Gov. J.B. Pritzker is right to be exuberant over the Thompson Center deal. And rival Darren Bailey’s indictment of the city has elements of truth.
Perspectives
Posted inPolicy
Zarou: Illinois General Assembly Has the Chance To Act on Meaningful Ethics Reform
The state’s history of corruption has the public craving good government, empower the inspector general’s office as a start to restoring confidence.
Posted inPerspectives
Greising: A Note for the Mayor: As We Judge History, History Will Judge Us
Reformer—or open-government reprobate? If Lightfoot doesn’t begin delivering on her transparency promises soon, the answer will be obvious when the history of her administration is cast.
Posted inPerspectives
Greising: Life After an Iron-Grip House Speaker? New York Found a Way; Illinois Can Too.
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was ousted due to allegations of fraud and corruption. Whether Silver’s past is Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s prologue remains to be seen.
Posted inPerspectives
Greising: University of Illinois Tries to Silence Reporters After Being Stung by #MeToo Investigation
Forcing a reporter to identify sources reporting harassment is like a journalistic stop work order. The move by U of I asks employees to surrender First Amendment rights, and appears to misuse Title IX protections.
Posted inPerspectives, Policy
Dillon: Will Lawmakers Have the Nerve to Cash Back Pay?
Every year from 2009 to 2016, lawmakers made a big bipartisan show of voting to freeze their salaries. Now some of them want to claw back those raises, for themselves and all lawmakers who gave them up.
Posted inPerspectives, Policy
Dillon: Real Life Lessons in Civics From Springfield
The repeated stalling of the Fair Maps Amendment contradicts the textbook narrative about elected representatives who carry out the will of voters. Civics teachers are going to have some explaining to do.
Posted inPerspectives, Policy
Dillon: Clear City Ethics Rules and Bigger Penalties for Scofflaws? Yes, Please.
Ethical violations by Chicago aldermen and city officials ought to carry meaningful consequences. Proposed reforms would do that.
Posted inPerspectives, Policy
Dillon: Lawmakers Should Seek Reasonable Registration Bump for Electric Vehicles
Any conversation about funding road improvements ought to include discussion of how to make the electrics chip in, too.
Posted inPerspectives
Greising: Chicago Lincoln Yards Deal Should Be Delayed
The Millennium Park experience shows the cost of moving too fast. There is a better deal to be gotten at Lincoln Yards than the one on the drawing boards right now.