Brandon Johnson heads to Springfield to push for city funding

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pushes for more city funding in Springfield

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Springfield today, advocating for more money for the city.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Springfield today, advocating for more money for the city. 

Johnson will be taking part in budget meetings with Gov. JB Pritzker and other lawmakers. He is planning to advocate for more money for the city.

Johnson will specifically be asking for funding for Chicago Public Schools and for help with keeping the Bears in the city.

Johnson held a press conference in Springfield at 8:30 a.m. He discussed the "unprecedented threats" that the city and state are facing from the federal government.

What they're saying:

Johnson listed the following priorities for his discussions today at the state capitol:

• The telecommunications tax amendment
• The 911 surcharge extension
• The One System Initiative funding
• The Illinois State Board of Education's mandated categoricals

"These are very specific, modest, presentations that speak to some of the technical things that we can do to sharpen our ability to deliver quality services for the people of Chicago," Johnson said.

Long-term priorities for Chicago revenue include funding for public transportation and education, Johnson said.

Johnson squashed any notion that there was tension between him and Pritzker.

"If anyone believes that politicians all sit around thinking how we can be each other's godchildren's parents, that's not reality. Just because you have a disagreement doesn't mean that that's an obstacle. It's called democracy," Johnson said.

Budget challenges are not unique to Illinois and Chicago, Johnson said.

"What we have put forth, we believe, is a reasonable presentation that gets us closer to solving the critical issues that we have. My expectations for the people of Chicago will always remain high because they are high for me," Johnson said.

Republican state senators are expected to discuss Johnson's visit and rebut the "budget implications" of his demands at 1 p.m.