AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneApr 05, 2021 at 4:06 pmGov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed a bill supporters say puts Chicago firefighter pensions on par with suburban and downstate systems, but which detractors led by Mayor Lori Lightfoot argue will increase pension costs and could lead to property tax hikes.The measure, approved in the Illinois Senate during the legislature’s January lame-duck session, does away with what its sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Robert Martwick of Chicago, called “one of the oddest quirks of pension law.”AdvertisementPreviously, a Chicago firefighter born on or...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneApr 05, 2021 at 4:06 pmGov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed a bill supporters say puts Chicago firefighter pensions on par with suburban and downstate systems, but which detractors led by Mayor Lori Lightfoot argue will increase pension costs and could lead to property tax hikes.The measure, approved in the Illinois Senate during the legislature’s January lame-duck session, does away with what its sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Robert Martwick of Chicago, called “one of the oddest quirks of pension law.”AdvertisementPreviously, a Chicago firefighter born on or...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneMar 29, 2021 at 5:17 pmWhile almost 70% of Illinois residents 65 and over have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, an increase in COVID-19 cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations will keep the state from cracking the door any further under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s gradual reopening plan.And it could be a while before Pritzker’s “bridge” phase — an in-between period before full reopening — kicks in. State officials will be looking for a sustained decrease in measures of virus transmission over the course of at least 10 days before considering...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneMar 29, 2021 at 5:17 pmWhile almost 70% of Illinois residents 65 and over have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, an increase in COVID-19 cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations will keep the state from cracking the door any further under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s gradual reopening plan.And it could be a while before Pritzker’s “bridge” phase — an in-between period before full reopening — kicks in. State officials will be looking for a sustained decrease in measures of virus transmission over the course of at least 10 days before considering...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 25, 2021 at 10:57 pmNew Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch suggested Wednesday that the state should again ask voters to approve a graduated-rate income tax, but this time target the new money toward paying down Illinois’ massive pension debt.The call for a do-over came after voters in November Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax proposal. Opponents, including Republicans and business leaders, used distrust of Springfield to argue for keeping the state constitution’s flat tax requirement.Advertisement“We have to tell the voters...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 25, 2021 at 10:57 pmNew Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch suggested Wednesday that the state should again ask voters to approve a graduated-rate income tax, but this time target the new money toward paying down Illinois’ massive pension debt.The call for a do-over came after voters in November Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax proposal. Opponents, including Republicans and business leaders, used distrust of Springfield to argue for keeping the state constitution’s flat tax requirement.Advertisement“We have to tell the voters...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 24, 2021 at 4:35 pmFormer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s hand-picked successor for the legislative seat he held for a half-century resigned Wednesday, just three days after being appointed and hours after Madigan called on him to step down.The episode involving 26-year-old Edward Guerra Kodatt, a now-former assistant in 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn’s office, represents a significant and unusual embarrassment for the ex-speaker, who has been meticulous about trying to avoid controversy in the ward and district public service operation he has run for...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 24, 2021 at 4:35 pmFormer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s hand-picked successor for the legislative seat he held for a half-century resigned Wednesday, just three days after being appointed and hours after Madigan called on him to step down.The episode involving 26-year-old Edward Guerra Kodatt, a now-former assistant in 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn’s office, represents a significant and unusual embarrassment for the ex-speaker, who has been meticulous about trying to avoid controversy in the ward and district public service operation he has run for...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 22, 2021 at 5:42 pmIllinois is set to become the first state to abolish cash bail under a sweeping criminal justice overhaul Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Monday.The massive bill, praised by reform advocates and panned by many in law enforcement, will beginning in 2023, require police officers statewide to , eliminate when filing complaints against officers, and create a more robust statewide system for tracking police misconduct and decertifying officers who commit wrongdoing, among a host of other changes.Advertisement“This legislation marks a...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 22, 2021 at 5:42 pmIllinois is set to become the first state to abolish cash bail under a sweeping criminal justice overhaul Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Monday.The massive bill, praised by reform advocates and panned by many in law enforcement, will beginning in 2023, require police officers statewide to , eliminate when filing complaints against officers, and create a more robust statewide system for tracking police misconduct and decertifying officers who commit wrongdoing, among a host of other changes.Advertisement“This legislation marks a...