Oct. 28--Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.
Topspin
It's Wednesday, Oct. 28, a big news day. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to win approval of his 2016 budget that raises taxes by $755 million. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is scheduled to plead guilty on his federal bank charge. And the Republican presidential candidates will debate in the evening.
It's the final countdown, with aldermen convening at City Hall this morning to vote on Mayor Emanuel's 2016 budget package and historically large property tax hike.
The mayor and his aides have been working up to the last minute to tweak the plan and twist arms to secure the support of as many of the 50 aldermen as possible for the $7.8 billion budget. Chatter from council members indicates it will pass, and the mayor himself expressed confidence during an interview Tuesday night on WTTW Ch. 11's "Chicago Tonight."
"There's going to be a majority," Emanuel predicted when asked how many votes his budget would garner.
WTTW's Paris Schutz then pressed the mayor on if he needed the budget to pass with "a resounding majority to send a message or is it going to be a slim majority?"
"Look, that's not the way I look at it, and there will be a vote," Emanuel responded in dodging the question. "I'm working for every vote, because I think it's important that we stand together for the future. There will be a majority, and the majority will stand clear for Chicago's future."
Winning a large majority would allow Emanuel to claim a broad mandate for his package of tax increases, fine and fee bumps.
Aldermen are set to vote on Emanuel's four years of property tax increases adding up to $543 million through the end of 2019 to pay for police and fire pension obligations.
They also will vote on Emanuel's budget rules, including an increase in the fine for cars that get booted from $60 to $100, an increase in fines for not removing snow and a proposal for an amnesty program to allow people to pay parking and traffic violations this fall without penalties.
Also on the docket as part of the mayor's budget package will be his $9.50-per-month household garbage fee and tax on electronic cigarettes, plus fee increases for taxi drivers and ride-share companies, plus an additional $45 million property tax increase for Chicago Public Schools to borrow money against for a construction program.
And there will be a separate vote on a late amendment to the ride-share rules passed this week by the Finance Committee, requiring an additional 2-cents-per-ride fee on companies like Uber to help establish a fund to lower regulatory costs for traditional cabbies. That ordinance also sets rules governing Emanuel's move to allow Uber drivers to do pick-ups at Chicago airports.
The budget isn't the only hot button vote that aldermen are scheduled to take Wednesday. Star Wars creator George Lucas' proposed lakefront Museum of Narrative Arts also will come before the council for zoning approval that would clear the final major city hurdle for the 300,000-square-foot building to go up south of Soldier Field. A lawsuit by Friends of the Parks to try to stop the museum from being built on the shore of Lake Michigan is still in court.
A livestream of the council meeting will be available here. (John Byrne, Bill Ruthhart)
What's on tap
*Mayor Emanuel will preside over a modern record property tax hike at the City Council meeting.
*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public schedule.
*The Cook County Board meets.
From the notebook
*The Hastert hearing: Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert will walk into federal court this morning, 10 months after a crucial interview with federal agents that led to charges against him.
Hastert is scheduled to plead guilty to an indictment that alleges he was making cash withdrawals as part of an agreement to pay $3.5 million to a longtime acquaintance, identified only as Individual A, to cover up wrongdoing from years ago. Federal law enforcement sources have said Hastert was paying to cover up the sexual abuse of a student when Hastert was a wrestling coach and teacher at Yorkville High School.
Hastert, who has remained free on his own recognizance since pleading not guilty in June, faces one count each of evading currency-reporting requirements and making a false statement to the FBI.
The judge is Thomas Durkin. Proceedings are supposed to start at 8:30 a.m. When they're over, there's likely to be more questions than answers.
Among the mysteries that could well remain unresolved is Individual A's identity. And the written plea agreement might not mention, let alone detail, Hastert's underlying, allegedly sensational motive for paying Individual A.
Hastert will likely be required to say very little in court. To show for the record he's making the decision to plead guilty of his own free will, he will be questioned by the judge about his mental state, whether any promises had been made or any other issues that would preclude him from changing his plea. He also will be asked if everything the government alleged in the factual basis is true.
There's certain to be a media frenzy at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. (Jason Meisner)
*Emanuel and "Chiraq": The mayor also was asked on "Chicago Tonight" whether he'll see Spike Lee's "Chiraq" movie. Emanuel, who seemed surprised by the question, was non-commital.
"I don't even know what I'm going to do Friday night or Saturday night," Emanuel said.
Lee recently called Emanuel a bully. Emanuel didn't take the bait when asked to respond to the characterization.
*Obama Bulls delay: The president's appearance at the United Center meant heightened security at the Bulls home-opening game, and some fans who paid to see their team take on LeBron James and the Cavaliers were still trying to get in approaching halftime. Obama was interviewed during the second quarter on TNT and acknowledged the Eastern Conference's inferiority to the NBA's Western Conference. "(I'm) glad my Bulls are in the East," he said.
*Debate drink list: When Republican presidential hopefuls meet tonight for their third debate, some D.C. reporters not covering the talkfest may be bellying up to the bar at the National Press Club for a debate-watch party and $6 drink specials named after the candidates. Here's the list:
The Rand: Bourbon and branch water
The Rubio: Cuba Libre
The Cruz: Canadian Club
The Huckabee: Diet Coke
The Dr. Carson: Bloody Mary
The Trump: Corona
Jeb!: Budweiser, the King of Beers
The Kasich: Grateful Dead (Long Island Iced Tea)
The Christie: Boilermaker
The Carly: Cosmopolitan
(Katherine Skiba)
What we're writing
*Emanuel tax hike tab: $755 million (includes list of the tax hikes and how much they'll raise).
*Repo man coming for prison trucks as state can't pay bill.
*Hastert expected to plead guilty.
*Obama walked tightrope in Chicago speech, raised campaign money, watched Bulls game.
*Tunney, Reilly poised to ban food carts in Wrigleyville, downtown
What we're reading
*The latest College of DuPage president revelation: Wiped iPad.
*Guy who played Vigo the Carpathian in "Ghostbusters 2" was a bad, bad man.
Follow the money
*Track campaign contribution reports in real time with this Tribune Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ILCampaignCash
Beyond Chicago
*Presidential race, Republican side: Debate night, all about that Bush as Carson edging Trump.
*Presidential race, Democratic side: Clinton on Colbert show.
