Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Gov. J.B. Pritzker set to unveil $41.5 billion ‘Rebuild Illinois’ capital plan that includes $1.8 billion in new and increased taxes
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to unveil a six-year, $41.5 billion plan to repair Illinois’ crumbling roads, bridges, public schools and university buildings in a massive proposal that calls for nearly $1.8 billion in new taxes and tax increases, according to documents provided to lawmakers at a Friday briefing.
Dubbed Rebuild Illinois, it would be the state’s first large-scale infrastructure improvement program in a decade and would result in higher costs for everything from ride-sharing to cable and streaming services, as well as a significant hike at the gas pump.
State Journal-Register: House Republicans again say budget can be balanced without higher taxes
Illinois House Republicans repeated their position Thursday that the state can balance its budget next year without the tax increases sought by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
At the same time, the Republicans said they are open to ideas like placing an assessment on the health insurance industry and legalizing sports betting as a way to generate revenue that will reduce the need for budget cuts.
Northwest Herald: McSweeney's township consolidation bill heads to Pritzker's desk for consideration
Legislation establishing a referendum process for voters to dissolve McHenry County’s 17 townships passed out of the Illinois Senate on Thursday and now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk for consideration.
House Bill 348 – which was introduced by Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and voted out of the Illinois House last month – also would require the abolishment of road districts in McHenry and Lake counties that maintain fewer than 15 miles of road.
Crain's Chicago Business: Hey, Springfield: These ideas send the wrong message to business
Some of these bills may never have any real chance of passing. Some may be “fetcher bills”—ones intended to be defeated but proposed to help a friendly lobbyist to look good for his client who will take credit for killing it. But some are viable, and it’s often hard to tell which ones are. That’s part of the problem. Mere pendency of these bills scare businesses and force them to spend on their own lobbyists.
Chicago Tribune: Bill before Gov. J.B. Pritzker would broaden access to state education grants for low-income students
Transgender students who are disqualified from receiving federal financial aid and those who are in the U.S. without proper documentation would be eligible for state education grants under a bill before Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The legislation, passed by lawmakers earlier this month, would make an additional 3,500 Illinois students eligible for the Monetary Award Program and could create another $9 million in annual demand on a program that has historically been underfunded.
Chicago Sun-Times: New Chicago political dynasty born as Ald. Burnett makes his son state rep
Politics is a family business in Chicago, always has been and probably always will be, reformers and journalists be damned.
So it only made sense that on the same day Chicago’s new reform mayor demoted a powerful City Council chairman, in part for alleged transgressions involving hiring her relatives, a new political dynasty was born elsewhere in the city.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot announces her City Council reorganization plan
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot will seek to shake up the City Council with new chairmen for several of the most important committees she needs to help pass her agenda, but she also will keep some of the old guard in place as she tries to put together the votes to pass the organization package in the first big test of her control over the body.
Progressive Caucus chairman Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, an early Lightfoot backer, will take over as chairman of the powerful Finance Committee. Lightfoot has been telegraphing for weeks that she would reward Waguespack for his support with a top spot, even though his outspoken positions on City Council ethics and transparency have at times rubbed colleagues the wrong way.
WBEZ: CPS Pledges To Offer “High-Quality” Curricula For All Grades, All Schools
Chicago Public Schools is planning to spend as much as $135 million over the next three years to make sure all students preschool through 12th grade have access to high-quality learning material.
The plan will be up for approval at the Chicago Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County Conservation District cuts $206K out of fiscal 2020 budget
An amended McHenry County Conservation District budget with $206,000 in cuts along with a commitment from the district to lower its 2019 property tax levy will be submitted for McHenry County Board consideration after Thursday’s district board meeting.
The decision to include the amended budget on Tuesday’s County Board meeting agenda ultimately is in the hands of board Chairman Jack Franks, who said he would not call the Conservation District’s budget for a full vote without the changes made Thursday.