Latest News from Chicago City Wire

Longtime CPS activist Katten suddenly silent on school issues

By Karen Kidd | Nov 6, 2017

Wendy Katten is unusually quiet.

Rival says D'Amico wants to stand on taxpayers' backs

By Karen Kidd | Nov 2, 2017

Rep. John D’Amico (D-Chicago) proved he is in lock-step with House Speaker Michael Madigan when he voted for a permanent 32 percent state income tax hike this summer, Republican challenger Amanda Biela told Chicago City Wire recently.

Cook County warned that another tax after failed soda tax won't go down any easier

By Karen Kidd | Oct 20, 2017

Cook County commissioners and lawmakers across the state need to learn from the recently repealed soda tax before considering sales taxes or any other new revenue schemes, Commissioner Sean Morrison told the Chicago City Wire.

Chicago debt goes on wild roller coaster ride, group contends

By Karen Kidd | Aug 31, 2017

Unless Chicago has crafted some kind of magic financial wand, its debt numbers are doing some weird things in the last few years, a government oversight group suggests.

Budget described as no solution to Illinois insolvency

By Karen Kidd | Jul 21, 2017

While state lawmakers ended a two-year budget impasse, the measures adopted by the Illinois Legislature will not fix the state's fiscal mess, an analyst who co-wrote a paper that places the state 49th in long-run solvency told the Sangamon Sun.

Income tax hike adds salt to Illinoisans' property tax wound, policy pro contends

By Karen Kidd | Jul 12, 2017

Before the recently passed budget, Illinoisans could at least point to their 3.75 percent state income tax rate as being relatively low, even if their property taxes are relatively high, a policy pro said on a Chicago-based radio program recently.

Economist says something's got to give: pensions or public schools

By Karen Kidd | Jul 2, 2017

Public sector employees and retirees could accept less than their constitutionally protected pensions if they understand it's them or public education, an economist said during an appearance on a recent Chicago-based radio show.

Property taxes described as most critical issue for 2018 elections

By Karen Kidd | Jun 30, 2017

A recently revealed disparity in Chicago-area property taxes proves the system is corrupt and should be the prevailing issue in the 2018 elections, a radio show producer said recently.

Boilermakers offer template for change in Illinois universities, analyst says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 29, 2017

Indiana's Purdue University offers a great economics class -- not so much for students, but for every comparable Illinois school, a policy analyst said on a Chicago-based talk show recently.

Civility, consideration urged in wake of political violence, vitriol

By Karen Kidd | Jun 28, 2017

The nation needs to call for civility in political discourse before more violence is committed against politicians, such as the shooting of a congressman in Alexandria, Virginia, earlier this month, a radio show producer said recently.

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'Panicked' Democrats fear House downfall after approving school funding bill, radio host says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 23, 2017

Democratic state lawmakers showed their true colors in May when they demanded an investigation into an article about apparently doomed school funding reform legislation, a radio show co-host said recently.

Illinois Policy writer: Old guard throws barbs as new media grabs awards

By Karen Kidd | Jun 19, 2017

Traditional news outlets have been resorting to name-calling and disparagement because they fear their way of controlling the narrative is dying, an Illinois Policy Institute writer said on a radio show recently.

Minimum wage hike unfair to young, kills jobs, economics professor says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 17, 2017

Supporters of minimum wage increases too often forget the cruelty of state-enforced pay hikes, an economics professor and author said on a Chicago-based radio show recently.

Taxpayers say 'reform,' but lawmakers hear 'more taxes,' policy pro says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 17, 2017

Illinois lawmakers betray their ignorance of the needs and opinions of taxpayers when they pass huge tax increases as a way out of the ongoing budget impasse, a policy expert said on a radio program recently.

Democrats said to have odd way of showing they dislike Madigan

By Karen Kidd | Jun 16, 2017

Democrats generally go into the voting booth with their eyes open, but when House Speaker Michael Madigan's name comes up, they go blind, a policy pro said on a Chicago radio broadcast recently.

Political revolt called only way out of CPS financial crisis

By Karen Kidd | Jun 15, 2017

It will take a village of angry townsfolk to bring down the three-headed monster that is trying to kill Chicago Public Schools (CPS), a conservative radio talk show host argued recently.

'Go buy yourself a treasurer's seat,' radio host chides Pritzker

By Karen Kidd | Jun 15, 2017

A questionable property tax assessment was problem enough for billionaire businessman and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker, but recent FBI tape revelations are sticking with voters, a conservative radio talk show host said recently.

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Hughes calls for ouster of CTU President Karen Lewis

By Karen Kidd | Jun 12, 2017

Chicago Teachers Union members need to turn their long-time President Karen Lewis out of office, a radio show co-host said during a recent broadcast.

College costs already outrageous without hiring 'hack' to regurgitate words, pundit says

By Karen Kidd | May 22, 2017

Offering a former Obama aide $30,000 for a commencement speech is the perfect example of how misguided spending is in Illinois, a conservative pundit said on Chicago-based radio talk show recently.

'Absurd' math used to calculate 'Comeback Agenda,' financial pro says

By Karen Kidd | May 18, 2017

There won't be any coming back for high-wage earners who will exit Illinois in a hurry if the so-called "Illinois Comeback Agenda" passes, a financial services professional said.

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