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outspent. This near loss was due to Rauner
come up for a vote in early April. This includes
failing to hold on to the more conservative
legislation to tax investment services, legislation
section of his base in addition to protest votes
increasing lending costs and legislation
by constituencies angered by the previous four
restricting mortgages.
years of Rauner’s governance.
The other major shift in perspective that
In contrast to Rauner’s bad news, billionaire
may occur, is the bet that legislative leaders
J.B. Pritzker faired well in his election bid.
make on who the next Governor will be. If
Pritzker faced an election most pundits thought
the Democrat legislative leaders believe that
may be narrow. He was running in a 6-way
the next Governor will be Rauner, there may
election, with only progressive candidate Biss
be a political incentive to not pass a budget
and fellow wealthy Chicagoan, Kennedy polling
or other major legislation that will benefit the
competitively against him. Despite this, Pritzker
incumbent. If the legislative leaders believe that
only lost three counties and won with about
the next Governor will be Pritzker, it may be in
45% of the votes, or over 200,000 more votes
their political best interest to pass controversial
than Rauner. This vote margin has created the
legislation prior to Pritzker becoming Governor.
feeling throughout Springfield and its political
This could affect budget, pension, tax and other
organizations that Rauner has an uphill battle to
decisions facing the General Assembly between
victory in November.
now and June 1st.
The Primary election has had a decided
The one outcome that all citizens of Illinois
outcome on the legislative agenda in
can be sure of, is that they will be inundated
Springfield for this Session. There are only
with an unprecedented amount of political
two more months of session scheduled prior
advertising. At $66,000,000, Pritzker and
to November, but despite this fact, the General
Rauner made the primary the most expensive
Assembly has not moved much legislation.
non-presidential primary in the history of the
Without a doubt, the General Assembly will
country, and general election spending seems
increase the amount of legislation it moves out
on target to set another record. In addition
of Committee in their first week back, starting
to this spending, there are an unusually high
on April 10th. The Illinois House is scheduled
number of Senate and House of Representative
to move HB 4589 on the week the legislature
seats that are contested for the November
returns. This legislation, an initiative of the
election. Throughout the State, every individual
League of Financial Institutions, will reduce
is virtually guaranteed to be hoping for the end
auditing requirements for savings banks. Much
of the election, long before November.
of the legislation opposed by the League has
failed to move out of committee, but some may

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March 2018 IllInoIs RepoRteR