Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. We’re reporting today from Springfield, where the governor is addressing the General Assembly.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget for the coming year includes $10 million in general revenue to expand existing grant programs at the Illinois Arts Council.

Post-pandemic pivot: It’s a key move by Pritzker who sees the arts as being essential to building up neighborhoods and communities that have been hard-hit by the pandemic, in part because arts organizations folded up.

“The needs of the arts sector are similar, whether it’s in a small rural community or a neighborhood in Chicago,” said Nora Daley, chair of the Illinois Arts Council and a longtime supporter of the arts, much like her late mother, former first lady of Chicago Maggie Daley.

Over the past year, Daley traveled to 34 communities across the state for a wide-range listening tour about what cities and neighborhoods need to ramp up arts programming. Across the board, the message was that arts programs “are economic drivers,” she told Playbook. “They are small businesses and entrepreneurial, so we need to invest in them the way we would do any other sector. They become a game changer in a community by attracting other businesses, cafes or shops.”

Statewide equity: The increase would support the Illinois Arts Council’s pursuit of a more equitable distribution of funds throughout all Illinois counties, according to Daley. The budget investment would also put Illinois ahead of most states in per capita support for the arts and individual artists.

By the numbers: The Illinois Arts Council funds about 850 organizations, making it the sixth largest creative economy in the country, according to Daley.

Talking points: Daley will be meeting with lawmakers in the coming weeks urging them to support Pritzker’s line item. “The arts are a core value, but this is more,” she said. “It’s about investing in small and mid-sized businesses and helping to rebuild communities.”

RELATED

— Illinois is poised for its first deficit after three years of surplus: The state forecasts a $721 million deficit for fiscal 2025. Under Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois earned nine credit rating upgrades, reports Bloomberg’s Shruti Singh.

— Also in Pritzker’s budget: A plan to erase $1B in medical debt, by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles… And $20M for initiatives to improve Black maternal health, by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch

A HUUUGE DEAL: Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Congressman Mike Bost on Tuesday in one of the most competitive primary races in the state.

The 12th District race has Bost facing Darren Bailey, a former state lawmaker who ran unsuccessfully for governor but who, like Bost, also sought the former president’s endorsement.

How Trump said it: “Congressman Mike Bost is doing a fantastic job representing the great people of Illinois’ 12th Congressional District,” he said on his Truth Social platform. “While I like and respect Darren Bailey, and was proud to campaign for him in 2022, Mike Bost was one of the first House committee chairmen to endorse my campaign, and Mike was a stalwart supporter of our America First agenda during my record-setting administration.”

What insiders are saying: Trump sees it as a safer bet to endorse Republican incumbents who are aligned with him.

“A tremendous honor,” is how Bost described the endorsement. “I will do all I can to help put President Trump back to the White House,” he said in a statement.

Bailey’s response: “I stand with President Trump, whose leadership is crucial for our nation. We must continue to support him, recognizing that every endorsement cannot be perfect,” he said on social media. And he took a dig, calling Bost “a soft-handed opponent and career politician who has turned his back on America first principles.” Full clip here

If you are Darren Bailey, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]

In the Illinois House chambers at noon to give his annual state of the state and budget address.

In City Hall chambers presiding over a City Council meeting, followed by a Q&A with reporters 30-45 minutes after the council meeting.

At Provident Hospital at 5:30 p.m. to mark Black History Month.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email [email protected]

— Ann Lightfoot, the mother of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, has died. She was 95. Ann was a resident of Massillon, Ohio, where she and her late husband raised their four children. She became a familiar face in Chicago, sitting in the front row of her daughter’s inauguration as mayor and attending major speeches and events to show her support.

During her four years in office, Mayor Lightfoot would often credit her mother with her successes, sometimes getting teary eyed as she reflected on the struggles Ann faced working nights as healthcare aide. May her memory be eternal.

— Get the intern: The Chicago Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention launched its internship program Tuesday. Internships are paid and offer an opportunity to work with community organizations and federal, state and local governments. Along with helping put on the big show, they are designed to create future leaders, according to the host committee. What an opportunity!

— State Rep. Cyril Nichols (32nd) has exited the Democratic primary, according to a State Board of Elections filing. That leaves Lisa Davis, who had already secured huge support from unions. Nichols didn’t have the full support of Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, so his exit may have been inevitable. The 32nd is a sliver of a district that includes Burbank, south of Bridgeview.

— Justice Joy Cunningham’s campaign has been endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Illinois AFL-CIO in the Illinois Supreme Court primary election.

— The Windy City Times is out with interviews of the Democratic candidates for Cook County state’s attorney: Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III.

— Michael Rabbitt is being endorsed by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and state Sen. Lindsey LaPointe in his bid for 45th Ward Democratic committeeperson.

— REINSDORF’s PITCH: White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Related Midwest real estate developer Curt Bailey visited with the “Four Tops” of Springfield on Tuesday — the Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders — to pitch their plan for a downtown stadium in Chicago.

