Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: Pritzker promises lobbying reforms as ‘small start’ to end corrupt ‘old way of doing politics’
Vowing to help lift the cloud of pay-to-play politics over Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday told Cook County Democrats that he plans to return to Springfield next week to help craft legislation that would shed more light on lobbyists as the first in “a series of ethics reforms that are frankly long overdue.”
Expressing his anger over corruption has become a recurring theme for the rookie governor as a sprawling federal investigation ensnares state legislators, aldermen and county officials. After general vows to help “root” out illegal activity, Pritzker on Tuesday pledged to take the first step in next week’s fall veto session.
Crain's Chicago Business: Property taxes will fund most of CTU's $1.5 billion new contract
And right behind them in the pay line will be those subject to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed graduated income tax—if it’s approved by voters in a referendum a year from now, that is.
WTTW: Lightfoot’s proposed real estate transfer tax hike gets pushback
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is counting on support from state lawmakers to pass a real estate transfer tax increase on high-end commercial property sales to fund critical services and help close a chronic budget deficit.
But already she is getting pushback.
Lightfoot wants to see a graduated real estate transfer tax that would give a tax break for real estate sales valued at less than $500,000. But sales valued at more than that would be taxed at a higher rate in four tiers. The top rate of tax under Lightfoot’s plan would be for property transfers valued at more than $10 million which would get taxed at 2.55%.
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Lori Lightfoot defends taxpayer-funded security detail for former mayors: ‘I think that that’s appropriate’
Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended the practice of giving taxpayer-funded police security details to former Chicago mayors, saying on Wednesday she thinks it’s appropriate and necessary.
Lightfoot’s comments followed a Tribune report detailing how the city has continued providing former Mayors Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel with taxpayer-funded security details since they left office. Daley walked out of City Hall for the last time as mayor more than eight years ago, while Emanuel left office nearly six months ago.
Belleville News-Democrat: Where does leftover campaign cash go? Some donate it. Others pay themselves.
When former state Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, left office in January, he depleted his campaign fund before closing it in April.
Clayborne spent more than $5,000 on a retirement party, donated $10,000 to charity, and then paid himself $42,000 in the last quarter that his campaign committee was active, state records show.
And it’s all legal.
Chicago Tribune: ‘Do not tax our people': Ministers say Lightfoot’s proposed ride-share tax hike would hurt the poor; city disputes claim
A group of more than 30 South and West side ministers is complaining that Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed ride-share tax increase will hurt low-income riders and drivers, but city officials dispute the claim.
“Ride-share has truly been a blessing,” said the Rev. Walter Turner of New Spiritual Light Missionary Baptist Church in the South Shore neighborhood, at a news conference on Tuesday. Turner said the proposed fee hike would have a “major impact” on people trying to get to doctor visits or buy groceries.
Northwest Herald: State senator trying to move clocks forward for good
If Sen. Andy Manar has his way, people in Illinois would move their clocks ahead one hour this coming spring, then never have to change them again.
Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said in a Twitter post Wednesday he plans to push for passage of Senate Bill 533 when lawmakers return next week for the final three days of the fall veto session. That bill calls for setting clocks ahead one hour to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 8, 2020, then leaving the state on Central Daylight Time
Daily Herald: Grayslake District 46 employees to strike Thursday, shutting down schools
Teachers and support employees in Grayslake Elementary School District 46 will strike Thursday, officials announced.
No classes, extracurricular activities, after-school programs or before-school programs will be held.
State Journal-Register: Appeals court says Janus not entitled to recover fair share fees
A federal appeals court ruled this week that former state worker Mark Janus is not entitled to a refund of fair share fees he paid to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The three-judge panel said AFSCME acted in good faith when it collected the fees from non-members for four decades before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the fair share fees were unconstitutional.
News-Gazette: Champaign council votes to keep tax levy at same rate for seventh straight year
City officials are optimistic that next year’s tax levy will bring between $24 million and $26.1 million into the city’s coffers without raising tax rates.
City council members voted in favor of a proposal to set next year’s tax levy at 1.3152 percent, the same rate it has adopted for the past seven years.
Daily Herald: Vernon Hills says no to recreational marijuana sales
Vernon Hills has become the most recent Lake County community to ban the sale of marijuana for recreational use.
As expected, the village board on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting cannabis businesses in town when the sale and possession of recreational marijuana becomes legal in Illinois on Jan. 1.