Page 23 - APRIL 2019 FOP MAGAZINE

New governor inspires renewed sense of legislative vigor
The Illinois Legislature is in full swing right now. Both the House and Senate are meeting weekly, working on hundreds of bills. We continue to track the many dozens of those bills that have an impact on Chicago Police. With the exception of an Easter/ Passover break, the General Assembly will be in ses- sion every week until June.
There is definitely a new atmosphere in the Capi- tol since Governor J.B. Pritzker took office. While the Republicans do not like the small numbers they have in both chambers, they do have a renewed sense of
independence. The Democrats have super majorities in both the House and Senate. That, on top of working with a new Democrat governor, has given Democrats the ability to move their agenda for- ward.
One of the first acts toward that end was the increase of the min- imum wage to $15 over the next few years. There is now an effort to change Illinois to a fair or progressive income tax structure, instead of the current flat tax rate of 4.95 percent. If the General Assembly puts that measure on the ballot, the electorate will have a chance to vote on it in the November 2020 elections. That constitutional amendment will need 60 percent of the vote as well as a super ma- jority in the House and Senate.
Among other issues being debated in the Capitol, there are also ongoing discussions about how to help fund our infrastructure needs, whether to legalize recreational marijuana and how to reg- ulate sports betting.
We are continuing our efforts in Springfield to protect the rights and interests of the proud members of the Chicago Police Depart- ment.
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SULLIVAN
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CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2019 23
LEGISLATIVE Report