In the News
Robinhood gets 'you addicted' so you 'keep spending money,' lawmaker warns
Robinhood's (HOOD) stock began trading on Thursday at $38 a share, equating to a valuation of around $32 billion by market cap. Shares did not surpass their initial $38 price on Thursday, trading at around $36. Though Robinhood's IPO marks a celebratory occasion for the company and investors, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL), urges users and prospective investors to tread carefully. "[Robinhood] is a business that, at [its] core, has no economic interest in creating value for … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Congressman Rendition of 'Fergalicious' to Highlight Climate Change Policy: It's 'FERC-alicious'
Listen up, y'all, 'cause this is it, the beat that Rep. Sean Casten is bangin' about politics.On Wednesday, Democratic Rep. Casten, 49, spoke about his bill related to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, also known as FERC, by remixing Fergie's hit 2006 track "Fergalicious."First making a fun reference to Megan Thee Stallion's popular song and catchphrase, "Hot Girl Summer," Casten called his argument "hot FERC summer," before he made his case on the House floor."I rise to continue our … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Robinhood 'has no economic interest in creating value for customers': Rep. Casten
Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss his ‘Trading isn't a Game Act' and the future of trading platforms as Robinhood makes its public debut.Video TranscriptAKIKO FUJITA: For much more on some of the regulatory headwinds that the platform is likely to face moving forward, let's bring in Representative Sean Casten from Illinois. And of course, Congressman, we have you on here because you've introduced this bill, Trading Isn't a Game Act to really look at the gamification … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
US House lawmaker wants to turbocharge FERC's profile, role in energy transition
A former energy industry executive now serving in the U.S. House of Representatives is on a mission: elevate the public profile of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.In doing so, the representative hopes to build support in Congress to turbocharge FERC's authority on a range of policy issues that could facilitate the clean energy transition and help wholesale power markets combat climate change more effectively."What's the [Winston] Churchill line about, 'success is going from failure to … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
The Day ‘Hot Girl Summer’ Came to Congress
On Tuesday morning, Representative Sean Casten from Illinois stood on the House floor with a poster of the album art for Megan Thee Stallion's "Hot Girl Summer" propped against a display easel beside him. The poster, which features a cartoonish illustration of Megan and collaborator Nicki Minaj riding a bottle of cognac like a horse, had been photoshopped to instead feature the logo for one of the government's most nerdy, esoteric, and arguably un-hot agencies: the Federal Energy Regulatory … Continue Reading
July 17, 2021
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten Hosts First In-Person Town Hall Since Pandemic Took Hold
More than 200 people turned out for a town hall meeting hosted Saturday, July 17 by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove.The meeting, held at the American Legion Post 80 in Downers Grove, marks the first in-person event that the congressman has organized since the pandemic took hold. Casten said he was excited to meet face-to-face with his constituents.The town hall did not focus on a singular topic, rather an array of issues that concern residents of the 6th Congressional District. From the … Continue Reading
July 17, 2021
Casten talks infrastructure, child tax credit during Saturday town hall
Infrastructure, the child tax credit and clean energy were among the topics U.S. Rep. Sean Casten addressed Saturday during a near-capacity town hall at the American Legion Post in Downers Grove.Casten said his last in-person town hall was 17 months ago, before the state imposed restrictions on public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic."Democracy works best when it's in person, "said Casten, a Downers Grove Democrat representing Illinois' 6th Congressional District, which includes parts … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Sean Casten: Congress moving in 'the right direction' on clean energy
Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) says that trillion-dollar proposals put together by Congress are moving "in the right direction" on investing in clean energy and climate technology.During an interview on Hill.TV's "Rising," Casten was asked how well he thinks $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure proposal or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation proposal addresses clean energy.The $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation proposal includes much of what was left out of the bipartisan proposal, … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Chicago Region Prepares to Take Action on Climate Change
The Chicago region is warming faster than the globe, and the frequency and intensity of the area's precipitation is likewise changing faster than elsewhere in the nation.That was the sobering news delivered by Richard Spinrad, the newly sworn-in administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Spinrad's comments, made earlier in the week during the virtual launch of the 2021 Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region, reflected a sense of urgency that's so far been lacking … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Lake County’s congressional reps ask EPA to tighten regulation of ethylene oxide emissions
As a new administrator takes charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, members of Congress representing Lake County want to see increased scrutiny over the emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO), a known carcinogen.Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Deerfield, Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, and Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, are among eight members of Congress who sent a letter to new EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan on July 1 urging him to issue consistent regulations protecting against … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Local leaders unveil plan to take on climate change
