THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...CTU's Springfield adventure...Civic Federation urges budget caution...Bears find an unlikely ally
May 16, 2024
Good morning, Illlinois.
There are eight days left in the spring legislative session and there are a lot of balls still in the air.
After having House GOP Leader Tony McCombie on our podcast last week, we’re scheduled to record a show today with the Democratic perspective. Paid subscribers get a preview tomorrow.
The sprint is on.
The House and Senate are in at noon. Governor Pritzker announces new programs to combat child hunger at a Springfield grade school at 10:30.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
CPS meeting with Pritzker marked by tension over migrant funding (Crain’s Chicago Business)
As a crimson tide of Chicago Teachers Union members descended on Springfield today, Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez made the rounds and presented his district’s budget requests to top lawmakers in the capitol.
Martinez presented a $550 million funding increase to Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park; House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside; and staffers from the governor’s office, including his chief of staff Anne Caprara and Deputy Governors Martin Torres and Andy Manar.
But it was the CEO’s request for $55.2 million to support migrant students that made the governor’s team bristle.
“There was some tension, I'll just say it that way,” Martinez told Crain’s. “Mainly because we know they're trying to wrap up the budget and they're still trying to figure out some challenges on the revenue side, so I appreciate that. But at the same time, we have to be clear about the needs that we're seeing in our district.”
Pritzker himself has given a similarly frosty reception to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pleas for additional migrant funding in the past, often underlining how much the state has already given the city to assist with the crisis.
“We would not characterize the meeting as contentious during any point,” Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said in an email to Crain’s. “The only clarifying point that was made was that funding for migrant students was never brought up during meetings with the city and county when discussing the response and needed resources."
A spokesman for Harmon acknowledged the senate president met with CTU and CPS leaders today but did not elaborate on the details of the meeting. A spokesperson for Welch was also reticent.
“As far as the budget requests, he has no position,” Welch spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll said in an email to Crain’s. “The speaker is happy to sit down and listen to priorities.”
This whole dog-and-pony show yesterday is really going to bring zero results.
Related: CTU rallies in Springfield to demand greater funding for city’s schools (Chicago Tribune)
CPS, CTU converge on Springfield to ask lawmakers about more money for schools (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: With or without CPS/CTU ‘day of action’ in Springfield, there’s no more money for Chicago schools (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Springfield should stand up to CTU pressure on school choice (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Civic Federation urges 'cautious' spending, warns of 'looming fiscal crisis' for transit agencies (Chicago Sun-Times)
As Illinois lawmakers work to finalize a budget and revenue package, the Civic Federation on Tuesday urged the state to be more cautious in its spending levels and warned that the CTA, Metra and Pace are “fast approaching a looming fiscal crisis.”
The watchdog group also urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker and lawmakers to develop a more sustainable tax structure and pension plan to prevent future crises.
Those transit agencies face an estimated $730 million deficit beginning 2026 after federal funds are depleted, the group warned.
“The Illinois General Assembly must take action to significantly reform the governance structure and funding of the Chicago region’s transit systems in order to ensure the economic sustainability of the region,” the group wrote in the report.
The fiscal year beginning on July 1 marks the first time the state has had a budget deficit since the start of the pandemic, the Civic Federation said in a 62-page analysis. And while the group stated Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s $800 million in tax changes and enhancements would help close the deficit, “we note that further tax increases could prove unsustainable for taxpayers given the State’s already high tax burden.”
Pritzker in February unveiled a $52.7 billion budget that includes the blueprint for a pension overhaul, about $182 million in funding to care for newly arriving migrants and $800 million plus in tax increases mostly targeting large businesses.
The Civic Federation said it supports some of the state’s long-term investments in its budget proposal, including an increase to the evidence-based funding school formula and increased appropriations to the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for college students. It also supports the state’s efforts to fund the migrant crisis.
“However, the Governor and the Illinois General Assembly will need to balance these and other important programs against other competing priorities, particularly should the proposed tax revenues not be approved,” the watchdog group warned.
Related: Watchdog group warns of ‘fast-approaching’ crisis for CTA, PACE, Metra (WBEZ)
Unlikely allies? Suburban mayor, GOP legislator Stephens backs Bears’ lakefront plan (Daily Herald)
The governor of Illinois and top leaders in both chambers of the state legislature have thrown cold water on the Bears’ request for public subsidies to develop a new Chicago lakefront stadium.
But the plan has a key supporter who wields influence in the Northwest suburbs, city of Chicago and hallways of the state Capitol in Springfield: Brad Stephens.
The Rosemont mayor, who doubles as assistant House minority leader, publicly endorsed the plan Monday. Stephens — the sole Republican legislator whose district includes Chicago — also spoke of forging a relationship with an unlikely ally: Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“I’m bullish on the Sox and Bears. I believe in investing in those types of deals,” Stephens said after the monthly Rosemont village board meeting Monday morning. “They’re good for Chicago and Illinois.”
“I think the Chicago Bears belong in Chicago,” said Stephens, who represents the 20th District — more than half of which is on the city’s Northwest Side.
He said he respects lakefront protection group Friends of the Parks, which successfully fended off filmmaker George Lucas’ attempt to develop a museum on the same Soldier Field parking lot where the Bears want to build. But Stephens believes in “energizing” the lakefront, from McCormick Place to the new Obama Presidential Library.
“But if you want to preserve the lakefront, go to Indiana and be the state dunes,” Stephens said.
Related: Opinion: Stephens, Rosemont would be bulldozing a new Bears stadium to the goal line (Daily Herald)
TOP STORIES SO FAR THIS WEEK ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Illinois legislators try again on statewide public defender legislation (Chicago Tribune)
House OKs program for student teacher stipends – but not the funding for it (Capitol News Illinois)
For Illinois’s only Palestinian American legislator, the crisis in Gaza is personal (Chicago Magazine)
Illinois Supreme Court considers expectation of privacy in hospitals (Capitol News Illinois)
Illinois voters' information partially removed by right-wing outlet following judge order (State Journal-Register)
Mark Walker appointed to Ann Gillespie’s former state Senate post, moving from 53rd District rep (Chicago Tribune)
Democrats meeting June 5 to choose Walker’s replacement in House (Daily Herald)
Budzinski 'optimistic' on Farm Bill getting across finish line in 2024 (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Johnson dog-paddles into second year with approval numbers under water (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Johnson: 'There is much more of the game to be played' (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: Tougher penalties for fleeing police could help stem dangerous, growing ‘epidemic’ (Daily Herald)
Quigley: We need to invest in a high-speed rail future (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Gov J.B. Pritzker goes after insurance companies. What about the state itself? (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Prisons pay well, but main purpose isn’t to fuel local economy (Shaw Media)
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