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 19, 2021 at 6:07 pmA half-century after he was first sworn into the Illinois House from Chicago’s Southwest Side, Michael Madigan announced his resignation Thursday, a little more than a month after he was deposed by fellow Democrats as the nation’s longest-serving statehouse speaker.In a statement, the embattled 78-year-old lawmaker, ensnarled in a federal corruption investigation, lashed out at his critics as he sought to defend his actions during his 36-year reign as House speaker.Advertisement“It’s no secret that I have been the target of vicious...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 19, 2021 at 6:07 pmA half-century after he was first sworn into the Illinois House from Chicago’s Southwest Side, Michael Madigan announced his resignation Thursday, a little more than a month after he was deposed by fellow Democrats as the nation’s longest-serving statehouse speaker.In a statement, the embattled 78-year-old lawmaker, ensnarled in a federal corruption investigation, lashed out at his critics as he sought to defend his actions during his 36-year reign as House speaker.Advertisement“It’s no secret that I have been the target of vicious...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 14, 2021 at 5:00 amGov. J.B. Pritzker long warned that without his graduated-rate income tax, which voters rejected in November, Illinois would be left with only two options to address its chronic budget problems: raising income taxes or double digit across-the-board spending cuts.But ahead of his budget address to lawmakers Wednesday, Pritzker outlined a state spending plan that would neither raise the income tax or alter the total budget outlay.AdvertisementHe did call for closing $900 million in unspecified “corporate tax loopholes,” which opponents are...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 14, 2021 at 5:00 amGov. J.B. Pritzker long warned that without his graduated-rate income tax, which voters rejected in November, Illinois would be left with only two options to address its chronic budget problems: raising income taxes or double digit across-the-board spending cuts.But ahead of his budget address to lawmakers Wednesday, Pritzker outlined a state spending plan that would neither raise the income tax or alter the total budget outlay.AdvertisementHe did call for closing $900 million in unspecified “corporate tax loopholes,” which opponents are...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 10, 2021 at 5:11 pmThe Illinois House voted along party lines Wednesday to adopt new rules for the post-Michael Madigan era that include 10-year term limits for the speaker’s post and the minority party leader.But after decades of former Speaker Madigan’s iron grip on the legislative process, the changes don’t go as far as some lawmakers and advocates may have hoped in opening up the legislative process so that more bills are given consideration.AdvertisementWhile Democrats hailed the new rules, the first under new Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 10, 2021 at 5:11 pmThe Illinois House voted along party lines Wednesday to adopt new rules for the post-Michael Madigan era that include 10-year term limits for the speaker’s post and the minority party leader.But after decades of former Speaker Madigan’s iron grip on the legislative process, the changes don’t go as far as some lawmakers and advocates may have hoped in opening up the legislative process so that more bills are given consideration.AdvertisementWhile Democrats hailed the new rules, the first under new Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 09, 2021 at 5:47 pmComing off the defeat of his signature graduated-rate income tax proposal in November, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is preparing to present a budget plan to lawmakers next week that doesn’t increase overall state spending or raise the flat-rate income tax from the current 4.95%.In a budget overview short of details, Pritzker’s office said he will propose closing $900 million in unspecified “corporate tax loopholes” and ask legislators to redirect some dedicated revenue streams, such as the cigarette tax, to the state’s general...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneFeb 09, 2021 at 5:47 pmComing off the defeat of his signature graduated-rate income tax proposal in November, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is preparing to present a budget plan to lawmakers next week that doesn’t increase overall state spending or raise the flat-rate income tax from the current 4.95%.In a budget overview short of details, Pritzker’s office said he will propose closing $900 million in unspecified “corporate tax loopholes” and ask legislators to redirect some dedicated revenue streams, such as the cigarette tax, to the state’s general...WW…

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneApr 16, 2021 at 7:05 pmA proposal from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to add a handful of elected seats to the Chicago Board of Education was introduced in the Illinois Senate on Thursday, just as the state House approved a measure to create a fully elected board.Lightfoot supported an elected board for Chicago Public Schools during her successful 2019 mayoral campaign, but has shifted her stance since taking office. She’s called the 21-member board in the House proposal “unwieldy,” and her office and CPS officials argue that the structure could jeopardize the improved...…AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneApr 16, 2021 at 7:05 pmA proposal from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to add a handful of elected seats to the Chicago Board of Education was introduced in the Illinois Senate on Thursday, just as the state House approved a measure to create a fully elected board.Lightfoot supported an elected board for Chicago Public Schools during her successful 2019 mayoral campaign, but has shifted her stance since taking office. She’s called the 21-member board in the House proposal “unwieldy,” and her office and CPS officials argue that the structure could jeopardize the improved...WW…