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The late Laurence Msall, who previously led the Civic Federation, was a wizard of public finance, someone who knew the ins and outs of city and state budgeting and had a keen eye for cost-effective approaches to government. Joe Ferguson brings a different background and perspective as a former federal prosecutor and good government advocate who spent 12 years as a tenacious city watchdog for Chicago. Reset talks to Ferguson about his plans for the group.
Crime in Chicago is up and the business community is hoping for public safety improvements from the city's leadership. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, joins the John Howell show to talk about how to improve public safety in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Crime in Chicago is up and the business community is hoping for public safety improvements from the city's leadership. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, joins the John Howell show to talk about how to improve public safety in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
*ABC 7 Sports Anchor Dionne Miller joins the show with her thoughts on this weekend's Bears game against the Cowboys. *Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss shares his thoughts, as a private citizen, about the possibility of bringing ranked-choice voting to town. *WLS City Hall Reporter Emeritus & Host of Take 1, Bill Cameron, previews this week's interview with mayoral candidate Kam Buckner. *Plus, Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, explains why they are demanding more transparency in CPD spending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
*ABC 7 Sports Anchor Dionne Miller joins the show with her thoughts on this weekend's Bears game against the Cowboys. *Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss shares his thoughts, as a private citizen, about the possibility of bringing ranked-choice voting to town. *WLS City Hall Reporter Emeritus & Host of Take 1, Bill Cameron, previews this week's interview with mayoral candidate Kam Buckner. *Plus, Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, explains why they are demanding more transparency in CPD spending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's $242 million pension pre-payment plan will prevent Chicago's four cash-strapped pension funds from having to “sell assets in a down market,” but it cannot let Springfield off the hook, the Civic Federation president said Tuesday.Laurence Msall said state law was used to create the police, fire, laborers and municipal employees pension funds and the Il. General Assembly dictates “who the members are, what their contribution levels must be and what benefits” those retired city employees receive.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal likely will be a key plank of his re-election platform. Not only does it contain goodies for everyday Illinoisans – a property tax rebate for roughly 2 million people, plus a one-year break on grocery and gas taxes – the governor says it demonstrates he's made good on a pledge to dig the state out of the financial morass of the budget impasse during Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration. Here to analyze that budget is Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a government watchdog group founded by the Commercial Club of Chicago. Msall worked for Governors Jim Thompson and George Ryan on economic development issues, and has deepened his knowledge during his time at the Civic Federation. Republicans in the general assembly and the gubernatorial primary say the governor's proposal is an election year gimmick that doesn't fix the state's structural issues. Msall agrees, but only in part. There are goodies, yes, but he gives the proposal good grades on addressing the state's bill backlog, pensions, rainy day fund, and likely, its unemployment insurance fund. But there are warnings: the state needs more transparency around its infrastructure plans; the budget doesn't restart a stalled conversation on larger property tax reform; and there might be challenges in getting this budget through a general assembly who might be eager to spend, rather than stowing money away.
On this episode of Essential Cuts, John and Kim dig into the details of Lori Lightfoot's budget so that you don't have too: *Professor Justin Marlowe at the University of Chicago details why the city's revenue and spending will never be the same. *Greg Bishop of The Center Square shares how some lawmakers are moving to bar moral exemptions for refusing the COVID vaccine. *Mike Emanuel stops by for his weekly hit to talk about the latest news out of Washington. *Alex Stone of ABC News discusses how In-N-Out Burger has become the center of the vaccine mandate fight. *Plus, Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation claims that Lightfoot should pull out all the stops to keep the Bears in Chicago.
Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, joins Anna to talk about why he believes that Mayor Lightfoot should try to keep the Bears in Chicago for the economic impact an NFL team makes in the city. Laurence also chats with Anna about Chicago City Council passing Mayor Lightfoot’s budget proposal.
As the head of Chicago's foremost taxpayer watchdog group, Laurence Msall might be expected to urge fiscal caution. But Msall said losing the Bears would be a blow the city should try hard to avoid.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, joins Steve Bertrand on Chicago’s Afternoon News to explain how property tax exemptions for veterans, disabled people, and senior citizens in Cook County result in higher property tax bills for other homeowners. Follow Your Favorite Chicago’s Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:Follow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka
Laurence Msall is the President of the Civic Federation, and joins Connected to Chicago. Bill and Laurence talk finances locally, state and at the Federal level. What to expect in January 2021...? We welcome in Greg Hinz of Crain’s, Ray Long of the Chicago tribune, Fran Spielman from the Chicago Sun-Times, and Heather Cherone of WTTW into this week’s Round Table. Issues with the City Budget, and what would be the smart move to make for Speaker Mike Madigan? Christine Poorman, Executive Director of College Possible talks with Lauren Cohn about how her organization is making it easier for Low-Income high school students to attend College.
