Progress Illinois

Shortly after announcing that two Obama adminstration officials will campaign for him in mid-June, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias disclosed that former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe will appear at a June 30 fundraiser in Chicago.

After an unprecedented meeting with Walmart leadership failed to produce follow-up discussions, the Chicago Federation of Labor is urging aldermen to vote against zoning approval for Pullman Park, a giant South Side development project that would be anchored by the city’s second Wal-Mart. Jorge Ramirez, the CFL’s secretary-treasurer, said the officials from the mega-retailer were "going through the motions" during their meeting on May 3. The committee is expected to discuss the proposal at its June 2 hearing.

The Illinois House of Representatives concurred 63-47 on a bill (SB 3012) to create a pilot program for the 2010 general election allowing for greater access to early voting on college campuses. Republican Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) had previously tried to hijack the initiative by co-sponsoring the original legislation (SB 2925) and refusing to bring it to the floor.  Supporters of the bill ultimately circumvented his tactic and advanced the legislation by moving the identical language to a different bill number.

Facing the threat of an amendatory veto, the House Executive Committee approved a trailer bill this morning that attempts to tighten up portions recently-passed legislation reforming the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (known as "McPier"), which operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier in Chicago. Most notably, the trailer bill provides more oversight of the newly-appointed (and temporary) McPier trustee, who was not chosen by the governor's office.  The measure will face a full House vote today. 

Yesterday, exhibitors warned that they may pull their business from the city if Quinn does not sign the initial legislation promptly. Last night, the governor blasted Sen. Bill Brady for voting in favor of the measure, which doubles the tax on taxi cab rides leaving Chicago's two airports. It's still not clear whether he will file a veto, which would be overridden quickly by both chambers.