After two years of planning, local leaders are ready to take action on climate change.With the goal of decreasing and eventually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the next 30 years, leaders from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration unveiled a Climate Action Plan designed to mitigate climate effects on the local environment.Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, chairman of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus environment committee, hosted Tuesday's online … Continue Reading
July 12, 2021
As Chatterjee's tenure ends, FERC could be 'single most impactful agency' on climate: Rep. Casten
As the clock ticks down on Commissioner Neil Chatterjee's time at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the task of finding a replacement commissioner is growing more urgent for industry and environmental groups. But in Congress, the appointment is being less closely watched than by the industry, despite its potential to accelerate Democratic priorities on renewables integration, fossil fuel infrastructure and more, according to one Democratic representative."I would love to tell you that … Continue Reading
July 08, 2021
Biden in the suburbs: 'Think how life will be when it's quicker to drive on Randall Road'
President Joe Biden promised jobs and better access to education in an appeal that may resonate with suburban swing voters during a historic trip to McHenry County College."America is back," Biden said Wednesday, promising to fund transportation through an infrastructure package that faces opposition in Congress."Think how life will be when it's quicker to drive on Randall Road," Biden quipped, singling out a local traffic hot spot.It's the president's first visit to Illinois since his … Continue Reading
July 02, 2021
Child Tax Credit could benefit many local families
After struggling through a global pandemic that left many wondering how to put food on the table and take care of basic household needs all while trying to manage their children learning remotely from home, some relief is in sight for local families who need help.As early as July 15, an important tax credit could kick in benefiting many including new mothers. The new Child Tax Credit will provide $3,600 per year, $300 per month per child for parents making $75,000 or less."We are in favor of … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Rep. Sean Casten: Everything you should know about the expanded Child Tax Credit
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL 6) joins Anna to talk about how his district was impacted by the severe storms, the relief effort going on in the district and everything we need to know about the Child Tax Credit payments, which will be sent out starting in July. You can find more information about the Child Tax Credit … Continue Reading
June 21, 2021
Eligible parents: Child tax credit money coming your way on July 15; monthly payments till end of year
WASHINGTON — Starting July 15 and for the rest of the year, millions of Americans with at least one kid under the age of 17 — from election denying, conspiracy minded Trumpists to, well, everyone else who is eligible — will get a minimum monthly payment of $250 from the federal government.The money is an advance on the child care tax credit, temporarily increased in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help families battered by the COVID-19 economic meltdown.Gene Sperling, the White House … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Sens. Murray, Schatz introduce Climate Change Financial Risk Act
Legislation recently introduced in Congress would direct the Federal Reserve to conduct stress tests on large financial institutions to measure their resilience to climate-related financial risks.The Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2021 - introduced by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) along with Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) — would require the Fed to establish an advisory group of climate scientists and climate economists to help develop climate change scenarios for the … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Democrats tested over boosting transmission, not pipelines, as bill directs FERC to improve regional planning
Dive Brief: Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., plan to reintroduce a bill Tuesday that would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to tackle interregional transmission planning. The bill, which Heinrich previously introduced in 2019, would give FERC six months to improve interregional transmission planning to expand and expedite projects. FERC Chair Richard Glick has indicated interest in pursuing transmission reform, and last week the commission … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
Federal infrastructure plan prompts local excitement
McHenry County, like the rest of the country, could see crucial investment in infrastructure if lawmakers in Washington, D.C., pass the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan, presented by President Joe Biden.It's been years since the last federal infrastructure bill passed.The March announcement of this potential development has been received locally with a bit of excitement.Darick Franzen, vice president of business development in North America for the construction manufacturing … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
What would the $2 trillion infrastructure plan do for the suburbs?
On the heels of the $1.9 trillion American Recovery Act, President Joe Biden is pitching a second mammoth piece of legislation that aims to fix roads, bridges, public transit, water systems and the electric grid, while also delivering universal, high-speed internet, all at a cost of about $2 trillion. Securing votes will be a heavy political lift for the White House, but if the American Jobs Plan passes in Congress, what will it mean for Illinois? "There is a keen recognition, No. 1, that … Continue Reading