>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Brandis Friedman has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

My values are clear.

We don't compromise them.

We are negotiating details within those values.

And the mayor responds as city council members push back on his proposed property tax hike our Spotlight.

Politics team has the latest on budget negotiations.

And state lawmakers are returning to Springfield where one on one with Illinois's House speaker on Democratic priorities ahead of a second Trump presidency.

>> And now to some of today's top stories, Mayor Brandon Johnson admits his 300 million dollar property tax hike is likely at a news conference this afternoon, the mayor acknowledged his proposed increase aimed at helping plug next year's massive budget deficit did not appear to have the votes to Clear City Council.

>> said from the very beginning, this is a proposal.

I'm a collaborative mayor for the first time in the history of Chicago.

You're actually seen that type of collaborative approach and we will continue to engage with City Council.

>> All the people are set to meet Thursday to vote down that tax hike as they consider other ways to plug the nearly billion dollar budget deficit projected for next year.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul is launching a statewide conviction Integrity Unit unit in an effort to combat wrongful convictions.

Raul says the new unit will review convictions for forcible felonies involving actual or threatened bodily harm for which someone is currently behind bars in cases that aren't up for appeal or post-conviction review and where there's newly-discovered credible evidence.

>> My office works with every part of a limo, criminal justice system to ensure victims rights are preserved.

The innocent are protected in the guilty are convicted and punished.

However, wrongful convictions destroy lives.

Wrongful convictions diminish faith in our criminal justice system.

They put victims and public safety at risk by allowing the true perpetrators to escape unpunished.

>> Raul says the new unit is the result of a five-year development process.

Applications for review are already available.

Illinois voters were clear they want property tax relief.

So says former Governor Pat Quinn who backed a non-binding referendum on last week's ballot, which called for a 3% surcharge on income over a million dollars.

That money would be earmarked to help lower taxes for homeowners.

>> That the people of our state want real action and something that's one of the most hard hitting areas of raising the cost of living for a lot of folks who own a home that's are number one and only investment major investment and their whole life.

But the property tax burden has increased over and over again.

>> Quinn says that according to State Department of Revenue calculations, the tax would generate 4.5 billion dollars in annual revenue.

He's calling for a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2026.

The Chicago Bears could be eyeing land right for redevelopment for a proposed new stadium Crain's Chicago Business first reported the team is considering the former Michael Reese Hospital campus south of McCormick Place.

It's the latest reversal after first planning a move to Arlington Heights before pitching a new lakefront stadium that received plenty of pushback.

The team reportedly hopes developing the long vacant 50 acre East campus could help garner support and financial assistance from lawmakers.

Another Bears news, the team fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after just 9 games, coach Matt Eberflus thanked Waldron in a statement today but said the struggling offense needs new leadership.

The Bears fell 19 to 3 on Sunday to the Patriots and face the rival Green Bay Packers this Sunday.

Up next, Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch on priorities in Springfield.

In light of Donald Trump's reelection.

That's right after this.

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>> State lawmakers are returning to Springfield this week.

The two-week veto session was already on the books for legislators, but now it comes on the heels of Donald Trump's reelection and Democratic leaders who kept their veto proof majorities in both the House and Senate are discussing what if any actions the state may take to, quote, shore up protections ahead of a second Trump presidency.

Joining us to talk more about this is speaker of the Illinois House Emanuel, Chris Welch, Speaker Welt.

Welcome back to Chicago tonight.

thank you for having me.

So last Tuesday was a good night for Democrats in Illinois nationally, not necessarily so much.

What's the mood like in your caucus right now?

>> It's bittersweet when were Democrats were obviously please, by the fact that we're able to protect the great 78.

All of our colleagues are returning for another 2 years and were able to continue to work.

But we were disappointed.

You know, we support Kamala Harris for president and clearly the country.

I thought otherwise.

awful message to Democrats nationwide.

>> As we mentioned, we've heard this talk about so-called Trump proofing, some some of Illinois's protections.

What specific items are on your list?

>> Well, you know, Nick, fortunately for us in Illinois, we have done a really good job.

think forward we have sent every time stand on the floor and I are certain bills that we couldn't predict what was going to happen 2024 and we need to make sure that we protect values upon alliance and on that when it comes workers rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ the climate.

We've got a lot of work.

I on some very important things.

And what we do know what Donald Trump he will do.

know he's going do we also know he's a pretty good morning from 2 other things.

