Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich), minority leader of the Illinois Senate: He called for nonpartisan mapmaking. Five years later, Illinois Democrats seem to have forgotten Mr. Obama’s admonition. With majorities in both houses of the General Assembly, they are preparing to ram through a new partisan state legislative map. More brazenly, they plan to do it without even consulting the most accurate data set that every unit of government traditionally uses when drawing such maps—the decennial census.

“‘It’s not going to decrease our deficit,’ said (Comptroller Susana) Mendoza, ‘but it can increase trust in government. These little things,’ she said, referring to tricks and schemes and loopholes, ‘are part of the reason everyone hates us.'”

Sen. Chapin Rose questioned the governor’s budget director on why a program passed with bipartisan support needed to be cut if the state expected a surplus. “Here we are at the end of COVID with Illinois as one of the top states in the nation for unemployment, people desperately needing work. Why on earth did the administration— did Governor Pritzker— decide, he’s now going to back out, back out of, back down from, go back on, his word, his pledge, when he signed the Blue Collar Jobs Act?”

In addition to the Republicans, both the Illinois Rental Property Owners Association and the Illinois Sheriff’s Association expressed frustration. “The legislature has been relentless,” said Paul Arena, director of legislative affairs for the Illinois Rental Property Owners Association. “It’s one hostile action towards the housing industry after another.”

The effort began after an incident in Boone County last December that left a K-9 named Loki dead.

Analysis by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy in 2020 found 86% of the benefits of removing the SALT cap would go to the top 5% of Americans. The bottom 60% of earners would receive no benefit.

“Our state has the opportunity to lead the way on blockchain technology and cryptoassets, which could make Illinois a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship for future generations – and all the jobs that come with it,” said the bill’s chief sponsor, state Rep. Margaret Croke.

While state representative are in near-unanimous agreement that Illinoisans should not be using pitchforks to nab catfish from highways, and on April 21 agreed Illinoisans should not release more than 49 balloons at a time, other issues do not appear to be getting much attention in the Statehouse.

Comment: Founding members of the “SALT Caucus include Illinois Reps. Danny Davis, Brad Schneider and Lauren Underwood, who is SALT Caucus Vice Chair. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have also been outspoken supporters of repealing the SALT cap.

“Connecticut has opened the door for a statewide property tax that has no upper limit. It offers a ‘new’ tax revenue source for states such as New Jersey that have failed to address their structural deficits and continue to live beyond their means.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health said it is developing a plan to distribute doses to employers that have registered to be vaccine providers. But so far, it has focused on local and county health departments, hospitals and pharmacies. The Chicago Department of Public Health has held mobile vaccination events at 46 workplaces, focusing on large employers with front-line essential workers.

Jim Dey: “It’s a rare politician at any level who doesn’t profess great concern about rising property taxes. It’s an even rarer politician at any level who actually is sincere in expressing that concern. If politicians were serious — particularly those in Springfield — they would take action that would encourage local officials to eliminate and/or consolidate these governmental entities.”

The appeals court ruled that while former Gov. Bruce Rauner had the power to pardon Agpawa of any state crimes, he overstepped his authority when he restored Agpawa’s right to hold public office, which he lost as the result of a 1999 conviction of mail fraud in federal court.

With unemployment, stimulus checks and tax refunds, a lot of workers are able to make it through the summer without the higher risk of contracting the virus in a busy restaurant setting.

As of April 9, a total of 23,369 unpaid Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants had certified and have pending issues. But there are also 32,382 phone numbers are in the certification callback queue with IDES – up 3,000 from the week before.