Trail Mix: Midterm referendums bring two big questions

👋 Hello, Justin right here with my weekly political column, Path Combine.

The midterm poll has two huge questions this 12 months: one on staff rights and one other on growing Cook dinner County Forest Protect funding.

Why it issues: These poll measures may change the way in which Cook dinner County — and Illinois — works, lives and performs.

Forest Protect Referendum: The measure proposes growing property taxes .025% to guard, broaden and keep Cook dinner County Forest Preserves.

• At the moment lower than 1% of the property tax income goes to the preserves.

What they’re saying: A coalition of supporters says the tax improve would quantity to “lower than $1.66/month for the overwhelming majority of house owners.”

• The measure would additionally add 3,000 acres of protect and assist the Forest Protect pension obligations.

The opposite facet: Though few welcome increased property taxes, this proposal has met little opposition.

Employees rights modification: One other goals to make everlasting the fitting to collective bargaining as a part of the Illinois Structure.

What they’re saying: Advocates embody the Illinois Federation of Lecturers, which says the modification would “assure the fitting of staff to discount for secure working situations, truthful pay, and advantages.

“The opposite facet: The Illinois Coverage Institute argues that the poll query ought to be about reforming pensions, not elevating taxes.

• Additionally they argue that giving unions everlasting bargaining rights would end in increased property taxes to pay public staff.

Extra election nuggets

Blurred strains: Former ABC-7 political reporter Charles Thomas was as soon as a trusted voice on the native information. Now he is getting paid to say he trusts Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.

• In tv advertisements known as “Actual Discuss with Charles Thomas,” he talks off-camera about how a lot he trusts Bailey as a result of he is a farmer.
• What’s even blurrier is that the ad is airing proper earlier than the ABC-7 10pm information.

How many individuals really watch debates? Capitol Fax broke down the numbers after WGN-TV advised the primary televised gubernatorial debate was a rankings bonanza.

• However after the location did some math, they discovered simply 5.5% of registered voters within the native media market watched.

Endorsement time: The Tribune endorsed Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker over Bailey, regardless that Pritzker did not seem earlier than the editorial board after claiming its prior protection had been unfair to him.

• The traditionally conservative Tribune picked one other Democrat, Alexi Giannoulias, for secretary of state.

Between the strains: There was a priority that when the Solar-Instances introduced it will cease endorsing candidates, the Tribune would endorse solely conservative candidates.

• However that hasn’t materialized.

Of be aware: That is the Tribune’s ultimate gubernatorial endorsement as its mum or dad firm introduced it would cease the follow after this election.