Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson traveled to Springfield, Illinois, Wednesday morning to meet with Gov. JB Pritzker and other top state lawmakers about the budget.Johnson spoke at a news conference before he left for the state capital to discuss a number of issues he plans to take to lawmakers,

Faced with ongoing reluctance from lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson has fine-tuned his message to argue helping Chicago will help the rest of the state.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s meeting with key powerbrokers at the statehouse comes as the city faces a projected budget shortfall next year exceeding $1 billion and as lawmakers work to pass a