Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) | Facebook/Governor JB Pritzker
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) | Facebook/Governor JB Pritzker
Gov. J.B. Pritzker doesn't appear to be completely sold on Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson's proposed tax plan.
As part of a plan to help stabilize the city’s finances, Johnson, a Cook County commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union organizer, is calling for a tax of up to $2 per securities trading contract, a concept that – though often proposed in Springfield – has never garnered enough support to move forward.
After his April 4 win over challenger Paul Vallas, Johnson met with Pritzker who told reporters during a joint news conference that he has “not stood for a transaction tax” because he believes financial services companies would relocate their operations or their computer servers if one were enacted.
“Obviously, what we all want is a thriving financial services economy in the state and the city, and it’s been that way,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker and Johnson said they also discussed a shared commitment to supporting jobs and small businesses by investing in the city’s neighborhoods, with Pritzker adding “(Johnson) brings a real excitement to the job, I think, to the people of Chicago and I think that’s being felt in Washington, D.C.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her reelection on Feb. 28, facing off against 14 other candidates. Mayoral candidates Johnson and Vallas faced each other during the April 4 runoff, where Johnson won 51.4% of the votes.
Block Club Chicago reported Johnson won his election thanks to young voters.
“We were constantly having conversations about how to engage more young folks than we did before Feb. 28,” Dany Robles, a field consultant for Johnson’s campaign in the 26th and 36th wards, said to Block Club Chicago. “We needed to drive up Johnson’s name recognition and also show a sense of urgency to new voters, that there’s a clear contrast in candidates and every vote matters.”
Johnson began his career as a teacher at Jenner Academy and then at Westinghouse College Prep. His website noted he saw how school closures, unemployment, and gun violence impacted students and their communities.
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