Bad news hit the Chicagoist offices late yesterday afternoon as word came through that SB572 — the bill that would have raised sales taxes in Cook County and the five surrounding "collar" counties, as well as the real estate tax in Chicago, to help fund regional transit — failed to reach a "supermajority" of 71 votes in the Illinois House. Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), sponsor of the bill, halted voting and placed it on the... more ›

In other news, the State Senate voted on absolutely nothing the other day. We’ve been wondering when Mike Madigan’s luck might run out, and it seems that, at least nominally, the governor has managed to rally a few of the cattle that serve as elected representatives to push back against Madigan’s plans to pork up the budget this year. While his tax plan has been a fiasco, and his wet dream of universal healthcare in... more ›