Commentary: Ken Griffin: Why I oppose the graduated income tax – Chicago Tribune

“Yet our elected officials continue to claim that another tax increase will solve the problems they created. After two income tax hikes over the last 10 years, including a record-breaking increase in 2017, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has implemented nine new taxes this year alone. And what do we have to show for it? A deepening budget deficit, a public pension crisis and the highest property taxes and worst credit rating in the country.”

Read More »

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s office subpoenaed by feds who wanted information on land parcel in Chinatown – Chicago Tribune

The parcel is a state-owned parking lot long coveted by developers. The possibility of the state transferring the property to developer See Y. Wong was discussed in a meeting among House Speaker Michael Madigan and former Ald. Danny Solis, 25th. Madigan has been subpoenaed in the probe, Solis wore a wire for the feds and Wong has been charged with fraud.

Read More »

Editorial: Illinois after Michael Madigan – Chicago Tribune

“What’s perplexing is that Democrats should want to liberate the party from Madigan. Many ambitious Democrats long have chafed at the sclerosis: Madigan and his loyalists cling so tightly to the arteries of power that a next generation of Democrats has trouble advancing.”

Read More »

Park Ridge business owner closes doors for staff ‘mental health day’ after incidents of confrontational customers – Chicago Tribune

“Frankly, we’ve had enough of it,” the Facebook messages read. “We’re not the mask police, we actually love dogs and each day we make it a priority to send each and every customer home feeling safe about their visit — simple as that. You may have different thoughts on our procedures and that’s fine, but while you’re here, it’s our rules.”

Read More »

Madigan hearings to begin next week – Capitol News IL

Said state Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, who will serve on the panel. “We as a Legislature have to hold ourselves accountable to a high ethical and professional standard. So we’re not looking for criminal violations of statute or federal code. We are looking at the behavior of legislators in their official roles.”

Read More »

Facing $2 billion budget shortfall, Lightfoot says she has to work better with others. ‘Hallelujah,’ says one alderman. – Chicago Tribune

“When you’re faced with a $2 billion deficit, you need all the friends you can get,” said Far South Side Ald. Anthony Beale. He added that Mayor Rahm Emanuel “had a very hard time passing a $500 million property tax, so $2 billion (over two years) — and I question $2 billion, I think it’s going to be bigger than that — would be extremely tough.”

Read More »