Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ plan faces uphill battle in Senate
The “Build Back Better” plan would allocate trillions of dollars to the nation’s infrastructure.
Politics
With one of Illinois’ largest political reporting teams, WBEZ’s Government & Politics desk holds elected officials and government bodies accountable. We cover the policy debates and political machinations happening at the state Capitol in Springfield, in Cook County government and at Chicago’s City Hall.
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Illinois is getting $18 billion from the feds for infrastructure. Plans for spending it are trickling out.
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan offers a big windfall and a “hallelujah moment” for Illinois with possible fixes to roads, transit and water lines.
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Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin expects the Senate to pass spending bill by the end of 2021
Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, spoke with NPR about how Democrats plan to secure all 50 member votes needed to pass President Biden’s $2.2 trillion social spending bill.
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What to know about the U.S. emergency oil stash as gas price surge
President Biden is looking at options to bring down high prices. One possibility attracting a lot of attention is releasing crude oil from the country’s emergency reserves.
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Chicago is considering 5 proposed casino sites. You’ll soon get a chance to weigh in on them.
The city released high-line details Friday of the casino proposals and a plan for public input and decision-making.
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Flush with federal money, Cook County board passes largest ever budget for 2022
The $8 billion budget includes no new taxes, a hiring spree, and a 24/7 domestic violence court.
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Governor Pritzker signs electric vehicle legislation
The Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act provides incentives for businesses to build cars in the state.
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Homeless can keep staying at a downtown Chicago hotel through the winter
The city extended a deal to pay $99 a room per night for temporary shelter at the Hotel Julian, but some aldermen worry about the costs.
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Chicago could soon get its first majority Asian American ward
A proposed majority Asian American ward is centered around Chinatown and Bridgeport. It could become a reality on Dec. 1.
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Chicago aldermen are racing against the clock to pass a new ward map
If the City Council doesn’t agree on new political boundaries by Dec. 1, voters could end up picking a map themselves.
