Illinois Democrats are positioning themselves as a firewall against President Donald Trump, who hasn’t been shy about his disdain for the state.

Gov. JB Pritzker, who has publicly traded barbs with the president, went viral after last week’s State of the State speech when he drew parallels between Trump’s recent executive actions and the rise of the Nazi party in Germany.

Illinois Democratic state lawmakers haven’t been pulling any punches either.

In early February, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, called Trump a “fascist” during a floor debate in which state representatives introduced nonbinding resolutions condemning the Trump White House for targeting DEI initiatives and pardoning those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots. Members on the other side of the aisle had already walked out of the House chambers in protest.

“They couldn’t stay and do their jobs and speak out against fascism,” Welch said. “But we’re here. The Democratic caucus is here. We will resist, we will fight.”

Despite bold promises like these from Illinois Democrats, constitutional law experts said the state can only push back so far against the president. Illinois lawmakers have the power to allocate state dollars to state programs they want to protect but find themselves limited otherwise.

Federal law takes precedence

Steven Schwinn, a constitutional law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said it boils down to the powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which says that, in general, federal law takes precedence over conflicting state laws.

“When the federal government and the state government clash in certain instances, it’s the federal government that will be supreme over the states,” Schwinn said.

Schwinn said that states have some room to adopt their own practices, thanks to the 10th Amendment, which says that if a power is not granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, it’s reserved to the states.

An example of this would be the Illinois State Board of Education setting curriculum guidelines for Illinois public schools. The state has the right to create those guidelines because that right was not given to the federal government in the Constitution.

Sanctuary city laws are another example of this. In 2017, during the first Trump administration, Illinois lawmakers passed the TRUST Act, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. Democratic lawmakers are looking to expand on it during the spring legislative session, while Cook County and the city of Chicago have mirroring policies.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the state, Cook County and the city of Chicago, arguing these policies are “making it more difficult for, and deliberately impeding, federal immigration officers’ ability to carry out their responsibilities.”

State Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in a statement to WBEZ, invoked the 10th Amendment, saying Illinois has the right to opt out of “federal attempts to commandeer state law enforcement resources to perform the federal government’s job.”

Schwinn said he’s skeptical the DOJ’s argument will hold up in the courts, thanks to the 10th Amendment.

“[The federal government] can’t tell the state of Illinois, for example, that it must enact such and such law, or that an Illinois officer must help the government enforce law,” Schwinn said. “[That] violates federalism principles that are well embedded in our constitutional jurisprudence and that it just can’t do that.”

Using budgets to push back

Illinois Democrats have another weapon in fighting against Trump’s agenda: the state budget. Each state has the right to allocate funds generated by state taxes, but states also administer federal funds.

Pritzker has vowed to use that power — and the upcoming budget — to combat what his office has dubbed the “Trump tax on working families.”

“Each year, there’s some difficulty that requires us to work hard to overcome it,” Pritzker said during his address. “This year, the surfacing difficulty is Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s plan to steal Illinois’ tax dollars and deny our citizens the protection and services they need.”

Pritzker’s $55.2 billion proposed spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year — a $2 billion increase from this year — allocates money to medical debt relief and scholarships for students attending Illinois colleges and universities.

The governor is also calling on the legislature to, among other things, allocate funds to increase access to abortion services on college campuses and lower the cost of prescription drugs. Pritzker also sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget earlier this week, urging the office to release nearly $2 billion in federal funds, which the governor said have been cut off by the Trump administration.

Pritzker’s moves follow the Trump administration’s attempts to freeze all federal funding to state agencies and programs. While their attempts have thus far been blocked in the federal courts, the president remains determined to slash funding for medical research through the National Institutes of Health and shutter agencies like the Department of Education.

Nadav Shoked, a Northwestern law professor specializing in local government law, said it’s normal to see the federal government “pressure” states by offering funding for certain programs on the condition that they adopt policies related to that program. The problem arises, he said, when the federal government withholds money as a means to force the state into compliance.

“You could have a federalism issue — that is to say, federal intervention with state powers in an unconstitutional manner,” Shoked said. “That’s a high bar to clear.”

The other problem, Shoked said, is related to checks and balances. Congress holds the authority to decide how federal money is spent and what conditions to impose on certain programs. Shoked said this time around, the Trump administration seems to be issuing executive actions that are pushing the envelope.

“Not all of it will stick,” Shoked said. “But you can’t win the lottery without buying a ticket. So, from their perspective, it’s costless to try.”

