITZKER FOR
GOVERNOR KNOWING THAT RODNEY
DAVIS IS SOMEBODY WHO IS OFTEN
MENTIONED AND HE HAS NOT SAID
NO.
WILL THEY MAKE IT PARTICULARLY
EASY FOR HIM TO WIN AGAIN GIVING
HIM A PASS AT THE GOVERNOR'S
RACE?
OR WILL THEY MAKE THIS A RACE
WHERE HE IS GOING TO HAVE A
TOUGH GO OF IT AND A HARD TIME
MAKING IT BACK TO WASHINGTON IN
WHICH HE MIGHT GIVE SPRINGFIELD
OVER WASHINGTON A BIGGER
CONSIDERATION.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS
INTERESTING BUT THE SPINNING
DOGS LOOK LIKE FUN.
AND I WANT TO STICK HERE BECAUSE
SENATOR DURBIN SAID SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT HAVE GIVEN A CLUE
WHAT THE MAPS WOULD LOOK LIKE
AND WHETHER OR NOT RODNEY DAVIS
IS GOING TO BE MAPPED OUT WHEN
HE SAID HE MIGHT ENDORSE A
CERTAIN PERSON TO RUN AGAINST
RODNEY DAVIS.
EXPLAIN THAT.
>> THAT'S NIKKI BUDZINSKI.
AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY
SENATOR DURBIN WOULD HAVE LET
THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG ON AT
THAT TIME ONE.
WE KNOW THAT SHE LEFT A HIGH
PROFILE UP THERE POSITION WITH
THE WHITE HOUSE.
SHE WAS IN BIDEN'S FINANCE
OFFICE AND PRIOR TO THAT HAD
BEEN SERVING WITH THE PRITZKER
ADMINISTRATION.
NIKKI BUDZINSKI IS WELL THOUGHT
OF, HIGH REGARDED AND BOTH
DEMOCRATS IN DC CIRCLES AND HERE
IN SPRINGFIELD.
BUT IF THEY WERE FLOATING HER AT
ALL AND SHE WAS HOPING TO MAKE A
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAY, THEN,
THIS CERTAINLY DISRUPTS THAT.
I DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO GAUGE
WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR RODNEY
DAVIS.
AGAIN, OTHER THAN THAT SHE IS
SOMEBODY WHO IS RESPECTED
CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF TIES AND
CONNECTIONS AND WOULD SEEMINGLY
TO DO WELL FUNDRAISING.
THEN AGAIN, TIES TO GOVERNOR
J.B. PRITZKER HE IS NOT THE MOST
POPULAR IN DOWN STATE AREAS
WHERE WHAT HE BRINGS HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THE CORONAVIRUS IS
NOT ALWAYS VERY WELL TAKEN I
THINK THERE ARE POCKETS OF THAT
DISTRICT WHERE THOSE PRITZKER
SUCKS SIGNS ARE MORE PREVALENT.
>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS HOT THAT IT
WAS A SIGN THAT THE DURBIN
FLOATED THAT PERSON'S NAME TO
POTENTIALLY RUN AGAINST DAVIS
WHICH COULD GO DAVIS TO THEN RUN
FOR GOVERNOR.
HEATHER LET'S MOVE TO THE CITY.
YOU HAD A GREAT STORY THIS WEEK
ABOUT ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN.
AND THE COMMITTEE THAT SHE
CHAIRS SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY
BUT NOT REALLY DOING MUCH.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, HER COMMITTEE THE
CONTRACTING, OVERSIGHT AND
EQUITY ONLY MET THREE TIMES IN
2020 BUT MANAGED TO SPEND
$200,000 WHILE NOT MEETING AND
DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING IN TERMS
OF SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION.
HER COMMITTEE HATS NOT MET AT
ALL THIS YEAR IN 2021.
