The Illinois General Assembly adjourned its spring session Sunday and delivered first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “think big” agenda as the Senate voted to raise motorists’ taxes and fees and embark upon a massive statewide gambling expansion that included a Chicago casino and legalized sports betting to pay for new roads, bridges and public buildings.

The new governor took to the floor of the Senate as the chamber concluded its work, with Democratic Senate President John Cullerton saying that lawmakers and the public would have “all summer to thank and pay tribute to him” as he signs into law various portions of his agenda. That included legalizing recreational marijuana, endorsing a sweeping abortion-rights bill and lawmakers putting a measure on the 2020 ballot asking voters to amend the state constitution to allow for a graduated-rate income tax to replace the mandated flat-rate tax. Lawmakers also reached a bipartisan agreement on a $40 billion state spending plan that legislators in both parties said was balanced.

In the end, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker won big this legislative session.

His campaign slogan — and the name of a dark-money group he’s largely funding to push his agenda — is dubbed “Think Big.”

Illinois’ increasingly precarious financial situation doesn’t seem to be making muchof an impression in Springfield.

Two pieces of news were made last week that, at least on their face, might seem to have nothing in common, but in fact go hand in hand.

The General Assembly passed legislation calling for taxpayers, beginning in January 2021, to automatically deposit $50 into a government savings account for every child born or adopted in Illinois.

Minutes after the Senate put the final touches on first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s sweeping legislative agenda Sunday, the governor delivered a message: “Illinois is back.”

“Today, the people of Illinois can be proud that we are putting state government back on the side of working families,” Pritzker said at the news conference. “They can be proud that we are restoring fiscal responsibility after many years of crisis and deficits.”

Legislators unveiled a whopping $40.6 billion spending plan on Friday — alongside the details of a capital proposal funded in part by expanded gambling.

And Senate Democrats sent a big political message in the waning hours of the day, clearing an abortion measure that will codify current state laws should Roe v. Wade be overturned.

The minimum salary for Illinois teachers would go up under a bill passed by both chambers that is now poised to be sent to the governor.

House Bill 2078 would gradually raise the teacher minimum salary to $40,000. Starting in the 2020-2021 school year, the minimum salary would be $32,076. It would be $34,576 in 2021-2022, $37,076 for 2022-2023 and $40,000 for 2023-2024.

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi failed to get his signature reform proposal approved by state lawmakers this spring, a setback for the rookie politician who campaigned on a promise to fix a broken system.

Kaegi was pushing changes that he said would improve the accuracy, fairness and predictability of the much-criticized way the county assesses commercial buildings for property tax purposes.

For decades and decades, Chicago’s City Council has followed a cycle as predictable as the seasons: scandal, indictments, promises of reform. Scandal, indictments, promises of reform.

After the latest indictment, this time of Ald. Edward Burke, new Mayor Lori Lightfoot says things will be different. But she knows she’s butting up against history and tradition.

At a critical time for Chicago’s Latino community, the City Council’s Latino Caucus has a new leader and a new, more progressive policy focus.

Earlier this week, Humboldt Park Alderman Roberto Maldonado was named chair. The change in leadership was expected — the caucus bylaws require a new chair every two years. But the new policy focus Maldonado is outlining is a significant break from the past for the group that one former member called “a bad joke.”