Author: jnjhackler

CHICAGO —  Today, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement following the House Education Policy Committee’s passing of HB2827.

“Let’s be clear about what The Homeschool Act really is – a disgusting attempt by Illinois Democrats to take away parents’ rights to homeschool their children and insert the government into our day-to-day lives. Politicians in Springfield have no right to tell parents how to teach our children and the ILGOP and 40,000 families who filed witness slips will continue to fight tooth and nail to stop these draconian policies and attempts to diminish parental rights.”

CHICAGO — There’s a few things that are a constant in life: death, taxes and Brandon Johnson continuously mismanaging a budget. The latest victim? City Hall Contractors who are being asked to take a minimum 3% pay cut to help manage Chicago’s bloated budget.

The idea, hidden from Chicago taxpayers, is the latest move from the most anti-business, out-of-touch Mayors office in Chicago history. Yesterday, Brandon Johnson was finally forced to address the issue, calling it “standard procedure.” Meanwhile, Chicago Aldermen continue to rally against the idea, calling it a “bad idea” and questioning “Who is getting the 3% whack next week?”

Chicago Democrats dysfunction and squabbling continues to make front pages but don’t forget – Johnson and 26 Chicago Aldermen tied an anchor around Chicago’s neck by approving a $17.1 BILLION budget that they have no way to pay for. The consequences of this irresponsible deal are on their hands. 

CHICAGO — Over the past two years, Brandon Johnson and Chicago Democrats have proudly stood against Israel and emboldened antisemitic tropes and attacks against the Jewish community. The Illinois Republican Party strongly supports the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism’s investigation into how Brandon Johnson and Chicago Democrats supported antisemitism on college campuses and throughout the city.

Following the brutal atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, antisemitic attacks against Chicago residents spiked dramatically. The United States experienced over 10,000 antisemitic instances, a 200% spike since the year before. Meanwhile, antisemitic instances in Illinois have reached record highs. As violence got worse, Democrats, including Mayor Johnson’s own aides, inflamed tensions and criticized Israel.

Remember what Illinois Democrats did throughout the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust:

• Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas terrorists while playing down the depths of violence committed by Hamas
• Illinois Democrats blamed Israel for denying Palestinians “basic human rights” following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on Israelis
• Brandon Johnson REFUSED to commit to stopping anti-Israel protests on college campuses
• JB Pritzker declared that “he wants the rights of both sides to be protected” while refusing to condemn college protests impeding campus operations
• Illinois Democrats in Washington vote against sending aid to Israel while supporting aid to Ukraine

CHICAGO — In case you missed it, Illinois House Republicans filed a lawsuit with the Illinois Supreme Court last week, challenging Democrats’ partisan legislative maps.

Despite an improved showing in 2024, Illinois voters are falling victim to extreme, partisan gerrymandering that is putting Illinois at risk. Illinois Democrats are working overdrive to protect their total power and stopping free, fair and equal elections. This lawsuit to the Illinois Supreme Court will stop Democrats’ corruption and ensure that the voice of all Illinois residents is heard.

Let’s be clear on exactly what this is – Democrats stripping Illinois voters of their constitutional rights for political gain.

See what the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board had to say:

In November, voters had no choice in 55 of the 118 House races. In 2020, the number of uncontested races was 47. An unacceptable figure in 2020 only got much worse four years later.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie along with Reps. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria and Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva are championing a lawsuit filed in January that would throw out the gerrymandered map in favor of a fairer one. They’ve asked the Illinois Supreme Court to declare the map unconstitutional and appoint an independent official to draw a new map.

This is the latest in a string of such attempts over the past two decades, all of which the state’s high court declined to consider. But in a meeting with us, McCombie, Spain and Ugaste said there’s reason to be optimistic about a different outcome this time.

. . .

We agree with McCombie and her colleagues: The Illinois Supreme Court should accept this case and determine whether, in fact, too many Illinois voters are being unconstitutionally deprived of their electoral franchise.

