Lightfoot heading back to Springfield
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dan Petrella at the Tribune…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is scheduled to be back in Springfield next week — this time to meet with Illinois House Republicans — after state lawmakers failed to deliver on either item on her legislative wish list during their brief fall session, House Republican leader Jim Durkin said Monday.
Lightfoot visited the State Capitol in November as she pushed for the Democratic-controlled legislature to revamp the tax structure for a long-proposed Chicago casino and authorize a graduated tax on real estate sales. Neither issue went anywhere, and the first-year mayor faced criticism in Springfield for only spending time with House Democrats. […]
During her stop in Springfield, Lightfoot has also scheduled a meeting with Senate Democrats, according to John Patterson, spokesman for Senate President Don Harmon. […]
“We have been having ongoing productive conversations with state leaders and appreciate the opportunity to work with the governor’s office and the General Assembly this session,” [Lightfoot] spokeswoman Anel Ruiz said in a statement. “We look forward to meeting with leadership and will be working with them closely to prioritize the casino and other opportunities to generate new revenues and opportunities that will move Chicago forward.”
- Wow - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 9:28 am:
The Legislature is not the City Council. She can not bully members like she does local Alderman. Hopefully her team has told her this.. what is she trading? A Republican from central Illinois has zero incentive to help hetr
- Telly - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 9:32 am:
The mayor has deservedly received her fair share of criticism for Springfield missteps, but you have to give her credit for showing up and personally working legislators.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 9:36 am:
To be a fly on the wall
- Roman - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 9:43 am:
== A Republican from central Illinois has zero incentive to help here ==
Without funding from a Chicago casino, vertical capital projects in central Illinois will likely never get built.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 9:44 am:
Roman is correct.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 9:48 am:
=== A Republican from central Illinois has zero incentive to help her===
Horse trading begins here, except for the closed minded.
To the post,
Lightfoot and Durkin are friends. We know this.
It would behoove both to have a strong working relationship so Chicago can get what it needs and the HGOP can try to use that leverage with HDem members on other bills that common ground can be found, put pressure of numbers as part of that trading, they “only” have 44, they right out of the box need 16 to even consider moving bills.
It’s time for Lightfoot to understand the 60, 30, signature game, those in the super-minority know that game all too well.
- CookR - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 10:18 am:
Whoops wrong story.
- Rod - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 10:45 am:
The actual money downstate will see from a Chicago casino will depend on actual revenue it produces. One revenue estimate is $950 a ear by the fifth year of operation. But that really depends on tourism dollars going into Chicago, convention business, and many other factors including a possible economic downturn by then. Casino revenue is variable depending on many factors including where the City locates the casino.
- 17% Solution - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 10:51 am:
==.. what is she trading? A Republican from central Illinois has zero incentive to help her.==
Except Cook County sends a dime to downstate for each dollar that goes to Springfield. More dollars equal more dimes.
- Levois J - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 11:23 am:
A leader willing to talk to the other side is something that’s necessary right now. In this case she has to talk to the other major party in Springfield right now.
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 11:29 am:
The actual money downstate will see from a Chicago casino will depend on if it ever gets built… see also the non-existent revenue from legal video poker in Chicago for infrastructure from the last big IL infrastructure package.
Contractually obligated (probably) to also point out that last big infrastructure bill did at least generate many millions for infrastructure from nearly doubling state sin taxes on beer, wine, and spirits.
- Nagidam - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 11:36 am:
@ Chicago Bars
Chicago opting out of video gaming along with Gov. Quinn dragging his feet initially hurt the 2009 infrastructure bill. Video gaming has more than made up the revenue anticipated even with Chicago on the sidelines with video gaming.
- Eire17 - Tuesday, Feb 11, 20 @ 12:17 pm:
Agree with Roman. 99% of the time a downstate R loses nothing by helping Chicago. It’s a good chit to have down the road.