A Chicago alderman had a confrontation with Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday over a difference of opinion regarding taxes.
Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, a progressive ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson, confronted the governor over his opposition to the mayor’s proposal for a corporate head tax.
The two were face to face in a small crowd following a Veterans Day ceremony in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The alderman said the tax would help those impacted by Trump Administration policies, including immigrants living in fear.
“I want to talk about what we need to do to help our community,” Sigcho-Lopez said. "People are terrified," he said, "and we rarely rarely have an opportunity to talk to you."
He said, "I'm calling you right now on taxing the rich."
"You wanna talk about taxes," the governor responded. “What we need is a progressive income tax, a graduated income tax in this state,” he said. "You know that I’ve worked very hard to get that passed.”
The governor was moving away from the alderman when he said, "no. no no, one more second."
Another alderman, Michael Rodriguez, then got into it with Sigcho-Lopez.
“This is my ward,” Rodriguez shouted twice.
The two colleagues were then face to face.
Sigcho-Lopez questioned who Rodriguez was protecting.
“Don’t get in my face, dude,” was the response from Rodriguez.
Governor Pritzker has said he’s opposed to an employee head tax on large corporations, saying it “penalizes the very thing that we want.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson has also been critical of the governor over his opposition to the tax.
He said last week it is “deeply disturbing that we have leaders in this state that are prepared to defend millionaires and billionaires.”