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Crain's Chicago Business: Pritzker's path to a progressive income tax isn't as smooth as you'd think
Adopting the amendment, which would repeal the existing ban on anything other than the current flat income tax, requires a 60 percent “aye” vote of both the state House and Senate and approval of 60 percent of those who vote in a November 2020 referendum. Until then, Pritzker’s financial team is using more than a little fiscal chicken wire to hold the budget together. If his “fair tax” ultimately flops, state finances and Pritzker’s future will be in deep doo-doo—certainly a reason, if not the prime one, why Republicans and much of the state’s business establishment already are pulling out all the stops to block him.
Crain's Chicago Business: This is the biggest whopper of all told by graduated tax backers
If only it were even close to true. Most Illinoisans of any political stripe would probably be happy to pay up and call it a day on our fiscal crisis, no matter how the burden was distributed.
Daily Herald: Pritzker shouldn't use tax money to sell referendum
If a school district — or any local government, for that matter — overtly promoted a bond issue that required voter approval, it would be drawn and quartered.
That’s against the law, and so when Barrington Unit District 220 recently held a referendum for one, school officials were careful to ensure that any publicity that was underwritten by the government was strictly informational, in tone as well as word.
Chicago Tribune: Expansion of Edward Burke probe builds Lori Lightfoot's case for reform
Federal prosecutors on Friday announced the indictment of a Lake Forest businessman who allegedly hired the law firm of Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, to grease a favor he needed from City Hall.
This accusation should sound familiar. Prosecutors in January charged Burke with one count of attempted extortion for allegedly pressuring fast-food executives to hire his firm, which specializes in property tax appeals. When the executives didn’t follow through with the law business, Burke slow-walked permits they needed from City Hall to renovate their Burger King restaurant, prosecutors have alleged.
Chicago Sun-Times: Inspector general acknowledges friendship with Lightfoot might become an issue
Inspector General Joe Ferguson said Friday he won’t hesitate to “pull the ripcord” if he thinks his friendship with Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot conflicts with his role as a city watchdog, and he refused to rule out a 2020 race for state’s attorney.
Ferguson and Lightfoot served together in the U.S. attorney’s office.
Crain's Chicago Business: What Evanston's tax bills tell us about the new assessor's new math
The assessor’s estimated value of some apartment buildings in the northern suburb have doubled or even tripled, fueling fears that a massive property tax increase is coming next year. Some spooked landlords predict they’ll have to hike rents to account for the higher costs. Others foresee a decline in property values and development as investors steer clear of the Chicago market. And don’t rule out a fight.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County smoke shops fear decline in sales after state raises tobacco purchasing age
Some McHenry County tobacco and e-cigarette retailers are concerned about a new bill banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone younger than 21.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Sunday raising the legal age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21, making Illinois the first Midwest state to pass a so-called Tobacco 21 law.