Comment: Nothing for states and cities, which Illinois and Chicago are counting on. A potential aid package for them has been deferred until January after the Georgia Senate election that will determine control of the Senate.

“Turns out, New York and Illinois have one characteristic in common: they both have specified, in their state constitutions, the protection of both past and future pension accruals…So why are their paths so different? Why is New York the second-best and Illinois (according to the same data) second-worst?”

“So, we get Pritzker’s frustration. We hope he finds a way to get past it and find bi-partisan consensus. But for that, he will also need a willing and responsible partner.”

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland: “The harsh reality in Illinois is taxes have consistently gone up, and what have our mediocre state leaders done with the money? You guessed it: They found more ways to spend it. Each budget Pritzker has signed increased spending by $2 billion.”

Gov. Pritzker is on the defensive over his administration’s handling of coronavirus outbreaks at the state-run LaSalle Veterans Home, while Mayor Lightfoot is in hot water over the botched raid of a Chicago social worker’s home.

Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said their research indicates people continue to leave the state and tax increases won’t help. “In 93 counties out of 102 have lost people since 2010, they’re bleeding people. So more tax hikes is just creating the same problem and chasing more people away.”

Based on the following studies, the answer is no and for a variety of reasons: bad data, no correlations, no causal demonstration, anomalous exceptions, and so on. There is no relationship between lockdowns (or whatever else people want to call them to mask their true nature) and virus control.

“Corporations have gotten immensely wealthier during the coronavirus pandemic on the backs of people who are struggling,” state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, said. “Those corporation receive billions of dollars in loopholes and carve outs and before we create a budget that raises taxes on people who can’t afford it.”

The bickering doesn’t help Chestnut Health Systems, which provides treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse with support from the Illinois Department of Human Services and other sources. Demand for the nonprofit’s services has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEO said. “The financial impact from the pandemic was expected and will be massive. Since the fair tax amendment did not pass, providers have been bracing for this announcement.”

The McCallister family’s movie home is supporting 11 different taxing districts through its property taxes, and those government units have a combined public pension and health care shortfall of $16.1 billion.

Only open for carryout and curbside service, Keith Loukinen (dressed in his full chef uniform) said only four of his 32 employees are working and he’s lucky if he’s doing 15% of his normal business. He said the impact is “devastating” and would only be able to continue operating like this for “a matter of weeks.” At least five elected officials joined the group of more 100 to protest.