Veto Session Recap! 📣🏛️
Dear Neighbor,
Last week we concluded the so-called “veto session” in Springfield, a short two-week convening in the fall before regular session starts back up in January.
This session is nominally meant to address bills we passed last spring that the Governor vetoed over the summer, and we did a little of that. There were three measures the legislature passed that the Governor struck — a “right of first refusal,” basically a no-bid giveaway, for an electric utility in southern Illinois; a massive expansion of privatized roadways; and a sweetheart property tax break for nursing home owners. (I opposed these measures when they passed in the spring.)
The legislature upheld the Governor’s action on all these provisions, so none of them are becoming law.
More controversially, we advanced a measure addressing Illinois’s longstanding moratorium on the construction of new nuclear plants. In the spring, we passed a bill that would have lifted that moratorium, allowing a wide range of new nuclear plants to be built in the state. I opposed that bill as written, and the Governor vetoed it this summer.
Negotiations have continued, and a much, much narrower bill was presented this fall. It only applies to what are known as “small modular reactors” or SMRs. It also requires an extensive study to be conducted over several years, and new safety regulations to be promulgated, only after which a plan to build these plants could be authorized.
This compromise was negotiated between the advocates of nuclear power, the Governor’s office, and the Illinois Environmental Council. I supported this much more limited version of the bill. It passed, and the Governor is expected to sign it into law.
One last topic we continued to discuss: the proposal for an elected school board in Chicago. This article summarizes the latest on that discussion pretty well. Short version: we’re more or less agreed on the maps for these districts, but there remains a question about whether and how we should implement the planned “hybrid” model of a part-elected, part-appointed board in 2024. The folks who insisted on mayoral appointments during the Lightfoot administration are suddenly not so excited about it with Mayor Johnson in office, which I think tells you everything you need to know about their motivations.
We’ll address that further when we return in January, and I’ll share with you some of my priorities for the upcoming session as well.
Until then, all my best,
Will
Winter Clothing Drive
Our office has kicked off our annual Winter Clothing Drive! From November 15 to December 19, we are collecting donations of winter clothing and gear to be distributed by mutual aid groups on the Northwest Side. And we need your help!
We are only accepting new or gently used items from the list below:
🧥 Winter Coats & Warm Clothing (sizes infant to adult medium)
🥾 Winter Boots (sizes infant/toddler 5 to adult)
🧣 Winter Hats, Gloves, Scarfs
🧤 Pajamas (sizes 2T to adult medium)
Drop off donations at partnering offices or coffee shops before December 19:
🧋 Sipping Turtle Cafe - 2959 N Milwaukee Ave.
🍵 Brew Brew Coffee & Tea - 3832 W Diversey Ave.
☕️ The Brewed - 2843 N Milwaukee Ave.
🏢 Rep. Guzzardi's Office - 3001 N Central Park Ave.
📍 Sen. Toro's Office - 3140 W Montrose Ave.
Thank you for your support!
Thanksgiving Office Closures
Our office will be closed for the holidays from Wednesday, November 22 through Friday, November 24, and will reopen on Monday, November 27. In the meantime, please reach us at (773) 853-2570 or will@repguzzardi.com for assistance. Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Goethe Elementary Holiday Market
On Saturday, December 9, join Friends of Goethe School for a Holiday Market featuring over 40 artists, crafters, and makers from our neighborhood and school community. The market will be at 2236 N Rockwell from 11am to 3pm.