Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: Pritzker rejects tying pension, income-tax amendments together
In an appearance at an Economic Club luncheon, Pritzker said he understands why some factions are pushing a “shared sacrifice” approach in which voters next year would vote on two amendments to the Illinois Constitution, one allowing his so-called “fair tax” and the other revamping a clause which locks in current payments for government workers.
Chicago Sun-Times: Finance Committee approves Lightfoot’s $104.2 million package of taxes and fees
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $104.2 million tax and fee package sailed through a City Council committee Tuesday after mayoral allies beat back efforts to kill a $40 million congestion fee and a first-ever garbage collection fee for non-profits.
Ald. Ray Lopez (15th), the mayor’s most outspoken City Council critic, made the motion to strike both fees from the budget. He was easily defeated by votes of 22-to-5 and 20-to-5.
Crain's Chicago Business: Lightfoot's budget one step closer to approval
Aldermen already approved her management ordinance in committee on Monday—that includes planned city spending for 2020 and Lightfoot’s proposed minimum wage hike. While that minimum wage hike does not have the bump in base wages for tipped workers that some progressive aldermen wanted, it got the thumbs up from restaurant groups.
Chicago Sun-Times: Lightfoot prodded — ever so gently — to deliver on promise of civilian police review
In March 2018, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel was warned he’d face a furious political backlash if he refused to empower a civilian oversight board to fire the police superintendent and establish police policy, or if he tried to stall a City Council vote until after the 2019 mayoral election.
Then-Police Board President Lori Lightfoot issued that warning — two months before she declared her candidacy for mayor — as she embraced the sweeping proposal drafted by the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability.
Bloomberg: Muni refinancing boom may get $1.5 billion bump from chicago
Chicago may join the bond refinancing bonanza.