And so we have to be prepare 2 to use the state's rights that we have to continue to protect the pies.

Dion son.

Those conversations are happening right now.

We're still trying identify those things.

You know, we know you know, this week, we're here next week or here.

We're not gonna get everything done on a two-week period of time.

We're going to be back in January.

We're going to be back for the session.

We have some time.

We just want to make sure we got an alarm get it right.

>> You know, one of the items you mentioned, Illinois has plenty of legal protections for reproductive rights in place.

Should we see something like a federal abortion ban or at least more severe reno restrictions on abortion rights at the federal level what if anything, could a state do to fight a measure like that?

>> We believe we've already gotten that Reproductive Health Act and we struck in the Reproductive Health Act under my term, a speakership when Ashley passion in 2019 and that we strengthen it when I became Speaker, Illinois has some of the strongest protections in the country.

We really are beacon not just in Midwest pass the country when it comes to women's reproductive health.

And we believe those protections would be place even Trump the Congress tried to pass a national abortion ban based on states rights.

certainly you know, we're prepared to fight and defend that and what we saw also last Tuesday 7 out of 10 states that had abortion on the agenda.

Including in Republican states like Montana Missouri.

And so Republicans will be calling if they pass the National Board compulsion ban.

Clearly what abortion is on the ballot.

People support women's reproductive health.

All 78 are great.

78 ran on women's reproductive health is one of the main issues and our caucus.

Every single incumbent, one real option that issue very important issue right now.

As sit here talking back 3 Republicans who represent pretty safe Republican district traditionally, we're still counting votes.

That was the come our way because we we talked about women's reproductive in those districts.

>> Would you support an amendment to the state Constitution, enshrining abortion access?

>> Well, that's certainly one of the things that we've talked about even before Donald Trump was elected last Tuesday.

I think about that has to be serious part of any I was station that we have going forward.

You know, especially when we see how successful it was on the ballot place Tuesday.

>> Last week a federal judge ruled that Illinois's what's often referred to as its assault weapons ban is unconstitutional.

What's your reaction to that decision?

>> Well, we've had on the challenges to bill, our law, the protect Illinois communities at the assault weapons ban something that I'm really proud that we accomplished.

Illinois it's been honor attacked by the right wing since we passed Federal Circuit Court, the 7th circuit.

It's rejected challenges to before we're confident that our appeal will be successful for them and can.

And the Supreme Court has rejected now.

So we're sharing well on that particular law.

So we have to let process play out.

We believe we got right.

And we're gonna continue to defend it.

>> You know this, this idea of banning semi out a semi automatic weapons at something, you know, that's come up in in Illinois and in other states and has faced other challenges.

If it makes it all the way to the Supreme Court and not, you know, on sort of procedural questions.

But if it makes it to the Supreme Court, kind of on the meat of whether that sort of law is constitutional.

Do you think a ban on semi automatics would survive given the current makeup of the justices?

>> Well, certainly believe that we have to be concerned because current makeup of the court, we have to be because the the president elect has told us his position on the issues, but we believe that our lawyers advise properly with that.

We got it right and that it would be constitutional muster its mandate before the 7th circuit.

We believe it would be it again at the 7th circuit.

And we were confident about our legal position.

If they overturn ban on assault I believe will be partisan nature.

>> And that it wouldn't be following, you know, Supreme Court precedent that it wouldn't be following the standards that justices should be held to is that you think that?

I want to turn to the issue of the budget.

The governor's budget office recently released its 5 year projection for the state and it predicts a shortfall of more than 3 billion dollars for the coming fiscal year which starts July first how are you preparing to tackle a budget gap?

Quite so large.

>> I'm concluding my 4th year as speaker.

My second term and every year that I've been speaker with forecasts every year, a speaker, we pass balance purchases like the surplus reading page.

I think we've on credit base last out.

I'm very coffee will run for General Assembly morning in January.

8.0 25, we're all going roll up our sleeves and continue to go line by line, through the budget and we're going to the right again to make sure we pass a balanced budget.

alliance can be proud of that protects the values Illinois and shows that where state that works and a state that cares we can do well.

>> You mentioned the number of budget process is you've been through earlier today.

We heard from Senate Minority Leader John Curran, some other GOP lawmakers who essentially said, you know, that that your chamber and the governor have not worked collaboratively on previous budgets.

Here's a bit of what leader current had to say.

Our budget team does a fantastic job.

was a Senate only budget.

