Month: February 2020

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s Budget Address:

“Illinois’ fiscal crisis demands urgent action and serious solutions. Today, the only thing Governor Pritzker offered was new spending proposals and a false choice between the progressive income tax and devastating cuts. It’s disingenuous for the Governor to attempt to scare the public into voting for higher taxes to plug our budget hole and then turn around and advocate for new spending – in the same speech.

The Governor promises the progressive income tax will do a few things, including filling our nearly $3 billion dollar structural deficit, paying down the backlog of bills, and providing a tax cut for 97% of Illinoisans – all while providing property tax relief for everyone. Add into the picture that the Governor proposed over $10 billion dollars in new spending during the campaign, and it’s clear the progressive income tax and it’s currently proposed rates are a Trojan horse for California-style marginal tax rates and massive middle class tax hikes.

Any budget address or solution that stops short of proposing substantive reforms to our pension mess is an unserious attempt at papering over our fiscal disaster with accounting gimmicks and false promises. Illinoisans deserved to hear from a courageous Governor willing to make tough budgetary decisions today. Instead, they heard from a politician hiding behind scare tactics and impossible promises.”

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The AP is reporting that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has won the New Hampshire primary tonight. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following response:

“Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist who wants to unleash a ‘revolution’ upon the American people. His socialist revolution would include eliminating the private healthcare insurance of 150 million Americans, government run healthcare, massive middle class tax hikes, and elevating voices of radicals like AOC and Ilhan Omar. This agenda is increasingly becoming the preferred agenda for Democrats nationwide, not just New Hampshire. A match-up with socialist Bernie Sanders in the general election is one President Trump welcomes.” 

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Last Friday night, it was reported that current McHenry County Board Chairman and ex-State Rep. Jack Franks is being investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct. This investigation has been going on for over a year but was only revealed when the Illinois State Police executed a search warrant (see copy) on Mike Madigan’s capitol offices last Wednesday to retrieve any documents related to the investigation. The purported crimes date back to 2016 when Franks was still serving as a Democrat state representative.

From the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES:

The search warrant — obtained by the Sun-Times via a Freedom of Information Act request — says state police justified the search because “probable cause exists for the crimes of criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault, official misconduct, stalking and aggravated battery.”

“The scandals seem to never end when it comes to Madigan and the Springfield political class. At some point, the most powerful man in state government and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois has to be held accountable for the culture of harassment, intimidation, and corruption he helped create over four decades of control,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider. “Jack Franks should resign as McHenry County Board Chairman, and Madigan should come clean about what he knew, when he knew it, and what he is doing to change the culture that he created and controls.”

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