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Chicago Sun-Times: Political theater on House floor; Dems meet to discuss budget
There was more political theater on the Illinois House floor on Thursday — and some behind-the-scenes action — as House Democrats met privately to try to plug ahead with budget measures cleared by the Illinois Senate.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday passed three budgetary measures, including a spending plan and a revenue bill that would increase the income tax rate. House Democrats began analyzing the bills a day later. There are just six days left before the end of the legislative session.
News-Gazette: Power plays not productive
If time is money, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrats in the Legislature are wasting plenty of both.
Democrats in the Illinois Senate took a step in the right direction this week when they passed legislation giving voters expanded authority to seek tax savings by consolidating local units of government.
Chicago Tribune: Dispute over CPS money latest snag in longtime debate on school funding
Democrats and some Republicans are pushing ahead with an attempt to overhaul the way state government doles out tax dollars to elementary and high schools, setting up a potential showdown with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over funding for Chicago Public Schools.
Few issues have kicked around the Capitol for as long as the education funding formula — a controversial system that’s proven resistant to major change thanks to a combination of political and financial factors.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Illinois House Once Again Backs Elected Chicago School Board
House legislation calling for an elected Chicago Board of Education has once again passed with strong bipartisan support, but the bill may still have a difficult road ahead.
HB1774, which would triple the size of Chicago’s existing school board and allow residents to vote on their representation, was approved Thursday afternoon by a House vote of 105-9.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois Tollway board approves $25 million Route 53 study
The Illinois Tollway board on Thursday unanimously approved spending $25 million for an environmental impact study on a long-discussed proposed extension of Route 53 from Cook County into Lake County.
The 8-0 vote came after more than two hours of comments from people for and against the controversial project. Representatives from several construction companies spoke in favor of the study, saying the extension would bring jobs and relieve congestion in a growing region. Environmental groups and officials from the suburbs of Hawthorn Woods and Long Grove spoke against, noting the extension’s projected $2.65 billion cost and its potential negative impact on wetlands.
Crain's Chicago Business: Judge tosses out McPier suit against Uber, Lyft
The agency that runs McCormick Place is going back to the drawing board to collect airport pickup taxes from Uber and Lyft after a judge threw out its lawsuit against the companies.
In a move the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority hopes will help it recover a chunk of its tax revenue, the agency this month asked the city of Chicago to audit the two ride-booking companies and tell them they must pay the airport departure tax, a $4 fee for every pickup at O’Hare and Midway.
Northwest Herald: D-47 Superintendent Kathy Hinz receives 2.5 percent raise
The District 47 School Board voted to give Superintendent Kathy Hinz a 2.5 percent raise next school year.
Board members voted last week, 5-0 with two abstentions, to grant Hinz the raise for the 2017-18 school year beginning July 1.
Peoria Journal-Star: Census: Peoria among Illinois cities that lost residents since 2010
Chicago, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield are among Illinois cities that lost residents between 2010 and 2016, according to population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The statewide population of 12,801,539 last year was down compared with 12,830,632 in the 2010 census.
State Journal-Register: Push for downtown Springfield casino taking shape
A proposal for a downtown casino in Springfield is taking shape at the Statehouse, but questions remain about whether the last-minute effort can gain enough support in the waning days of the spring session.
Mayor Jim Langfelder and a majority of the Springfield City Council sent a letter lobbying for the license to members of the General Assembly and Gov. Bruce Rauner.
State Journal-Register: Census: Springfield population drops below 2010 levels
Five consecutive years of declining population dropped the estimated number of residents in Springfield and Sangamon County last year below 2010 levels, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday in a report on the fastest-growing regions of the country.
The trends reflect population shifts across the state and the Midwest, according to the report.