We would have had a bipartisan budget so that the Senate Democrats and Republicans working very collaborative manner.

It was a matter of getting the house and the governor to buy into a bipartisan approach.

How about that?

Mister Speaker have these earlier budgets been sort of a fait accompli >> you know, I've never had to sit down one-on-one with Senate minority leader.

my door open to Speaker of the House the Democrat, his office is across the hall.

You want your comments talk with me and tell me what we've been missing.

I love it here.

I think highly of him.

I respect him, but I totally disagree what he said.

We pass balanced budget since I've been speaker.

Take care of the entire state.

Democratic district Republican districts.

They've been balance.

They put a great in our credit ratings.

They've been questions that we can all be >> We heard earlier in the show about a subject lawmakers have been skeptical about the new Bear Stadium, specifically the notion of public funding for that stadium.

Do you think the former Michael Reese site in Bronzeville might draw more support from lawmakers in Springfield?

Well, you know, >> here in Springfield, right now talking about a 5 year got be financial report that projects a 3.1 billion dollar deficit.

we've got to talk about pensions and we got to talk about trans talk about things that every day people concerned about.

I don't think sports stadiums ranked high on the priority list.

said that before and I'll that again.

I mean, we've got to talk about kitchen table issues that are affecting people.

economic concerns that we heard voters express comes at the ballot box last week.

And I don't think talking about wanting stadiums.

All right.

The competition is that.

>> We've got about 20 seconds left voters in Chicago just shows the first members of the cities, newly elected hybrid school board.

But it came after Mayor Johnson's appointed board resigned on masks and was replaced.

Are you concerned this quickly chose an interim board might take significant action before any of the elected board members are sworn in.

>> you know, I don't live in the city, Chicago from an elected school board, believe an elected school The people spoken and I'm going to the people of the city of Chicago work through that process.

But you know, and then stay busy down focused what we're going to get down for entire state as well.

>> Well, you may not be a Chicago in, but we know shade to the suburbs and we appreciate you joining us Chicago tonight.

Speaker Chris Welch, thank you very much.

>> Nick, thank you.

>> And up next, our Spotlight politics team on a stalling plan to hike property taxes in Chicago.

Heather Sharon and Amanda join us right after this.

The latest on the fate of Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed property tax hike.

Meanwhile, plans by Democratic politicians in Springfield to quote Trump proof the state and defense attorneys cross examine a key witness in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Here with all that and more are my spotlight.

Politics compatriots Amanda Vicki and Heather Sharon going to see above.

So as we mentioned earlier in the show, Mayor Johnson acknowledging that proposed 300 million dollar hike likely not going to pass City Council.

Heather, you are at the mayor's press conference earlier today.

What's next for the budget process?

Well, on Thursday, the city Council will hold a special meeting to sort of put an exclamation point on their rejection of that 300 million dollar property tax hike.

But as I've said on the show before, budgets or 0 sum games, if you do not raise taxes by 300 million to fill in nearly 982 million dollar deficit, you have to do one of 2 things you have to either borrow that money.

That's not possible for the city because it already has a massive debt load.

>> Means you have to cut or you've got to raise other taxes.

And it seems that like Mayor Johnson says he will not accept a budget that includes layoffs.

So that means that they're going to have to cobble together 300 million dollars worth of smaller tax hikes, the hikes and perhaps some new charge hope that residents small notice quite as much is that I do now linking figure on your property tax bill current yet rather than just one big.

Ouch.

It's a bunch of You know me, Heather.

Does the city council's apparent rejection of this proposal?

>> Undermine Mayor Johnson's Authority and City Council.

Well, it is a startling review and it is sort of a nature of budget negotiations that we've never seen before because under mayors, Richard Daley and Mayors manual, it was a rubber stamp.

You had 49 to one budget votes.

Now that started to change under Mayor Lori Lightfoot who said she didn't like to horse trade and sort of get into the nitty gritty, but her, but it's also passed relatively easily.

>> Johnson sort of cast that today as good thing that this robust debate is an indication that democracy is alive and well in Chicago and that these discussions which had taken place behind closed doors under previous mayors are now coming out in public and giving people a chance to sort of, you know, engage in it.

However, it's not clear why the mayor would propose a property tax hike of this size if he didn't think it had some base level of support on the city Council and I just said they're no longer 50 to 0 budget vote anymore.

I think that will be wrong if this vote does happen on Thursday.

Nobody wants to be on record.

Having voted to raise property taxes especially again after he pledged not to during campaign.

