The biggest problem with the ‘fair tax’ – Opinion – Crain’s
“First, the progressive income tax would fund just four months of a single year’s pension payment. The money would all be spent before even accounting for new spending Pritzker has proposed, such as universal pre-school or a state-run public option health insurance plan.” “Second, lawmakers must be honest about why previous, larger tax hikes have failed to deliver on their promises. The 2011 income tax hike was supposed to fix our ballooning unpaid bill backlog and mounting pension debt. The 2017 income tax hike was supposed to balance the budget.” “Third, lawmakers must be honest with their
What Illinois Can Learn From the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and Even Puerto Rico About Public Pension Reform – MuniNet Guide
“This article provides the legal basis for Illinois and other states to justify needed and reasonable modifications of public pension benefits that are unaffordable and insurmountable through pension reform legislation or a Constitutional Amendment. This article discusses and explains why all states can learn and should follow what the U.S. Supreme Court and virtually all state courts have vigilantly protected as the necessary and required attribute of government for the benefit of all.”
Uber sues Chicago over ‘backroom monopoly’ given Lyft in bike-share deal – Chicago Sun-Times
Illinois Enacted FY2020 Budget Part II: The Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan – Civic Federation
A nice breakdown of where the new capital spending will go, by category, and how it will be paid for.
Illinois marijuana growers spent about $600,000 on political giving leading to the pot legalization vote. Here’s where the money went. – Chicago Tribune
More than $120,000 went to campaign and political funds tied to just one of those legislators, state Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park, a main sponsor of the 2018 bill expanding medical marijuana in the state.
Aggressive feds strike again: The indictment of Sen. Tom Cullerton – Editorial – Chicago Tribune
Meet the firebrand stoking the CTU’s flammable rhetoric – Crain’s
Among critics, CTU V.P. Stacey Davis Gates is a “true believer” who lacks the practical streak needed at the negotiating table. Even she describes herself as “unmovable.”
Here’s the ‘unsavory,’ legal way rich Illinois teens are getting college aid – New York Post
Illinois’ revolving door from public office to paid lobbyist – Editorial – Daily Herald
State of Illinois Budget Summary – COGFA
All the detail you might want on the budget for the new fiscal year that began last month, from Illinois’ Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
New IL job ‘interview bot’ A.I. law could boost lawsuit risks for employers – Cook County Record
COGFA’s July report on State of Illinois revenue
Continued healthy growth in revenue from personal income and sales taxes.
Can Mayor Lightfoot shake out the clout at O’Hare? – Editorial – Chicago Tribune
“Now-retired Ald. Ricardo Munoz, 22nd, who wasn’t subtle in explaining how The Chicago Way operates. ‘Pick your ten friends and make them millionaires,’ Munoz told the BGA. ‘Get them the contracts from the city and make them millionaires.’ That is precisely the culture Lightfoot has vowed to eradicate. She ran for office promising to end the practice of aldermanic ring-kissing and favoritism…. Let’s see if she can apply those principles at one of the city’s untouchable vessels of greed — O’Hare.”
Illinois State Senator Tom Cullerton indicted on federal embezzlement charges – ABC Chicago
Does Your CPS School Have Trouble Finding Teachers And Subs? – WBEZ
U.S. Midwest manufacturing in contraction amid trade tension – Reuters
Obama library brings elation but also fear of displacement – A.P.
Once-powerful Chicago Teamsters boss’s long fall – Chicago Sun-Times
For years,Colie epitomized the excesses and arrogance associated with the old guard of Chicago’s unions. He feasted on pricey dinners and drank hard while sticking others with the bills, surrounded himself with younger women, drove expensive cars and used a wealthy Chicagoan’s 76-foot yacht, at no cost, for a trip to Europe.
Pritzker signs bill to create bipartisan Property Tax Relief Task Force – Center Square
‘Tough’ new Illinois Gaming Board chairman faced with massive gambling expansion – Chicago Sun-Times
The aptly nicknamed Charles ‘Chip’ Schmadeke is getting ready for a whirlwind bidding process for six new and highly coveted casino licenses. Ex-bosses say he has the right temperament for the high-stakes, low-glamor job.
Embattled alderman and her kids’ troubled finances: a trail of bankruptcies – Chicago Sun-Times
Now facing federal scrutiny, Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin and her 6 children and stepchildren have filed 14 times to get out from under debts including taxes and unpaid parking fines. Most cases were filed while they were on City Hall’s payroll.
The party appears over for the Flying Lady — a ‘Playpen’ yacht with a stripper pole — after its owner is charged in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme – Chicago Tribune
Adorned with a pink stripper pole attached to the afterdeck, the 58-foot powerboat dubbed Flying Lady was a regular in the often raucous party spot just off the downtown shore, serving essentially as a floating nightclub, complete with tipsy guests dancing to pulsating DJ music and bikini-clad women performing acrobatic pole moves to the cheers of sun-drenched crowds.