Illinois
Illinois Democrats wrangle over ways to pay for $1.5B legislative package to buoy mass transit
SPRINGFIELD — State lawmakers were still trying to settle on a $1.5 billion funding package to prop up public transit on the final day of the fall veto session late Thursday.
It was unclear if lawmakers would agree on a tax package to stave off a $200 million-plus fiscal cliff next year that would likely result in major cuts to bus and rail service at the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.
The latest funding package proposed by House Democrats late Thursday included:
- Redirecting the state’s sales tax on motor fuel to transit operations, collecting $860 million a year.
- Dedicating all of the interest on the state’s $8 billion road fund to transit, collecting nearly $200 million a year.
- Authorizing the Regional Transit Authority to increase its Chicago area sales tax by 0.25%.
- No fare increases on public transit for the first year after the bill’s passage.
- Increasing tolls by 45 cents for passenger cars, and 30% for other vehicles, to raise up to $1 billion for the Illinois Tollway.
The new bill removed earlier proposals — shot down by Gov. JB Pritzker and others — to introduce a 7% tax on streaming services like Netflix, additional fees on tickets to large concerts, sporting events and other performances. The amended bill also removed a proposed and unprecedented “billionaire tax” on unrealized capital gains for the ultra-wealthy.
“We all understand how important it is to fund transit throughout the state of Illinois, and so we’re going to attempt to try to get it done ASAP,” said Pritzker, who earlier this year said he was against any proposal that included additional “broad-based” income or sales taxes that would be felt by residents statewide.
But he didn’t slam the door on a regional sales tax hike in Cook County and the collar counties, as called for in the bill filed earlier this week by the House’s top transit negotiators, Chicago state Reps. Eva-Dina Delgado and Kam Buckner. It was one of the only tax proposals to stay in the amended bill.
Delgado called the new transit funding mechanisms “a way we can avoid raising significant taxes on folks.” But some downstate representatives said the amended bill took them by surprise, that it doesn’t allocate enough money outside of the Chicago area, and that the bill should be held for another day.
House Democrats were largely opposed to a bill that passed the state Senate in May, which aimed to raise $1.5 billion yearly through a $1.50 package delivery fee, a higher rideshare tax and an expanded real estate transfer tax.
Transit and labor leaders just want lawmakers to settle on a package to avert major budget cuts that would hit midway through next year and result in layoffs and loss of CTA bus and rail service. Lawmakers on both sides had already mostly agreed on revamped governance under an empowered Northern Illinois Transit Authority.
If lawmakers punt on transit funding, Pritzker didn’t rule out calling a special legislative session to finally resolve the looming crisis. Otherwise, lawmakers aren’t expected back in Springfield till January.
Lawmakers have been trying to sort out transit funding for over three years, ever since it became apparent that the transit agencies would face major service cuts to balance the books when federal COVID-19 grants run dry. The transit agencies have been struggling with lower ridership that hasn’t recovered post-pandemic.
The transit agencies recently lowered their funding gap in 2026 down to $200 million, down from an estimated $700 million, thanks to new online sales tax revenue and an expected 10% fare increase in February. Transit agencies say the budget deficit would rise to nearly $800 million in 2027 without more funding from the state.
In other late session action, lawmakers were pressing for legislation intended to curb federal immigration authorities from carrying out deportations in or near hospitals, public universities, day cares or courthouses. A bill sponsored by state Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, would also allow residents to sue federal immigration who violate their constitutional rights.
Harmon acknowledged the bill, if passed, would likely face legal challenges, “but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do something, and I’m damn well willing to try.”
State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, said the bill was about “restoring trust, protecting our neighbors, defending our rights, and reminding the world that in Illinois, we do not let fear win.
“We meet violence with courage. We meet hate with law, and we meet intimidation with justice,” she said. “This bill is a statement on behalf of the Legislature to say that what ICE is doing is unacceptable. It’s unlawful.”
