Pritzker renews push to end federal oversight of state hiring – Illinois Policy

“Pritzker is asking for trust as too many in Springfield have betrayed the public’s trust. Pritzker is under federal investigation for avoiding $331,000 in property taxes. Former state lawmakers Terry Link, Luis Arroyo and Martin Sandoval, as well as state Sen. Thomas Cullerton, have all been indicted on corruption charges. And then there’s Madigan.”

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Our plan for ethics reform – State Sen. Heather Steans

“I joined 15 other members of the Illinois General Assembly to call for ethics reform measures in light of the numerous, ongoing federal investigations involving bribery, influence peddling and insider trading impacting state government officials and lobbyists…These nine steps without a doubt will bring a greater level of transparency to the business that is done in Springfield, and it is important that legislators work together to get them passed.”

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Why Did Illinois Voters Reject The So-Called ‘Fair Tax’ Amendment? And What’s Next? – Forbes

“What it boils down to is that the amendment’s failure was a vote of no confidence in Pritzker and in all of Illinois’ elected officials. Pritzker’s easy blaming of Republicans and millionaires and billionaires, rather than recognizing that Illinoisans made the only rational choice in a state with such a legacy of mismanagement and without any willingness for reform, certainly indicates that the state has a long way to go.”

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With Coronavirus Canceling Major Events And Festivals, City Officials Grapple With How To Fund The Arts – Block Club Chicago

Mayor Lori Lightfoot argued the economic reality brought on by the pandemic forced the cuts. “What you have to understand is that [the cultural affairs department] is funded by a revenue stream: hotels and restaurants. Those revenues have just gone through the floor, so it’s not like there’s a pot of money sitting there.”

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‘Fallen on deaf ears’: IHSA board president frustrated that state of Illinois won’t engage – Peoria Journal-Star*

Katy Hasson, president of the IHSA board of directors, said that staff members “tried and tried to initiate conversations” with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and those in his office, as well as persons with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education. “They don’t want to talk, don’t want to reach a compromise.”

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More Chicago Restaurants, Bars Going Out Of Business Amid COVID-19 Restrictions, Say City Hospitality Grant Won’t Be Enough – CBS2 (Chicago)

Without a rent moratorium, Streeterville restaurant owner Mauro Mafrici questions just how much a city grant will help. “This doesn’t make sense. If you’re not allowing me to serve nobody, they’re supposed to freeze everything. It’s a lot of restaurants in Chicago. I don’t think if you split $10 million with all the restaurants, I think it’s very little.”

 

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