Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Rauner compares tax hike to 'two-by-four' even as veto override vote is set
Comparing the state income tax hike he’d vetoed a day earlier to a “two-by-four smacked across the forehead,” Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday warned lawmakers not to override him and said he would do “everything possible” to try to make sure they don’t.
That admonishment soon could be put to the test, as Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan announced plans to attempt the override Thursday afternoon. But it’s an open question whether enough lawmakers will be on hand, given that only half the House showed up the last two days.
Chicago Sun-Times: Facing a veto override, Rauner continues call for ‘fundamental reform’
Setting the stage for some post-holiday fireworks, House Speaker Mike Madigan promised Wednesday to override Gov. Rauner’s budget veto and “begin healing the wounds” — but less than an hour later the governor vowed to do everything in his power to stop Madigan and his “disaster” of a tax hike.
Adding to the explosive mix, the nonprofit group run by Illinois’ first lady, Diana Rauner, weighed in, “strongly” urging the House of Representatives to override the governor’s veto.
Crain's Chicago Business: Moody's throws curveball into state budget debate
Moody’s Investor’s Service has thrown a bit of a curveball into efforts to pass the first state budget in three years, suggesting that Illinois still might hit junk level despite an income tax hike that’s part of the deal.
As Illinois House members prepare to return to Springfield to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the budget package, Moody’s issued a somewhat unusual statement. The ratings agency said it’s continuing to review the state’s current Baa3 level for a possible downgrade despite “legislative progress towards a fiscal recovery plan based on permanent income tax rate increases.”
Associated Press: Two key suburban House Republicans still favor tax hike
Two key Republicans in the Illinois House say they will continue supporting an income-tax increase over their governor’s veto.
Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights and Rep. Steven Andersson of Geneva were among 15 Republicans who bucked Gov. Bruce Rauner and helped provide a veto-proof majority for a 32 percent income tax increase designed to dig Illinois out of the nation’s longest budget crisis since at least the Great Depression. The House is expected to vote to override Rauner’s veto Thursday, while the Senate voted Tuesday to override it.
Belleville News-Democrat: Trust a state lawmaker to best know how to spend your $1,205
If you are the average metro-east family of two parents and two kids, Illinois by the end of Thursday is expected to hand you a bill for $1,205. That is the extra you will pay on your $100,935 income when they increase the state income tax rate from 3.75 to 4.95 percent.
And they will increase the tax rate. Expect the pain after they assemble at 1:30 p.m.Thursday in Springfield, after two days of failing to draw a quorum and after they’ve wrangled the needed Democrats and turncoat Republicans.
Chicago Tribune: 'HookyGate' at the Illinois House: Why are dozens of lawmakers no-shows?
What’s worse — New Jersey Gov. Reek caught lounging with his family on a public beach he had closed? Or Illinois House members lounging anywhere but Springfield when a crucial budget vote looms?
New Jersey has BeachGate. Illinois has HookyGate.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois OKs end of landlines, though FCC approval required
An AT&T-backed bill to end traditional landline phone service in Illinois is now the law of the land.
Overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto, the General Assembly approved the telecom modernization bill on Saturday, enabling AT&T to disconnect its remaining 1.2 million landline customers statewide, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
Chicago Tribune: Preckwinkle administration: Prepare for 10% budget cuts if soda tax stays on hold
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s administration is warning of 10 percent budget reductions if a judge doesn’t allow a countywide sweetened beverage tax to take effect by August.
In a letter dated Monday sent to all county elected officials, bureau chiefs and department heads, Preckwinkle budget director Tanya Anthony said analysts would be providing them “a recommended course of action” to meet spending cuts needed if Cook County Circuit Judge Daniel Kubasiak doesn’t lift a temporary restraining order that’s preventing the penny-per-ounce tax from being levied.
Crain's Chicago Business: Chicago area now almost majority minority
Metropolitan Chicago is just a few years from becoming majority non-white, even as African-Americans flee the region and the city of Chicago proper becomes whiter and richer.
That’s the bottom line of a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that does a pretty fair job of pulling together in one understandable package individual sets of figures that have received some media coverage but which collectively approach being jaw dropping.
Metropolitan Chicago is just a few years from becoming majority non-white, even as African-Americans flee the region and the city of Chicago proper becomes whiter and richer. That’s the bottom line of a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that does a pretty fair job of pulling together in one understandable package individual sets of figures that have received some media coverage but which collectively approach being jaw dropping.
DNA Info: Huge Drop In Bag Use Due To Bag Tax Could Cost City Millions, Study Finds
The good news is that Chicago’s effort to keep plastic and paper bags out of area landfills by imposing a 7-cents per bag tax is succeeding beyond officials’ wildest dreams.
The bad news is that the success of the fee in dissuading shoppers from taking single-use bags means the city’s coffers are taking a steep hit.
NBC 5 Chicago: Lawmakers Rename Part of I-55 for Former President Obama
Illinois lawmakers voted Tuesday to rename a portion of Interstate 55 after former President Barack Obama.
The state Senate voted in favor a resolution passed by the House last week to designate the stretch of I-55 from the Tri-State Tollway south to mile marker 202 near Pontiac as the “Barack Obama Presidential Expressway.”
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County exploring merger of county clerk’s and recorder’s offices
Making good on a campaign promise to seek consolidation opportunities within county government and with other government bodies, Winnebago County Board Chairman Frank Haney announced at the June 22 County Board meeting that his office is exploring consolidating the clerk’s and recorder’s offices, both of which are countywide elected positions.
If Haney determines consolidation will be beneficial, his recommendation to combine the offices will be given to the County Board, which will decide if the matter should be put before voters in the form of a referendum.