Keeping it light: Reinsdorf told reporters the talks with House leadership were “cordial,” “positive” and “thoughtful,” reports WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a (Cubs) fan, issued a statement saying, “There are a lot of conversations that still need to be had, but I appreciate the opportunity to discuss future goals for Chicago teams.”

So who pays for it? Along with explaining the plan for a downtown park, Reinsdorf used the meetings to dispel the idea that he wants new state money to pay for it. He wants lawmakers to adjust the current deal with the Illinois Sports Facility Authority to have a portion of hotel taxes diverted to a new ballpark. In other words, he wants to use the same tax structure but for a stadium at a new location.

— EXPLOSIVE | Freshman Ald. Desmon Yancy accuses Ald. Greg Mitchell of attacking him and calls for him to resign leadership jobs: Mitchell denied the attack. “I did not assault him, and I have never assaulted anyone in my life,” he said in a statement. The Sun-Times’ Fran Speilman reports.

— Mayor Brandon Johnson pitches borrowing $1.25B for housing and development: “The plan would rely on letting dozens of the city’s controversial TIF districts expire, and that money would be used to pay back the debt,” by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg

— ANALYSIS | The mayor, his message and the media: Brandon Johnson’s communication missteps appear to have exhausted the bank of goodwill with the reporters who cover him — and have kept the public in the dark about what his administration is doing,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Speilman.

— Chicago’s school board wants to remove police from all schools starting next school year, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin and Becky Vevea

— Chicago suing oil, gas companies over ‘climate deception,’ by WTTW’s Matt Masterson

— Chicago Bears hiring Jennifer King, the first woman assistant coach in team history, by the Tribune’s Colleen Kane

— POWER LIST: Chicago magazine is out with its annual list, via Ted McClelland

— Isabelle Dienstag, partner and co-founder of Stomping Ground Strategies was named to the National Small Business Association Leadership Council.

— Suzanne Yoon’s Kinzie Capital buys Arctic Industries in private-equity deal, by Chicago Business’ Mark Weinraub

We asked where you’d want to hang out with the governor.

Adam Clemen: “At the Lantern in downtown Naperville, where we could enjoy an ice cold Budweiser and a pretty good Reuben sandwich. We could talk about a behind-schedule and languishing state bridge project that is hurting downtown Naperville, and we’d also chat about Sox Park.”

Lou Gale: “The Pritzker Military Museum since I love museums and he could show me around behind the scenes.” (It’s actually his cousin’s museum, Lou, so maybe she could show you instead.)

Kevin Hall: “In the Oval Office for a tour.”

Ashvin Lad: “To my parents’ home in Springfield for dinner with them, two retired state employees of 30+ years, and me.”

Maura McMahon Zeller: “At the Democratic Convention in August.”

Mark Rosenberg: “At Pritzker Field, the new White Sox ballpark at the 78.”

Alison Pure-Slovin: “On the Mobile Museum of Tolerance.”

Raymond Sendejas: “At the restaurant in the lodge at Pere Marquette State Park outside Grafton, Ill., a beautiful spot overlooking the Illinois River.”

Barbara Stubblefield: “At Lexington Betty Smokehouse in Pullman! The brisket sandwich is awesome.”

NEXT QUESTION: What did you like, or not, in the governor’s budget address?

— Dems face new divisions over Israel-Hamas war, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz

— Haley vows not to drop out, calls Trump ‘meaner and more offensive by the day,’ by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison and Lisa Kashinsky

— Trump rails against judge after New York fraud ruling, via POLITICO video

— Ariana Diaz has joined Stomping Ground Strategies as senior communications manager. She had worked at Accenture as an influencer strategist and manager.

— Today: Cardinal Blase Cupich, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Criminal Court Judge Erica Reddick and activists Lisa Daniels, Eric Anderson, Jo Jo Mapp and Jeanne Bishop headline a discussion: “Reconciling Justice: A Community Conversation on Criminal Justice Reform.” Kolbe House’s Mark McCombs will moderate. Details here

— Thursday: POLITICO’s Governors Summit convenes in D.C. with Govs. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.), Brian Kemp (R-Ga.), Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.), Jared Polis (R-Colo.), and Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) headlining discussions about border security and asylum seekers, energy and climate policy, health care and abortion, education and religion, and how NATO and the cease-fire movement are impacting state politics and policy. Register to join or watch live here.

TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Kevin Conlon for correctly answering that Sheila Nix once worked with U2’s Bono before going on to serve in the Obama and Biden administrations.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the Illinois congressman who served more than 20 years as both majority and minority whip of the U.S.? Email [email protected]

State Rep. Theresa Mah, Chicago Ald. David Moore, Chicago Ald. Lamont Robinson Jr., Highland Park Councilman Daniel Kaufman, former Congressman John Shimkus, former Congressman Phil Hare, former Urbana mayor and former state Rep. Laurel Prussing, Steven Smith Law Group’s Steve Smith, former Ald. Bill Beavers, Notre Dame Law School comms assistant Sarah Doerr, Tribune political reporter Ray Long, PR pro Lara Shipp Shiffman and former Cubs outfielder Adam Greenberg.

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