I think that that is really key here in something that we can't ignore that older persons aren't ignoring.

You can't go back from that.

And so it makes it even more mystifying because he's taking that political hit without getting the benefit of the funding from it, especially after what last year forgoing a inflationary raise in the property tax hike that I think people really wouldn't have noticed.

It wouldn't of trending back on a campaign promise because it was built in any way have to do that.

Well, he he promised undo those inflationary tax hikes to and Lori Lightfoot who proposed it couldn't even get that through her last year It's another indication that property taxes remain the 3rd rail of Chicago in Illinois.

Politics touch at your to do not go on to for CTA employee to get your phone Okay.

Well, speaking of other bad budget handle, we heard about this 3 billion dollar deficit.

Illinois is expected to be facing.

>> Republicans are blaming Democrats for that.

What ideas do Republicans have to close well and they say that for starters, they don't have a full grasp of where the state budget is that because they hadn't part of negotiations in a full some capacity.

And so they want to get a handle on that first.

But really they're take making 2 takeaways from the election.

They say that people are upset about spending.

They're worried about their own wallets, kitchen table issues and therefore, there should be no tax increases.

And then they're also pointing to frustration with spending on new arrivals and they believe that.

>> Illinois needs to reverse some of the programs that have paid for.

So, for example, some tuition programs are really a lot of focus on health insurance.

It is going toward non citizens.

So those are the areas that they are really pointing to.

Let's be clear, though, that would certainly not be nothing.

I mean, those are programs that do cost more than a penny.

That's that not enough to knock out a 3 billion dollar budget deficit that is projected.

>> Speaker Welch was with us earlier.

He's been among the the sort of course, of Democrats talking about, quote, unquote, Trump proofing the state.

How much power do state lawmakers have to push back against the federal government if it sets its mind to it?

I think and see the big question because there's just so much ground that could be cover there.

>> If, for example, there is a national ban, an abortion, even though there's a lot projecting that Trump administration won't go that route.

But nonetheless, if there were what do you do about that?

Illinois has its own separate sent protections that said there are certainly >> areas in state law that are being scoured over right now that, for example, rely on federal statute.

And so part of it is really just sort of dotting your I's crossing t's, making news.

Sure, it's not.

They're looking at protecting, for example, that prevailing wage and labor laws looking at making sure that there are protections for DOT data privacy, whether it be, for example, like a period tracker here.

Tracking somebody on their cell phone if they come to Illinois where there are protections, for example, for gender affirming care that are outlawed in other states.

>> We also heard earlier from Mayor Johnson about his reaction to Kamala Harris is resounding defeat last week.

Here's what the mayor had to say.

>> We will not or break.

Our values remain strong and for.

We will face likely hurdles in our work over the next 4 years.

But we will not be stopped.

And we certainly would not go back.

>> Heather, the mayor was asked specifically about President elect Trump's calls for deportations.

You know, the prospect of ICE raids in the city where the mayor have to say he said that Chicago will agree to revoke its sanctuary city status.

It will not allow police to work quick immigration agents if they come here as the president-elect has said that they will and that they are prepared to fight the federal government in court to protect the city's share of federal grants.

If the Trump administration tries again to yank them for those protections for And we've got about 30 seconds left.

We mentioned that referendum increasing the income tax on millionaires.

How about another one down state from some voters who might want to secede?

How did that ballot hear about that fared actually get to pass resoundingly.

And this was in a bubbly 7 states are really handful of counties, not what want to become their own state is the whole point.

Like you said they want to succeed in.

This is something that we have not just in this election.

There's really been a pattern of particularly downstate counties taking this approach.

>> And I think while waiting happen, it is not some there for that.

We should concentrate a lot on.

It is definitely a show of the polarization and a regional divide and frustration, frankly, that a lot of these Republican majority counties feeling toward the city of Chicago and Cook not anything that's likely to happen, but certainly not something that lawmakers should be ignoring.

I'm sure we will have much more about that issue in weeks to come.

But the man dove in a key, Heather?

Sure.

that's it for Thanks for Keeping Me Honest >> And that's our show for this Tuesday night.

In case you couldn't tell.

Our NEWSROOM loves exploring the back story on the complicated issues that matter most to you.

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Takeaways from a study on reparations by residents on Chicago's South side.

And an upcoming production at the lyric Opera of Chicago follows a family's grief and healing.

>> Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, I'm Nick Blumberg.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

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