Ultimately, Schwinn and Shoked agreed Illinois lawmakers have recourse to ensure the state’s fiscal house is in order and reflective of residents’ wishes.

Mawa Iqbal covers state government and politics for WBEZ and Illinois Public Radio. Follow her on X at @mawa_iqbal.

Word has it that they’re already on their way north toward Illinois, other northern states, and Canada from their winter homes in Mexico.

Of course, we’re talking about hummingbirds. As a longtime hummingbird fan, I was delighted to read last weekend that over the last week, migrating hummingbirds have hit the road (so to speak) and are making the long trek from their winter homes south of the border.

Some are heading farther north, going into Wisconsin, Minnesota, and on into Canada, while others are going to stay behind and spend their summers with us here in the Land of Lincoln. The main two species that will be around here are the ruby-throated hummingbird, and the Rufous hummingbird.

Let’s talk about how you can convince them that your yard is the summer resort they’ve been looking for, and in doing so, get them to remember you as a friend.

Many Hummingbirds Spend Their Winters In Central America Mexico, But When February Comes, They Go

Unlike other birds that make the migration trip together, hummingbirds do it solo. They fly alone, often on the same path they took earlier in their life, and they really fly low, just above tree tops or water. Young hummingbirds have to learn as they go, because they navigate without parental guidance.

HummingbirdCentral.com:

During migration, a hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 times a minute, and its wings flap 15 to 80 times a second. Research indicates a hummingbird can travel as much as 23 miles in one day. However those that make the 500 mile flight from Florida to the Yucatan do it in 18-22 hours non-stop, depending on wind conditions.

If You’re Looking To Make Your Yard A Hummingbird Haven, Here’s What To Do

I’d start with a feeder like the one you see the hummingbird sitting on in the photo above. Better yet, get yourself several of them. The more feeders, the more hummingbirds.

Here are some tips, courtesy of BirdAdvisors.com:

• Provide more hummingbird feeders and spread them around your yard to create more territories.
• Ensure you clean and change the hummingbird nectar regularly. You can either buy nectar or make your own, but don’t use any with red dye.
• Provide a water feature such as a birdbath fountain or stream. Ensure that the water is clean and not stagnant.
• Grow native plants that will provide food such as salvias, fuschias, trumpet creeper, lupin, columbine, bee balms, and foxgloves.
• Don’t use pesticides and herbicides as these may be toxic to birds.
• Provide small perches of thin branches bare of leaves for hummingbirds to rest.

Now, Let’s Get To The Question Of Whether Or Not Returning Hummingbirds Will Remember You When They’re Back In Illinois

In addition to being able to fly backwards, these small birds have pretty extraordinary memories. According to BirdWatchingDaily.com, their ability to remember the exact locations of flowers and feeders, along with the timing of nectar replenishment, has been well-documented.

When a hummingbird visits your feeder, it’s not just randomly stopping by–it likely remembers when it was last there and whether it was worth the trip. Hummingbirds can even remember which flowers had more nectar than the other ones did!

BirdWatchingDaily.com:

Given that hummingbirds have excellent memory, it is reasonable to hypothesize that they may associate specific people with food sources, particularly those who frequently refill feeders. Many birdwatchers report that hummingbirds become more comfortable around them over time, even flying close as if expecting a refill, which at the very least means they do not see you as a threat.

So, yes. It seems as though hummingbirds do remember their Illinois friends.

News

Illinois stressing poultry biosecurity amidst avian flu outbreaks

The Illinois state veterinarian says poultry producers need to ensure strict biosecurity measures as the nation continues to deal with outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Dr. Mark Ernst says the state has confirmed four cases of the disease since late last year.

“Had a game bird flock, a couple of turkey flocks, and a smaller layer flock that had been infected.”  He says, “It seems to be at all different areas of the state. We’ve been relatively lucky not having the number of flocks that some of our neighboring states have had.”

He tells Brownfield prevention is in the hands of the producer.

“Things like making sure that your clothing and overshoes are clean and only used when you’re working with the flock.”  He says, “Limiting visitors to the flock, additions to the flock.  Considerations for isolation of the birds that are being added.”

Ernst says the state’s current suspension of all poultry sales and exhibitions runs through March 11^th.

“There’s always the possibility that may be extended, but the whole idea is to decrease exposure between flocks.”  He says, “To keep flocks isolated to themselves.”

He says flocks exposed to wild birds face a higher risk, and any producers that notice high mortality rates or other possible signs of infection should contact the department of agriculture.

AUDIO: Dr. Mark Ernst – Illinois state veterinarian