
Spotlight Politics: Previewing Pritzker's Budget Address
Clip: 2/20/2024 | 5m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team on the day's biggest stories.
The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team on the day's biggest stories.
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Spotlight Politics: Previewing Pritzker's Budget Address
Clip: 2/20/2024 | 5m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team on the day's biggest stories.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> GOVERNOR >> JB PRITZKER FACES A PROJECTED BUDGET SHORTFALL AHEAD OF HIS BUDGET ADDRESS.
MEANWHILE, WHITE SOX OWNER JERRY REINSDORF VISIT SPRINGFIELD TO PUSH FOR A NEW STADIUM AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON PROMISES TO SPEND ALL OF THE CITY'S FEDERAL COVID RELIEF DOLLARS HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT.
POLITICS TEAM HAD A SHARON PARA SHUTS AND LIVE FROM SPRINGFIELD AND DIVINITY.
WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE.
SO, AMANDA, LET'S START WITH YOU FIRST, PLEASE.
TOMORROW.
AS WE SAID, THE GOVERNOR WILL GET HIS A STATE BUDGET ADDRESS FROM SPRINGFIELD HE'S AND NEARLY 900 MILLION DOLLAR DES DEFICIT HOUSING PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS THAT.
WE KNOW ALREADY THAT HE'S GOT A WHOLE LOT OF SPENDING PRESSURES AND ASKS THERE ARE DEMOCRATS WHO WANTS TO EXPAND IN INCLUDE A CHILD TAX CREDITS.
THERE IS PRESSURE TO SPEND MORE ON NEW ARRIVALS.
THESE ASYLUM SEEKERS.
HE'S ALREADY PROMISED 182 MILLION DOLLARS TO THAT EFFECT.
SO IT IS A DIFFICULT TASK FOR HIM THAT IS FOR SURE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR IS REALLY TRYING TO PRY HIS REPUTATION ON BALANCING THE STATE'S BUDGET.
AND SO HE'S GOING TO PRESENT SOME SORT OF PLAN THAT HE IS AT LEAST GOING TO SAY WILL BE BALANCED.
>> ILLINOIS GOP MEMBERS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY AHEAD OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS WHERE PLACE A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS.
HERE'S SOME OF WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
>> THE SET OF MORE FREE HEALTH CARE FOR NON CITIZENS.
WE WANT TO SEE EFFORTS TO LOWER COSTS.
FOR ILLINOIS CITIZENS.
INSTEAD OF NONCITIZEN PROGRAMS.
WE WANT TO SEE EFFORTS TO MAKE ILLINOIS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
SENIORS AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INSTEAD OF MORE EFFORTS TO SKIRT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION.
OFFICIALS WANT TO SEE MORE FUNDING FOR TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT POLICE OFFICERS TO MAKE ILLINOIS FAMILIES SAFE.
>> AMANDA GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE WOULD ASK LAWMAKERS FOR 182 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE UPCOMING HOW IS HE RESPONDED TO THE GOP?
WELL, IT'S NOT JUST THE GOP.
THERE HAS ALSO BEEN PUSHBACK FROM MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY WHO SAY THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF NEEDY, LONG TIME.
>> RESIDENTS IN COMMUNITIES THAT DESERVE ATTENTION.
THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT 182 MILLION DOLLAR ASK GOING FORWARD.
THE STATE HAS ALREADY SPENT AN EXTRA 160 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE GOVERNOR HE'S SAID HE'S WHEN ASKED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ESSENTIALLY BACKFILL.
AND THE REASON THAT YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.
APPROVED THAT YET IS BECAUSE OF WHAT I JUST SAID.
SO IT'S NOT JUST REPUBLICAN PUSHBACK.
THIS IS WHERE IT'S REALLY THE BEGINNING OF A NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
WE'VE GOT MONTHS AND YOU'RE GOING DO SURELY HAVE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SAYING, HEY, WAIT IN ORDER FOR MY VOTES TO DO THAT, I NEED SOMETHING TO BRING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT DOES THIS INDICATE ABOUT CHICAGO AND JOHNSON'S MAYOR TO BRANDON JOHNSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNOR PRITZKER?
WELL, IT'S TOUGH.
I WOULD IMAGINE GOVERNOR PRITZKER WOULD HAVE EASIER TIME GETTING PEOPLE ON BOARD.
