Critics called the move self-serving and not about good governance.
Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, arrives to speak to the press about City Council independence at Chicago City Hall on March 15, 2023.
The City Council has long had the power to choose its own committee chairs and members but has repeatedly ceded that power to the mayor in recent years. Ald. Matt Martin, 47th,“Ultimately, this will create a good balance of power between the legislative and the executive branch,” Ervin said at a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Other changes, according to a news release, could address some recent council flare-ups and concerns of good government reformers. There are no proposed changes to the current rules about when two or more committees are called. Aldermen frequently sideline colleagues’ legislation as soon as it’s introduced by calling a different committee name as it’s read aloud to be referred. That banishes the proposal to the Rules Committee, where it can often languish.
Another alderman picked by Lightfoot to lead a committee, budget Chair Pat Dowell, 3rd, was more reserved. Dowell had broken from the mayor and endorsed Johnson before Lightfoot was even knocked out of the running Feb. 28.“I think that we need to have more discussion on what is being proposed,” Dowell said. “I’m concerned about not having the input of people who are coming into the Council in the next term. But I believe that we should be having that discussion now.
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, who also serves as the council’s president pro tempore, said he too needs more details before he can give his blessing, but he likes the spirit of the idea.
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