Illinois is in an unprecedented budget stalemate that's lasted more than half a year and has sucked up much of the oxygen in Springfield. On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers plan to unveil legislation that would take away mayoral control from Chicago Public Schools. We speak with a panel of legislators.
illinois politics
The governor unveils a plan he says will save taxpayers billions every year. But, as with everything else, can he get it through the General Assembly? Paris Schutz brings us more on that and whether or not the governor supports the recall of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
After being closed almost three months due to the state’s budget crisis, the Illinois State Museum has recently lost more staff members as it tiptoes ever closer to losing its accreditation in 2016.
A young, Harvard-educated, first-time candidate tells us why he believes he can defeat the state’s most powerful incumbent, House Speaker Michael Madigan. Paris Schutz brings us the report.
Donna More is one of two candidates looking to unseat Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez in a March Democratic primary. As Alvarez fends off calls for her resignation in the wake of the Laquan McDonald shooting and subsequent criticism over the pace of the investigation, we ask former state and federal prosecutor More what she might have done differently.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool is reiterating his call for funding equity from Springfield, saying that if CPS students make up 20 percent of Illinois public school students then the district should receive 20 percent of funding.
Multiple state facilities have been closed to the public due to the budget stalemate – legislation passed on Tuesday could change that.
The Illinois General Assembly returned to work in Springfield on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks. Amanda Vinicky joins us with the latest.
Mayor Emanuel unveils his much anticipated doomsday budget proposal. How much pushback will it get from residents and aldermen? We ask four of them.
Illinois is coming up on almost three months with no state budget, and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic legislative leaders don't appear to be any closer to a solution. Two lawmakers known for sometimes bucking their party leaders discuss whether there's a bipartisan path out of the state's current mess.
Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger says the state of Illinois’ finances is bleak, given the months-long stalemate without a state budget. Just how bleak has it gotten, and is there even a way out anymore? Paris Schutz has the story.
Congressmen Foster, Roskam on Iran Nuclear Deal, Planned Parenthood Funding, More
Congress reconvenes next Tuesday after a five-week recess, and there are some weighty and urgent matters to attend to, including yet another debt ceiling fiscal cliff. Joining us to share their thoughts on these and other issues are Congressman Bill Foster (D-11th); and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-6th).
Still no budget in Springfield and now the state's comptroller says Illinois is starting to fall far behind in paying its bills. We have the latest on this and other news out of Springfield on Chicago Tonight with Amanda Vinicky.
Change in Corporate Income Tax Floated
There’s a potential third way out of the deadlock over how to close a $6 billion state budget gap. Gov. Bruce Rauner is refusing to sign off on a budget without changes to collective bargaining and public employee unions. And the Democrats are refusing to go along with that. So, what are the alternatives? Paris Schutz has the details.
The House today passed a bill freeing up nearly $5 billion in federal money. But Democrats failed to get enough support for an amendment to spend state dollars on some human services. After the vote, House Speaker Michael Madigan expressed frustration over the failed effort, but Republicans weren't buying it. We'll get the latest from Springfield with Chicago Tonight's Amanda Vinicky.
A new, in-depth report looks at how Illinois politicians pulled the state into the current pension mess after decades of poor planning, non-existent estimates, and last-minute decision making. Journalist Dave McKinney wrote the story for Crain's Chicago Business and joins Chicago Tonight to discuss the story and how it provides important context for our current crisis.
