By Shia Kapos

Good Thursday morning, Illinois. The news doesn’t pause for fall.

Gov. JB Pritzker, introducing President Joe Biden at a Chicago event earlier this year, is serving as a surrogate for the president on the campaign trail. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo

GOLDEN AGE: With his surrogate hat firmly in place, Gov. JB Pritzker took on the sensitive issue of age in the presidential race Wednesday night at a Wisconsin Democratic Party fundraiser.

“We need to [dismiss] concerns about the physical age of a candidate,” Pritzker said, according to prepared remarks provided to Playbook. “Instead, what people are afraid of is the age of the candidates’ ideas.”

What it means: The comments from Pritzker, who is among a select group of high-profile surrogates on the campaign trail for President Joe Biden, are an indication as to how the Biden campaign will address the issue of age during the 2024 head-to-head matchup.

It’s just a number: Biden’s age — he’s 80 — has been a lingering concern among Democrats, but Pritzker said it shouldn’t be.

Big line: “Folks … Lauren Boebert is only 36. J.D. Vance is 39. Matt Gaetz is 41. We all agree that they may be young, but what they stand for is old and ugly,” Pritzker said, in a colorful speech that zinged conservative Republicans before zeroing in on former President Donald Trump, who is 77 and leads in polls for the Republican nomination.

“We have two examples of how people age at the top of our presidential tickets in Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” Pritzker said. “It’s not just that Donald Trump doesn’t have Joe Biden’s character — it’s that as he grew old, he had a chance to take all his life experiences and use them to become someone empathetic, courageous and kind. And instead, he chose to be cruel, cowardly and small.”

Among the notables in the room for Pritzker’s speech in Milwaukee were Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Gov. Tony Evers and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

Pritzker is among four up-and-coming governors who have been mentioned as future presidential candidates and who this time are standing up for Biden. The others are California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

BUDGET BONANZA: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled a $16.6 billion budget Wednesday that he says sticks to his campaign promise of “investing in people.”

That’s a nice way of saying he’s not raising property taxes and not reducing staff (too much).

Some take-aways:

It’s balanced: Johnson presented a balanced budget using $400 million in tax increment financing and a $50 million surplus from 2022. It’s a budgetary feat given pandemic relief monies are running out. Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman gets into the nitty gritty.

What about migrants? The budget allocates $150 million toward managing the migrant crisis, likely the biggest challenge the mayor will face in his first term. That’s a drop in the bucket for what's needed, an indication the mayor hopes to rely on the state and federal governments to come through with more help.

A nod to his base: The budget allocates funding for two publicly run mental health facilities and boosts public housing, both efforts that will help appease campaign supporters even if it’s not everything they wanted.

For police: The budget puts $1.74 billion into the Police Department budget — which is a slight increase from the previous year — but some vacant jobs won’t be filled. In a twist, Johnson wants to create nearly 400 civilian positions within the department.

Also getting a boost: The budget allocates more funding for more youth jobs and to re-establish the Department of Environment.

Dollars and sense: “Hotel taxes are projected to be $26.6 million higher than 2023 budgeted amounts. Transportation taxes are expected to be $35.2 million higher than 2023, and recreation taxes $25.9 million higher,” via Tribune’s A.D. Quig.

A “budget snapshot,” from Better Government Association's Geoffrey Cubbage

It’s a plan that closes the budget gap and expands mental health services, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone

Public hearings on the budget begin Monday.

If you are Budget Director Annette Guzman, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]

At the Harold Washington Library at 11:45 a.m. to announce the launch of DoIT’s Information Technology Trainee Program — At Union League Club at 7 p.m. to accept the 2023 Impact Award and deliver remarks at Greenlight Family Services Gala.

At the Hilton Chicago at 7 p.m. to deliver remarks at the World Business Chicago 2023 Chicago International Gala.

At Malcolm X College at 9 a.m. to give remarks at the Chicagoland Workforce Development Symposium — At the Cook County Building at 11:30 a.m. to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Before carving your pumpkin, send me a line: [email protected]

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

— In IL-12, it’s war: Congressman Mike Bost is accusing fellow Republican Darren Bailey of flip-flopping on his support for Israel. The two are in a heated primary battle for the 12th Congressional District. Bailey has stood firmly behind Israel since the attacks by Hamas.

Bost's campaign is taking Bailey to task for “appealing to Palestinian supporters and activists'' during his run for governor last year. While addressing the group, Bailey had unknowingly stood in front of a map that erased Israel. “America’s leaders must have the fortitude to do the right thing and stand unflinchingly with our closest ally,” Bost said in a statement.

Bailey, who’s twice visited the Holy Land of Israel, accused Bost of trying to “score cheap political points.”

The campaign rhetoric is a signal that turmoil in the Middle East is going to play a role in the 2024 elections.

