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The response from suburban legislators to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s address Wednesday split mostly on party lines over whether the plans he outlined offered true solutions to the state’s budget woes.
The latest reshuffling of officers has led some police supervisors to once again raise alarms about Supt. David Brown’s leadership, a crisis of confidence that has been simmering for months. “There’s no set plan,” a high-level police source complained. “Everything just keeps changing.”
“If Pritzker is serious about ensuring Illinois’ future financial stability, he would push for a pension reform referendum to be put before the state’s voters.”
His statement reads, in part, “But we knew there was power in our rank and file, and that bread and butter unionism, despite being the foundation of traditional labor, wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough then, and it isn’t enough now as we face right-wing forces that want to break our union, ban books, end anti-racist curriculum and unmask children during a pandemic.”
“The governor appears to be hearing that, that people are having issues with the cost of living but is only offering this short-term relief,” Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie said. “What we need is substantial, long-term tax relief that makes it affordable for people to live here.”
One thing the governor did not mention was the outstanding $4.5 billion in unemployment trust fund debt. Adam Schuster, of the Illinois Policy Institute, said neglecting that will mean higher taxes on employers and lower benefits for the unemployed. “We absolutely can’t afford that. It would mean slower growth in jobs and slower growth in wages for Illinois workers.”
Illinois home sales increased nearly 12% and median prices rose about 11% in 2021 compared to the year before.
Illinois has not had a truly balanced budget since fiscal year 2001. While federal aid helped Pritzker shrink the deficit, his budget proposal from Feb. 2 does not achieve balance according to projections from his own staffers.
Illinois would pump up now near-empty rainy day fund, pay more of its bills down, bolster scheduled pension contributions, and provide one-time tax relief under budget plans Gov. J.B. Pritzker laid out Wednesday.
“Chicago typifies wealth inequity, with many households in northeast Cook County holding nearly $1 million dollars in wealth, while just a few miles away, a quarter of households have negative wealth of $1,500 or less…(A) typical household’s wealth in the richest area of Chicago and Cook County is 206 times higher than a typical household’s wealth in the poorest area.”
She said, “That’s how science works. It’s constantly evolving. You know, the sausage is being made right in front of us. I think it’s not comfortable for everyone to see how this evolves. “
Mark Glennon went on The Bruce St. James Show WLS 890 AM to give his pre-analysis of the governor’s 2023 budget speech.
The administration will propose fully funding the required contribution of $9.6 billion with an additional $500 million infusion. Administration officials say that will reduce the unfunded liability by $1.8 billion. The state’s unfunded pension liability is around $140 billion.
But as the governor waylays permanent tax cuts in favor of temporary policies designed to expire before surplus pandemic funds run dry, state residents are right to question how long Illinois’ improved fiscal standing will last after federal assistance is used up.
“We actually weathered [the Omicron surge] as well or better than most, and it’s because we’ve kept in place a mask requirement not only in schools with adults and kids, but also indoors,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “I want to get rid of masks as fast as we can when it is feasible to keep people safe.”
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez plans to introduce a formal resolution in support of the workers at the next City Council meeting Feb. 16. Sigcho-Lopez said the measure is backed by the Chicago Democratic Socialist Caucus.
Full text of Gov. JB Pritzker’s combined State of State and Budget Address February 2, 2022 Leaders, Members, Lt. Governor, First Lady… Joining us today are a special group of distinguished guests… teachers, doctors, nurses and first responders. I want to sincerely thank ALL of you for joining me under the dome of the old Illinois State Capitol building. So many of you have showed up to work in person during the worst health crisis our state has ever seen. I figured the least I could do as your Governor was brave a snow storm to deliver the State of
From Jan. 1 through Nov. 30, 2021, CPD officers recovered 8,854 guns — an average of 805 per month. Of those, 7,134 gun recoveries netted an arrest. Meanwhile, Chicago recorded more than 800 homicides in 2021, a threshold not reached in 25 years.
Ted went on FOX32 ahead of Pritzker’s budget speech to let Illinoisans know that the tax breaks the governor is offering aren’t even close to real reform.
Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski was on on AM560 Chicago’s Morning Answer to discuss Gov. Pritzker’s failed promises of tax relief and how the governor is now offering temporary relief because it’s an election year.
“…this grand plan either amounts to a budgetary shell game or it seriously threatens local spending.”
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