Month: December 2024

CHICAGO — This Christmas season, it’s abundantly clear that Illinois Democrats are on the naughty list. See for yourself:

• Brandon Johnson for being “America’s Worst Mayor,” attempting to raise property taxes and being beholden to special interest groups
• Governor Pritzker for putting his national political interests above Illinois, for passing the largest budget in history and forcing over $750 million in tax hikes on families
• Kim Foxx for giving criminals a pass and creating dangerous streets and neighborhoods
• Mike Madigan for leading a culture of corruption for decades, leading Illinois down a dangerous path
• The Chicago Teachers Union for putting politics above our children and attempting to radicalize future generations
• Tiffany Henyard for misusing taxpayer funds and abusing her power as an elected official
• The Illinois Prison Review Board for allowing criminals back on our streets, leading to senseless deaths and putting families at further risk

Bottom Line: As Santa is making his list and checking it twice, Illinois Democrats are firmly on this year’s naughty list. Their continued disregard for fiscal responsibility, rising crime and unserious governing has made them a mainstay on the naughty list. Let’s hope they turn it around in 2025…unfortunately, they haven’t given us any indication that they will.

CHICAGO — In case you missed it, WTTW highlighted Brandon Johnson’s TERRIFYING budget and his lies related to it over the last several months. Notably, while the new budget does not contain $300 million of new property tax increases on Illinois families, it does include $165.5 million in new taxes and fees. See for yourself what WTTW reported:

Chicago City Council Narrowly OKs Johnson’s $17.1B Budget That Hikes Taxes by $165M

WTTW

Heather Cherone

December 16, 2024

“The Chicago City Council narrowly approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $17.1 billion 2025 spending plan on Monday after nearly two months of sharp debate that left alderpeople bitterly divided and the mayor politically weakened.

“The budget itself passed 27-23, with just 18 days to spare, averting an unprecedented shutdown of city government.

“The budget, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, does not include a property tax hike, even though Johnson insisted for a month and a half that was the only way to avoid what he called draconian cuts to city services and thousands of layoffs while staunching the flow of red ink threatening to consume Chicago’s finances.

“The spending plan still calls for a host of other taxes and fees to rise by an additional $165.5 million, including a 2% increase in the tax levied on software licenses, cloud services and other digital goods as well as a 1.25% increase on subscriptions to streaming and cable television services.”

Meanwhile, Democrats on the Chicago City Council blasted Johnson as Ald. Maria Hadden declared that “We are not prepared, and the fault lies squarely with you and your administration,” and Ald. Andre Vasquez called the budget a “short-term fix that is not financially responsible.”

Read the full article from WTTW here.

CHICAGO — In two weeks, 2024 will come to a close and one thing is clear: Illinois suffered yet another no good, very bad year under Democrats thumb, filled with scandals, corruption and disaster after disaster. Take a look at some of Illinois Democrats’ failures in 2024:

Tax Hikes

This year, Illinois families were forced to take on multiple tax increases, including a sales tax hike and a property tax hike. Combined, JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats have forced the highest tax increase (over $750 million!) in Illinois history.

Budget Deficit

Brandon Johnson continues to prove that chaos reigns throughout Chicago as “America’s Worst Mayor” cannot pass a 2025 budget. Johnson has decided he’d rather saddle the city’s families with $300 million in tax hikes rather than do what the people have asked of him – cut superfluous programs and stop caving to special interests. Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker’s own office is projecting a $3.2 BILLION deficit next year after increased spending.

Migrant Crisis

Since 2022, JB Pritzker has spent nearly $3 billion of our taxpayer dollars to fund and provide services for illegal immigrants in the Land of Lincoln. Pritzker has shown us exactly where he stands: “I am going to do everything that I can to protect our undocumented immigrants.”

Prison Review Board

In April, Illinois experienced a tragedy when an 11-year-old boy was tragically murdered less than 24 hours after the Prison Review Board released his killer from prison. Following the incident, Pritzker and the Review Board twisted themselves into a pretzel, pointing fingers about their decision to prematurely release dangerous criminals onto our streets.

Soft on Crime

Crime continues to wreak havoc in Chicago and has only gotten worse since Pritzker signed the pro-criminal SAFE-T Act. As a result, Illinois residents have endured dangerous streets, neighborhoods, and even classrooms. Cook County Prosecutor Kim Foxx continues to give criminals a pass by not allowing gun, drug, and theft charges to be derived from some traffic stops, and dropping more felony cases than other prosecutors.

Madigan Trial

Former Illinois Democrat leader and big donor Mike Madigan is facing 23 counts of bribery, racketeering, extortion, and wire fraud. One of Illinois’ most powerful figures is now among an ever growing list of the corrupt politicians in Illinois’ history.