— In IL-17: Retired Judge Joe McGraw launches Republican bid for 17th Congressional District, by Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Eileen O’Neill Burke, who’s running for Cook County state’s attorney, is being endorsed by the Joint 25 Council of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the umbrella organization for 25 local union affiliates in Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

— RATIFIED: The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has ratified a four-year contract with SEIU 73, SEIU Local 8, IFT Local 4407, IFT Local 4408 and Teamsters Local 916. The unions represent nearly 3,000 employees in the statewide office. “Getting these contracts done in record time demonstrates my commitment to fight for fair wages and benefits,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a statement after Wednesday’s signing, adding the contracts reflect “our shared values” and restore “faith and trust in government.”

— Rep. Marty Moylan, a Democrat, issued a letter that “strongly condemns” the Hamas attacks on Israel. Here’s his letter.

— Ald. Debra Silverstein’s resolution supporting Israel gets pushed to Friday —  expect pushback and debate, writes Tribune’s John Byrne

— Catholic Charities flights lead to surging number of migrants at O’Hare, by Sun-Times’ Michael Loria

— Critics link CPS’ budgeting system to falling enrollment, but a study shows it also helps redirect money to low-income students, by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp

— City’s settlement deal demands silence from whistleblowers fired by Treasurer Conyears-Ervin, by Tribune’s Gregory Royal Pratt

— Evanston commission rejects Northwestern plan for Ryan Field concerts: “The Land Use Commission approved a planned development authorizing a new $800 million Ryan Field, but the panel rejects a request for concerts, similar events,” by Sun-Times’ David Roeder.

— With cash bail eliminated in Illinois, the Cook County Jail population shrinks: “It’s one of the jail’s smallest populations in decades, but it could swell again as defendants deemed too risky to release remain locked up,” by WGN’s Chip Mitchell.

— Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been named to the board of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, which works to elect LGBTQ+ leaders to public office. The group backed Lightfoot, Chicago’s first out mayor.

— Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, will be feted at an Oct. 23 fundraising breakfast with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. Details here

— ‘Another star to Chicago’s walk of shame’: Berrios son-in-law gets 5 1/2 years in prison in bribery case involving two state legislators, by Tribune’s Jason Meisner

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

We asked for your thoughts on gerrymandering.

Ted Cox: “The solution to gerrymandering has to be national.”

Abigail Drumm: “Multi-member districts with proportional ranked choice voting.”

Mike Kohr: “Gerrymandering by individual states must be ended by federal law.”

Michael Lieber: “Enact multi-member districts and use ranked-choice voting."

Tim Mellman: Multimember proportional districts.

Barbara Moore: “Appoint a diverse group of STEM middle school students to draw the maps.”

Mark Pogalz: “Gerrymandering must be viewed in the same light as redlining.”

Kathy Ryg: “An Independent Redistricting Commission using a process based on community input.”

Bob Skolnik: “Require that an independent commission draw districts with no legislative veto.”

Hendrik Woods: “Implement independent redistricting commissions to draw electoral boundaries fairly.”

When are you too old for the job? Email [email protected]

— Duckworth touts Illinois clean energy in trip to Romania, U.K.—  and tries to reassure allies about Ukraine funding: “The Illinois senator is in Europe on a multi-leg trade trip promoting the state’s clean energy advancements. But Duckworth is also reassuring foreign allies that aid to Ukraine remains a top priority for Democrats — no matter what drama ensues among House Republicans,” by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles.

— Steve Scalise gets a GOP nod, but it’s still too early for a victory lap, by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris and Olivia Beavers

— ‘Unacceptably devoid of empathy': DSA facing an internal reckoning on Israel, by POLITICO’s Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman, with some insight from your Playbook host!

— Biden faces calls to block Iran’s oil — even if prices soar, by POLITICO’s Manuel Quiñones and Bob King

— Astrida Orle Tantillo has been named president and librarian of the Newberry Library. She joins Newberry from the University of Illinois Chicago, where she served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is currently professor of Germanic studies and history. Tantillo starts Dec. 1 and succeeds Gail Kern Paster, who has led the library on an interim basis.

— Maulik Vaishnav is now senior deputy executive director of planning and capital programming at the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). He was VP of innovation for the CTA.

— Marisa Kollias is chief operating officer at the C-Strategies strategic comms and public affairs firm. She had led comms at the Illinois Department of Human Services.

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Loren Wassell for correctly answering that Tagge’s Temple refers to McCormick Place, which was built in part after the late Chicago Tribune political editor George Tagge rallied support for it.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first woman to be paid $10,000 for a public service job? Email [email protected]

U.S. State Department public affairs exec Stephanie Sutton, Treasurer’s Office public affairs deputy chief of staff David Clarkin, Mayer Brown government practice associate Darrius Atkins and broadcaster Ryan Chiaverini.

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