One of the most important legislative debates next year will be about reforming, restructuring, and finding a way to fund Northeast Illinois’ public-transportation system. Statewide taxes could possibly be raised to pay for this, so you should pay attention, no matter where you live.

Last week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson repeatedly slammed Statehouse legislators. “Some of the same individuals who claim to support an elected representative school board only got the gospel once I became mayor of Chicago,” Mayor Johnson told reporters during one of the most combative and counter-productive press conferences I have ever seen.

For months now, Statehouse types have been talking about whether there’s a need for a fall veto session this year. The session is scheduled to run the two weeks after the November election. As one person put it, veto sessions are for things that the governor and legislators “have to do.” But with no gubernatorial vetoes to deal with, is there anything that absolutely has to be done before the end of the year?

It’s been an open secret for weeks that at least some members of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Intergovernmental Affairs staff would be leaving after the Democratic National Convention, including its director, Sydney Holman. That happened last week. Holman quit, and two others were forced out of the IGA office, which liaisons with both the city council and the Illinois General Assembly.