Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker says 'Democrats stand together' as party takes total power in Illinois, and all the problems
Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker takes control of Illinois state government Monday with a Capitol packed full of Democratic lawmakers who could help usher his agenda through Springfield if they stick together.
Total control of the House, Senate and Governor’s Mansion, though, doesn’t always mean smooth sailing for a political party.
WBEZ: Taxes, Pot, Minimum Wage: Pritzker Outlines Ambitious First Term Agenda
Poised to become Illinois 43rd governor, Democrat JB Pritzker enters office Monday, striking a conciliatory political tone toward both Democrats in power and Republicans as he prepares to move an ambitious legislative agenda focused on “lifting up working families.”
Pritzker, of Chicago, is scheduled to take the oath of office at 12:01 p.m. and, already, his ascension is establishing a starkly different mood in Springfield in contrast with the acrimonious and unproductive era of departing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
State Journal-Register: Bipartisan duo of former lawmakers among Pritzker Cabinet picks
Long conversations with Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker came before a couple of appointments to his Cabinet, and that’s a good sign, according to a bipartisan duo of former lawmakers set to lead departments for the new administration.
“Some folks in the campaign team approached me and I had … lengthy conversations, kind of going up the ladder, until I had a long conversation — in excess of an hour as a matter of fact — with the governor-elect himself,” said former state Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican tapped to run the Department of Revenue.
State Journal-Register: The years in review, state government edition
The transition from one administration to another brings on a lot of those year in review sort of feelings, only in this case it’s a years in review.
House Speaker MICHAEL MADIGAN said that for four years the legislature was engaged “in an epic struggle with the executive department. What happened happened. No need to spend time today talking about blame.”
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveils ethics plan following Ald. Edward Burke's criminal charge
Mayor Rahm Emanuel will use the even-greater-than-usual crisis of faith in Chicago public officials following the attempted extortion charge against Ald. Edward Burke to try to tighten up city rules on what outside jobs aldermen can hold and how they can influence City Council debate on behalf of business clients.
The mayor doesn’t want to go as far as other recent calls for ethics reforms from candidates looking to succeed him — including a proposed ban on City Council members from holding any outside employment.