Illinois
PPP Loan Scandal Busts Joliet Woman Working For Illinois Department Of Corrections: AG Kwame Raoul Reveals
JOLIET, IL —Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a press release on Monday is alleging a Will County woman fraudulently received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for more than $20,000 while employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The Attorney General’s office charged Jamilah Franklin, 48, of Joliet, with one count of loan fraud of more than $10,000, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; and three counts of forgery, Class 3 felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Franklin’s first court appearance is June 18.
“Federal assistance programs served as a lifeline for small businesses and unemployed Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is unacceptable that government employees would abuse that vital support,” Raoul said. “I will continue to collaborate with other agencies to hold public workers accountable for abusing these programs.”
Attorney General Raoul’s office alleges Franklin was employed by the DOC as a lieutenant when she fraudulently applied for a PPP loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming she owned a business. According to Raoul’s office, Franklin received $20,516 in 2021 as a result.
The Attorney General’s office is prosecuting this case based on a referral by the Office of Executive Inspector General and following an investigation by the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation.
“The Illinois State Police pursues any state employee committing criminal behavior and will continue to work with Attorney General Raoul’s office to hold employees accountable and ensure justice,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.
Raoul’s office has prosecuted dozens of individuals for PPP loan fraud and referred other investigations to the appropriate state’s attorneys for further evaluation.
Deputy Chief Jonas Harger is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Public Integrity Bureau.
Illinois
Thousands of birds could migrate over the Chicago area this week, and here’s how to protect them
Thousands upon thousands of birds are expected to cross over Illinois as part of their spring migrations in coming days.
Thursday night saw the highest migration totals of the season so far, but researchers at Cornell believe that Sunday and Monday nights could see even more avian traffic in the skies over the Chicago area, with hundreds of thousands of birds expected to traverse the area.
According to estimates from Birdcast, Sunday night and into Monday morning there could be “medium” activity for migrating birds, with thousands of birds per kilometer flying over the area.
Even more birds are expected to take flight Monday night and into Tuesday morning thanks to favorable weather conditions, with a “high” number of birds expected to take to the skies over the Chicago area.
According to estimates, up to 383 million birds could be in flight over the central United States during the peak of the migration overnight.
On Thursday night the Chicago area experienced its busiest night of the spring migration season so far, with more than 367,000 birds having been estimated to have passed over Cook County alone.
In all, more than 23,000,000 birds are believed to have crossed the state of Illinois so far during the spring migration.
Among the primary birds expected to be flying through the area are American Redstarts, Magnolia Warblers, Baltimore Orioles and Indigo Buntings, according to researchers at the CornellLab.
As millions of birds continue visiting the Chicago area, here are some steps that residents can take to keep them safe.
When do birds typically migrate?
Peak migration for birds over the state of Illinois occurs in mid-to-late May, with hundreds of different species heading north for the summer breeding season.
Those migration flights for songbirds and other species typically take place in the overnight hours. According to experts, birds typically take flight 30-to-45 minutes after sunset, with the greatest number of birds in flight typically seen approximately two-to-three hours later.
When should residents turn lights off?
One of the best ways to help protect birds is to turn off lights during peak migration times.
According to Birdcast, the best time to turn off or dim exterior lights and interior lights is between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., when most birds are active.
Bright lights can disorient and attract birds, making them vulnerable to collisions and to predators on the ground, according to the website.
Hundreds of millions of birds are killed each year in collisions with buildings, and residents and businesses are being asked to do their part to keep the creatures safe.
In addition to turning off unneeded exterior lights, residents and businesses are also asked to dim or turn off lights in lobbies, and to draw blinds to help keep light from escaping through windows.
Finally, exterior lights should be aimed downward and be well-shielded so that birds aren’t attracted to them.
Are there other steps?
Another key step in protecting birds is to bring pet cats inside during overnight hours.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds in the United States every year, and during migration season those impacts can be even more devastating, as exhausted birds typically seek refuge in plants and trees to rest on their journeys, making them vulnerable to attack.
Since cats like to hunt at night, active migrating birds can be a target, leading to experts asking residents to keep animals inside when possible.
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