WBEZ’s Dave McKinney looks at how the Illinois state legislature can handle the big items on its agenda if they haven’t met since May, and have put off the six-day fall veto session due to a COVID-19 spike in the state.And Civic Federation president Laurence Msall has ideas to generate revenue now that the graduated income tax failed with the voters on election day.For more Reset interviews, please subscribe to this podcast and leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us.For more about the program, you can head over to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset.
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall. He argues that beleaguered Chicago taxpayers and business owners ravaged by the pandemic can't take any more punishment. Instead, he's urging the mayor to wield the budget axe.
With no federal coronavirus relief deal in sight, Governor JB Pritzker is asking state agencies to prepare for a “nightmare scenario” of budget cuts: 5 percent this year and 10 percent next year. Reset checks in with Laurence Msall of the Civil Federation for more on the state of Illinois’ finances.
WBEZ's Becky Vevea shares what lies ahead for taxpayers as the city grapples with its finances. Reset also hears from Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation. Producer: Meha Ahmad, Stephanie Kim
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall.
September 9, 2019 The Pension Problem: What Happens Now? – moderated by Kristen McQueary – Laurence Msall, Adam Schuster & Hon. Heather Steans Kristen McQueary Kristen McQueary is an Editorial Board Member of the Chicago Tribune. Her areas of focus include government, politics, education, and candidate endorsements. Before joining the Tribune in 2012, McQueary wrote […]
Laurence Msall, one of the City's most respected budget analysts, talks with Craig Dellimore about the fiscal challenges facing the Lori Lightfoot Administration, and the prospects for closing what could be a Billion dollar Budget Gap. He talks taxes, revenue, structural reform and political realities.
There’s no question that the city was in deep financial trouble when Rahm Emanuel took over as mayor 8 years ago. And while there’s a lot of work left to do, most experts agree that he made a series of good decisions-some of them not very politically popular-that have stabilized things for the time being. Laurence Msall from the Civic Federation, and Ralph Martire from Center for Tax and Budget Accountability join us to break down Emanuel’s legacy, and what Mayor Lightfoot should emulate, and avoid. Plus one of Emanuel’s most obvious accomplishments is the riverwalk. Michelle Woods has been working on the project for 17 years, so she’s as excited as she’s ever been as the summer season opens on Chicago’s “linear park”.
April 9, 2019 The State of the Illinois Budget – moderated by Tina Sfondeles – Laurence Msall, Ralph Martire & Jason Grotto Laurence Msall Laurence Msall is the President of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government research organization established in 1894 that promotes independent and evidence-based efforts to improve the effectiveness, financial sustainability, and transparency […]
Joining the show this week is Laurence Msall. Msall is the President of the Civic Federation. Bill and Laurence discuss the issues that will be facing the new Mayor of Chicago, and Governor Pritzker. Msall explains how government and City Hall can be modernized. In this week's round table segment, Bill is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Greg Hinz of Crains, Lynn Sweet and Fran of the Chicago Sun-Times. The round table opens up with a great clip from this past Mayoral debate. The election is this upcoming Tuesday. Who will become the next mayor? Will Kim Foxx get re-elected as the Cook County State’s Attorney? This week's community spotlight segment is with John Dempsey. John explains how there is a growing problem of Illinois State Troopers being struck while conducting traffic stops and assisting drivers. Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, 34, was outside inspecting a semitrailer on Route 20 just west of Route 75 at 11:25 a.m. in Stephenson County, Illinois State Police said. About an hour later, a combination semitrailer veered off the roadway and struck Jones-Story’s squad car, the semitrailer she was inspecting and Jones-Story herself, police said. Jones-Story, a 12-year veteran of District 16 in Pecatonica, died from the crash. Two days later, 36 year old state trooper Gerald Ellis was struck and killed while driving home from work by a wrong way driver who was also killed. Ellis was an eleven year Illinois State Police veteran and a veteran of the U.S. Military. State Police Director Brendan Kelly says the death of Ellis dealt an especially cruel blow to the men and women of the Illinois State Police, coming so quickly after the death of Trooper Jones-Story.
Civic Federation president urges new mayor to think big in cutting costs
You've heard Illinois is in the midst of a public pension crisis, but do you know how we got here? Special guest Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government finance think tank, walks us through the history of the problem and what our government can do to dig Illinois out of its pension hole.
A look at how many riders it takes to make a bus profitable.