AND ABOUT 24 HOURS AFTER OUR
STORY PUBLISHED SHE SCHEDULED A
HEARING THE FIRST ONE THIS
ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR AND WHAT
SHE IS GOING TO DO IS HOLD A
SUBJECT MATTER HEARING NOT A
VOTE BUT A HEARING ON EFFORTS TO
EXTEND THE CITY'S CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTS SET ASIDE PROGRAM,
DESIGNED TO INSURE THAT FIRMS
OWNED BY BLACK CHICAGOANS,
LATINO CHICAGOANS, ERICKIAN
CHICAGOANS AND WOMEN GET THEIR
FAIR SHARE OF THE CITY'S
CONTRACTS.
IT IS A LEGALLY DIFFICULT
PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
ALL OF THE T'S CROSSED AND THE
I'S DOTTED.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A
QUESTION ANSWERED FROM MAYOR
LIGHTFOOT ABOUT WHY ALDERMAN
AUSTIN STILL HAS THIS
CHAIRMANSHIP AS SHE FACES AN
INDICTMENT ON FOUR FEDERAL
CHARGES OF BRIBERY AND LYING TO
THE F.B.I.
>> RIGHT.
BECAUSE ALDERMAN ED BURKE LOST
HIS COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP WHEN
THE NEWS BROKE HE WAS INDICTED
BY THE FEDS.
HEATHER, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS'
UNION SAYS NO DEAL RIGHT NOW ON
A RETURN TO CLASS IN A COUPLE
WEEKS.
BECAUSE OF THE COVID SITUATION
ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF
PROTRACTED BATTLE HERE AND ARE
KIDS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT STAYING HOME?
>> I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT
SCHOOL WILL START AS SCHEDULED
ON AUGUST 30TH.
A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS REMAIN
OVER WHEN EXACTLY STUDENTS WHO
ARE EXPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO IS
COVID POSITIVE WHEN THEY WILL
HAVE TO QUARANTINE, HOW LONG
THEY WILL HAVE TO QUARANTINE AND
WHAT SORT OF REMOTE EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM WILL BE SETUP TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE KIDS DO NOT FALL
BEHIND.
ESPECIALLY FOR THE ONES WHO
AREN'T SICK BUT HAVE TO ISOLATE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND
IT COMES THE START OF SCHOOL
COMES AS THE CITY IS SEEING A
SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINED SURGE
OF SPREAD OF COVID THANKS TO THE
DELTA VARIANT.
STARTING FRIDAY, EVERYONE IN
CHICAGO WILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK
INDOORS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT.
AND THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
MIXED MESSAGE THE CITY IS
SENDING SAYING HEY, YOU GOT TO
WEAR MASKS BECAUSE COVID IS
SPREADING SO FAST BUT ALSO IT'S
SAFE TO SEND YOUR KIDS BACK TO
SCHOOL EVEN WHEN STUDENTS
YOUNGER THAN 12 CANNOT BE
VACCINATED.
SO THE TEACHERS' UNION HAS
QUESTIONS.
>> AND AS Dr. MURPHY SAID IN
THE PROGRAM THAT VACCINATION FOR
KIDS 12 AND UNDER MIGHT BE
COMING SOON.
>> AMANDA LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.
MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION HOW DID
THE BUTTER COW LOOK DOWN THERE?
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN GREAT FAIR
FOOD AND HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO
STOP BY THE BUTTER COW BUT THERE
IS A I LOVE 90s CONCERT AND
MASKS OR COVID TESTS REQUIRED IN
CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT IS
FEATURING VANILLA ICE, SO THERE
YOU GO THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING
HERE IN SPRINGFIELD TONIGHT AND
FOLKS GOING ON THE SLIDE.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO RUSH OVER TO
THE GRANDSTAND FOR THE CONCERT
WHEN WE ARE DONE HERE?
>> WE'LL SEE.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO
FINISH UP AND I WILL TALK ABOUT
FRIED OREOS.
>> ALL THIS WORK, WORK, WORK,
WORK.