CTU

It’s simple: Brandon Johnson and Stacy Davis Gates want our public schools to take on hundreds-of-millions of dollars in high-rate loans to fund their radical agenda. Johnson will always prioritize the Chicago Teachers Union over taxpayers.

In October, all seven members of the Chicago Board of Education announced their resignation after Johnson pressured them to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. Martinez earned the ire of the Teachers Union and Johnson after he refused to issue a $300 million loan to fund the progressive demands of the Chicago Teachers Union.

On Election Day, CTU backed candidates and allies LOST a majority of school board races, proving that parents are tired of Johnson putting the Chicago Teachers Union first and them LAST.

Population Loss

Illinois residents continue to flee the Prairie State. A reported 32,836 residents left Illinois last year, forcing new tax burdens on Illinois families.

Failed DNC

This FOX News headline says it all: DNC in Chicago: Windy City rocked by violence even with migrant gangs on ‘good behavior’

Pritzker’s Political Future

FIRST: Pritzker traveled to New Hampshire in 2022 to raise his profile and set up a future presidential run.

THEN: Pritzker refused to quash rumors that he would leave Illinois to run for president when Democrats launched their soft coup against Joe Biden.

THEN: When Kamala Harris was announced as the Democrats’ preferred choice, even though she never received a vote outside of California, Pritzker launched a full-court press campaign to become her vice president.

NOW: After failing to earn the nod as the vice-presidential nominee, Pritzker immediately pivoted, making an effort to become the Democrats’ choice for president in 2028.

Bottom Line: 2024 was a disaster for Democrat leaders and they can’t point to how they made the lives of Illinois families better. Here’s hoping that they get their act together in 2025 – unfortunately, there’s no evidence that they will.

CHICAGO —  With less than three weeks to go until we reach 2025, Brandon Johnson continues to terrify Chicago, not being able to pass the 2025 city budget. Today, he called off a vote he was sure to lose on his proposed 2025 budget, setting up an unprecedented situation that could shut the city down. ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:

“This Friday the 13th, it’s Brandon Johnson that is terrifying Chicago. Johnson has decided he’d rather saddle the city’s families with $300 million in tax hikes rather than do what the people have asked of him – cut superfluous programs and stop caving to special interests. Chicago families deserve a leader who will prioritize their needs, not someone who will embarrass them or act as a spokesperson for the Chicago Teachers Union, like Johnson does”

CHICAGO — In case you missed it, Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, visited Chicago Republicans yesterday, where he outlined his plan to remove illegal immigrants and implored JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson to “come to the table” and work with the Trump Administration to protect our country. Here’s what they are saying about Tom Homan’s visit to a Northwest Side GOP “holiday party” yesterday:

Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago to be ground zero for mass deportations, Trump border czar tells Illinois Republicans

President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan came to Chicago on Monday to implore Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker to “come to the table” and negotiate with him over a mass deportation plan that he declared would start right here.

Homan, the former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term, began a 20-minute address at a Northwest Side GOP “holiday party” with some light ribbing before detailing his plan, which includes verifying the status of asylum seekers and arresting those who are found harboring criminals.

“Chicago’s in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” Homan said to cheers. Later, he called both “terrible,” while also telling them to “come to the table.”

To Johnson, who has said he would protect the city’s immigrants from federal agents, Homan said, “If he doesn’t want to help, get the hell out of the way.”

POLITICO: Tom Homan swings hard at Illinois Dems

“Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” Homan said on stage for a Chicago GOP event. He was referring to Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson – both of whom have spoken out against President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans.

On immigration, Homan said he would “welcome” Illinois Democratic leaders to “come to the table. . Help us protect you,” he said. “Please. But if you don’t, get the hell out of the way.”

ABC7: Incoming border czar Tom Homan promises mass deportation: ‘Going to start right here in Chicago’

“I love it. I love it. Bring it. People need to know that this is a country with laws, and we’re going to have order,” said Chicago GOP Chairman Chuck Hernandez.

More than 50,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since August 2022, stretching the city’s financial resources and the patience of many of its residents.

“We don’t have the money to be supporting so many people coming in in such a great number,” said Chicago Republican Lupe Castillo.

CBS Chicago: Tom Homan, President-elect Trump’s border czar, says deportation plan will start in Chicago

The man President-elect Donald Trump picked as the new border czar appeared in Chicago Monday night-and made a bold promise.

Tom Homan was a guest at a holiday party hosted by the Law and Order PAC and the Northwest Side GOP Club.

Homan said President-elect Trump tapped him to run the biggest deportation operation the country has ever seen-and he said that operation will begin in Chicago right after President-elect Trump is inaugurated for his new term on Jan. 20.