-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
The release of the poll by Gov. JB Pritzker’s team shows the Democratic governor is prepared for a political fight ahead — both in terms of a potential third term for governor, or a 2028 presidential bid.
Mark Denzler, Derek Douglas, Joe Ferguson, Rob Karr, Jack Lavin and Farzin Parang: “Public transit is the backbone of the Chicago region’s workforce and economy. Businesses depend on an efficient transit system to ensure employees arrive on time, customers have easy access to goods and services, and the region remains competitive for investment and growth. The impending fiscal crisis facing the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace threatens our economy and quality of life.”
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said the Law Department has selectively slow-walked compliance with inspector general subpoenas. She asked aldermen to change city law to clearly eliminate the department’s discretion over subpoena enforcement. Johnson’s administration marked its clear opposition, saying in a statement, “this ordinance is not an ethics reform ordinance.”
“Extremism is on the rise, and so, we think that this is the right time to move forward with this prohibition, to make sure that if you are seeking to attack and overthrow government that you aren’t simultaneously collecting a government check,” Ald. Matt Martin said.
Indiana takes the first step toward welcoming Land of Priztker counties that want to secede.
Washington’s threats to state and local government funding took center stage when Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Wednesday delivered his seventh budget address to a joint session of the legislature in Springfield. Also high on Pritzker’s list of concerns was slowing economic growth, which he said means “difficult decisions, including [about] programs I have championed.
“My members do not feel safe. They don’t want to come to work. They do not want to work in this environment and CTA is not doing anything to make it any better for their employees,” said Pennie McCoach, President of ATU Local 308.
The Illinois Commerce Commission voted on Thursday to allow Peoples Gas to resume a controversial pipeline replacement program, but with some big changes aimed at streamlining the project and saving customers money.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget plan for the coming fiscal year that starts this summer includes an amnesty program for state taxpayers in arrears. Illinois Department of Revenue spokesman David Harris said the governor hopes legislators will continue a program withholding penalties for taxpayers owing back taxes so they can make their payments to the state, something that could generate $240 million for the coming fiscal year, $59 million from individuals and $127 million for corporate taxes.
If passed into law, the Prescription Drug Affordability Act would create an independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The board could set upper limits on what people would pay for their medications.
“When you say on the floor you support Israel and that makes you ‘team Jew’, you are engaging in among the most pernicious forms of antisemitism that exists,” said Rep. Daniel Didech.
The attorneys general argue the Trump administration is trying to defund and shut down the CFPB. In their amicus, or “friend of the court,” brief, attorneys general said such efforts would significantly reduce oversight of large banks and cause irreparable harm to consumers and states.
Sanctuary city declarations appear to have boosted populations for Illinois and other states, but unless political leaders improve the tax, job and housing climates, these new arrivals from other countries may soon head to other states – just like others have and for the same reasons.
Illinoisans are paying more than 84 cents per gallon in total taxes while neighboring states average just 52 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Association. The state’s unusual practice of applying sales taxes to gasoline after the motor fuel tax is charged effectively creates a tax-on-tax situation for drivers.
Sheila Bedi, a Northwestern University law professor who leads the school’s Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic and sparked controversy last spring during the campus unrest, is representing four of the protest organizers who were arrested during the mayhem.
Ald. Anthony Napolitano introduced the plan Wednesday to city council directing the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to reinstall all public artworks removed by the Chicago Monuments Project. “It was selective censorship, and that’s what we’re doing,” Napolitano said. “We are selecting who we’re going to censor and who we are not going to censor and that is the epitome of unjust government right there.”
Peoples Gas did get a $300 million rate hike approved in 2023 – the largest rate hike in Illinois history. And bills are more than doubling in some cases. One customer paid $140.03 to Peoples Gas this month, compared with $62.60 in February 2024. It was a similar story in December — with a bill for $60.77 in December 2023, and $118.69 in December 2024.
Dean Fletcher, an Illinois resident, lodged a complaint with McLean County State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds’ office after several McLean County school districts featured a website that urged voters to “approve” a sales tax referendum on their taxpayer-funded webpages.
Black Caucus members said the governor’s proposed budget does not adequately address “historical disparities” within the state’s Black communities and does not reflect the priorities of Black Illinoisans; Specifically, state Sen. Willie Preston said Black taxpayers are not getting their “fair cuts” of state aid. Members of the Latino Caucus are fighting cuts to the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which provides coverage to low-income people between ages 42 and 64 who would qualify for Medicaid if they were citizens.
Pritzker’s grossly inflammatory and irresponsible insults will help nobody. Not him, his faction of the Democratic Party, the State of Illinois or the United States. Hatred and division hurt everybody.
Ted joined Greg Bishop of the Illinois Radio Network to discuss the details of Gov. Pritzker’s 2026 budget address, why Illinoisans can’t afford this budget, the harm Pritzker’s policies have inflicted on Illinois, the possibility of a new progressive tax push, Pritzker’s alarming rhetoric, and more.
Gov. JB Pritzker compared President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian playbook” to the rise of the Nazis as he unveiled a $55.2 billion spending plan that also saves the state more than $400 million by nixing a health care program for adults who lack legal status. “It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic,” Pritzker said. “All I’m saying is when the five-alarm fire starts to burn, every good person better be ready to man a post with a bucket of water if you want to stop it from raging
“As proud Illinoisans, we were honored to showcase to our Washington colleagues what Midwest sensibility can achieve, and our visits to Project HOOD and Pacific Garden served as a reminder to us all how our civic duty affects real individuals and families. This collaborative spirit served as a driving force behind our efforts to ensure that child welfare policies prioritize family and economic well-being.”
In a first for the Midwest, a city in southern Illinois plans to use sales tax and revenue bond proceeds to fund a mall redevelopment.
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