Citizen Bulletin: Chicago's Own Green Plan & Other News in Chicago Politics
UChicago Democracy Initative
February 10-17, 2019
The Citizen Bulletin’s news highlights from this week include: Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a plan to have Chicago buildings operate 100% from renewable energy by 2035; Governor JB Pritzker ordered the shutdown of the Willowbrook Sterigenics plant over evidence of carcinogenic emissions; and President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency at the US-Mexican border to secure funding for a border wall
CHICAGO CITY GOVERNMENT
Alderman Leslie Hairston (5th Ward) ~ call your alderman! (773) 324-5555
Feb 12 -- Secured an agreement from Shop and Save to build a grocery store in the South Shore lot vacated by a Dominick’s grocery store in 2013.
Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward) ~ call your alderman! (773) 955-5610
[No News]
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) ~ call your mayor! (312) 744-3300
Feb 15 -- Announced plans for an expansion of Google operations in Chicago
Feb 14 -- Released ‘Resilient Chicago’ strategy plan featuring a commitment to 100% renewable energy for Chicago buildings by 2035
COOK COUNTY BOARD
President Toni Preckwinkle ~ call your Cook County board president! (312) 603-6400
[No News]
ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT
Representative Curtis Tarver (D–District 25) ~ call your state rep!
Feb 14 -- Voted in favor of a bill that would raise the minimum wage in Illinois to $15 per hour; the bill passed the Illinois House; it will now head to Governor Pritzker’s desk
Senator Robert Peters (D–District 13) ~ call your state senator!
[No News]
Governor JB Pritzker (D–IL) ~ call your governor!
Feb 14 -- Published a plan to address Illinois’s $134 billion pension debt without reducing benefits; the plan includes selling state assets, among other measures
Feb 15 -- Ordered the shutdown of the Willowbrook Sterigenics plant over evidence of cancer-causing levels of Methylene-Oxide emissions
Feb 16 -- Appointed another person to lead the state veterans affairs agency following the resignation of his initial pick after just two weeks on the job
U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Representative Bobby Rush (D–IL1) ~ call your representative! (773) 779-2400
[No News]
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D–IL) ~ call your senator! (312) 886-3506
Feb 12 -- Introduced, along with senator Durbin, legislation to that would establish a paid medical and family leave program
Feb 12 -- Introduced, along with Senator Durbin, legislation that would fully reinstate the state and local tax deduction, which the 2017 tax law capped at $10,000
Feb 14 -- Voted in favor of legislation that would make lynching a federal crime
Feb 14 -- Voted against confirming William Barr as Attorney General
Feb 15 -- Criticized President Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency to secure funding for a border wall
Senator Richard Durbin (D–IL) ~ call your senator! (312) 353-4952
Feb 11 -- Introduced the Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Prices Act, which would shorten monopoly periods for drugs if their prices significantly increase
Feb 13-- Introduced, along with Senator Duckworth, the Medicare at 50 Act, which would allow people between the ages of 50 and 64 to voluntarily buy into medicare
Feb 14 -- Voted against confirming William Barr as Attorney General
Feb 15 -- Criticized President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexican border
President Donald Trump (R) ~ call your president! (202) 456-1414
Feb 15 -- Signed a bipartisan spending compromise, averting a government shutdown; the compromise included $1.375 billion for fencing along 55 miles of the US-Mexico border
Feb 16 -- Declared a national emergency at the US-Mexican border in order to repurpose billions of dollars in funding towards border wall construction, provoking legal challenges
The Citizen Bulletin is a product of the University of Chicago Democracy Initiative (UCDI). UCDI is proudly supported by Andrew Goodman Foundation’s nonpartisan Vote Everywhere project. In addition to the UCDI website, you can find past versions of the bulletin here. For news closer to campus, subscribe to the twice weekly newsletter produced by our partners at the Chicago Maroon.
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