Week in Review: Johnson’s First Week in Office; Springfield Budget Talks


Mayor Brandon Johnson is sworn in and already distancing himself from both his floor leader (who calls former Mayor Lori Lightfoot a “sore loser”) and a $12 billion financial proposal written by a member of his transition team that includes enacting a city wealth tax, an income tax and cuts in police spending. Johnson also visited migrant shelters and named a deputy mayor for immigrant, migrant and refugee rights. And both Johnson and Lightfoot spoke at Officer Aréanah Preston’s funeral.

Disagreements over expanding health care to undocumented residents in the state’s budget force Illinois lawmakers into self-imposed overtime. Democrats pass a gender-inclusive bathroom bill and a bill that limits advertising guns to children. Meanwhile, could Illinois finally be closer to a south suburban airport and a new state flag — but not giving a break for a Bears move to Arlington Heights?

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Also in Springfield, there’s no new ethics bills in the wake of the “ComEd Four” trial in which all four defendants were found guilty of bribing former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Meanwhile, ComEd’s parent company, Exelon, is paying the legal bills for ex-CEO Anne Pramaggiore and ex-Vice President John Hooker.

And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Illinois’ assault weapons ban can go into effect whilst lawsuits wind their way through the courts, including the Illinois Supreme Court, which held a hearing on the assault weapons ban this week.

Guests:

Sarah Schulte, ABC 7 News | @SchulteABC7

Greg Pratt, Chicago Tribune | @RoyalPratt

Erik Runge, WGN-TV News | @WGNErik

Ray Long, Chicago Tribune | @RayLong


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