IT'S THE CITY HAD AGREED TO COME UP WITH THE 70 MILLION DOLLARS THAT IT INITIALLY INDICATED IT WAS AT LEAST OPEN TO.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYORS RELATIONSHIP WAS REALLY POISE AND BY THE WHOLE DEBATE OVER THE WINTERIZED BASE CAMP.
SORT THE MAYOR MOVING FORWARD ONLY TO HAVE THE GOVERNOR SORT OF PULL BACK RIGHT AWAY, WHETHER THEY CAN RESOLVE THAT AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY COME UP WITH A TOTAL OF 250 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TO CARE FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS EVEN AS EVERYBODY IS BRACING FOR A BIG INFLUX.
ONCE THE WEATHER WARMS UP FOR REAL, I THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE A NEW CONTRACT.
THE MAYOR SAYING.
>> WHERE ARE WE GOING TO ALL THIS MONEY?
WE'RE GOING THE STATE BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY RAISE THEIR PORTION, THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY, A CERTAIN >> PERCENTAGE.
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE FROM EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG APPETITE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LAWMAKERS TO BAIL OUT THE CPS AND GIVEN ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT HERE FORWARD A NEW SEAT, TEACHER'S UNION CONTRACT AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR.
>> SO WHAT LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT WHITE SOX OWNER JERRY REINSDORF.
HE WAS IN SPRINGFIELD TODAY ASKING FOR NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC FUNDS TO BUILD A NEW STADIUM AT THE 78.
WHAT HIS REASONING FOR US AND FOR ALL THIS BECAUSE HE'S JERRY REINSDORF.
HE GOT AHEAD OF JERRY REINSDORF.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE CLIMATE, THOUGH WE'RE LIVING IN IS HE'S GOING TO GO DOWN WITH HIS CUP OUT ASKING FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THAT'S HOW HE BUILT GUARANTEED RATE FIELD.
THAT'S HOW HE GOT IT.
RENOVATED.
KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING IS WE WANT TO EXTEND AN EXISTING 2% HOTEL TAX THAT SORT OF BACK THE BONDS THAT RENOVATED INBUILT GUARANTEED RATE FIELD.
IT'S GOING EXPIRED LIKE LET'S JUST EXTEND IT.
>> IT'S TOURISTS VISITORS PAYING THAT WILL EXTEND IT TO PAY FOR THIS STADIUM.
AND ACCORDING TO CRAIN'S, HE WANTS A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT TO FUND SOME OF IT, TOO.
SO FOR A BILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL, WHAT'S THAT LIKE?
IT'S, YOU KNOW, A BILLION DOLLARS OUT OF CURRENT TAX COFFERS.
AND HIS ARGUMENT IS THAT WE'RE THERE'S NOTHING ON THAT LAND RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A BASEBALL STADIUM.
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE BUILDINGS, BUSINESSES.
IT'S GOING TO CREATE TONS OF TAX REVENUE.
GIVE US A LITTLE BOOST HERE TO HELP US DO THAT.
HE'S GOT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR THAT.
IT'S THE SOUTH LOOP THERE.
IT'S WAITING TO EXPLODE AND THERE'S NOTHING SITTING ON THAT VERY VALUABLE PIECE OF LAND.
SO HEATHER, AFTER YOU REPORTED THAT THE CITY HAD ONLY USE 29% OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS.
REPORTERS ASKED MAYOR JOHNSON ABOUT IT AND HE SAYS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM AND OF COURSE, THAT HE'S GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME.
>> MAKING SURE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN DISINVESTED HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE DOLLARS.
BUT DID HE SPECIFY HOW OR WHEN HE'S GOT TO SPEND THE MONEY HE DIDN'T.
THE DEADLINE IS LOOMING.
THE CITY HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO BUDGET THOSE DOLLARS AND THEY HAVE THE UNTIL THE END OF 20 20TH ACTUALLY SPEND THOSE.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A POT OF MONEY.
WE'RE ALL OF THOSE COMPETING WITH NEEDS ARE GOING TO COME IN AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING CAN'T WE USE THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SORT OF FILL THIS VERY DIFFICULT NEED?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEBATE IN THE COMING MONTHS.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BIG TEST OF JOHNSON'S
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