It’s unfortunate it’s come to this point. We were hopeful things would change when JB Pritzker said on the campaign trail ahead of his first term in office, “We should amend the (state) constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps,” and vowed to veto any unfairly drawn map. Unfortunately, when the time came for action, Pritzker lined up with Democrats in the General Assembly.

. . .

But this time really should be different; democracy in Illinois is badly undermined by such egregious gerrymandering.Read the full piece from the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board here.

CHICAGO — In case you missed it, during yesterday’s testimony before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Representative Darin LaHood (IL-16) accosted Brandon Johnson on the decline of Chicago. During his two year term as Mayor, Johnson has continually put illegal immigrants before Chicago residents at the expense of public safety, local businesses and law enforcement.

During his questioning, LaHood grilled Johnson on continuing to push failed, progressive policies while being firmly rejected by the people of Chicago.

WATCH HERE

“I thought you might do this, and when I hear your answer, no one in this room should be surprised that your approval rating is 6.6%. Now that’s not just me saying this, Newsweek article, “the least popular politician in America is Brandon Johnson. So recent poll, M3 strategies conducted this February 21st showed that Mayor Johnson has a 6.6% approval rating, the worst showing of any political figure in the country’s history.” So I know you’re talking about crime is down and things are great, and you know the city’s flush with money. None of that is backed up by the people in the city of Chicago. And so I’m wondering why you continue to go down this path of failed policies, destruction to the city of Chicago, people fleeing, law enforcement, at an all time low. And I’m wondering if you have any remorse for that here today, and can tell us why you continue to double down on these failed policies?” – Rep. Darin LaHood

Bottom Line: Brandon Johnson needs to prioritize Chicago residents over illegal immigrants.

CHICAGO — Today, the rest of the country learned what Illinois residents have long known – that Brandon Johnson’s Sanctuary City policies have failed Chicago. Take a look at the MUST WATCH moments from Johnson’s testimony:

• Brandon Johnson twisted himself into a pretzel justifying Chicago’s sanctuary city policies
• Sounding like a robot with only one answer, Johnson REFUSED to say if he would turn criminal illegal immigrants over to ICE
• Johnson claimed that Chicago is SAFER because they are a sanctuary state and welcome criminal illegal immigrants into our communities
• Representative Scott Perry educated Johnson on his own policies
• Representative Brandon Gill asked Johnson about his “secret gift room,” calling it a “serious ethical concern”

In response to Johnson’s evasive testimony, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:

“There’s a reason why Brandon Johnson is the ‘most unpopular man in America.’ Throughout today’s testimony, he has twisted himself into a pretzel, refused to adequately answer questions, and is treating this testimony as a game. Unfortunately, through all of this, Illinois families are suffering as Democrats like Pritzker and Johnson continue to grandstand and prioritize protecting criminals. President Trump is doing exactly what the American people elected him to do, and we stand ready to assist him in his efforts to secure our border and keep our streets safe.”

CHICAGO — Following President Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress in his second term as president, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:

“Tonight, President Trump addressed millions of Americans around the country and outlined his administration’s first 43 days in office – common sense solutions, securing our border, stopping government waste and abuse, and putting America First. The next four years will be full of prosperity as we get our country back on track and the Illinois Republican Party will continue to work with President Trump to help Illinois families and Make America Great Again.”

CHICAGO — Tomorrow, ‘the most unpopular man in America,’  Brandon Johnson, will take center stage in Washington DC to testify before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Johnson, along with other blue city mayors across the country, are testifying about their decision to prevent local police from assisting federal authorities in immigration enforcement. Here’s what people should be asking Brandon Johnson ahead of tomorrow’s hearing:

• In President Trump’s first days in office, he deported Nine Tren de Aragua terrorists, seven sexual predators who committed crimes against children, and two murderers from Chicago. Do you support the deportation of these people in your city?
• Do you plan to put their care and expenses on a never-ending credit card that you seem to think exists?
• With shelters full, schools overcrowded, and resources stretched thin, at what point does the city say, “We can’t take anymore” – or is there no limit?
• Can you name a single major decision you’ve made that wasn’t rubber-stamped by the Chicago’s Teacher Union, or should we just start calling them City Hall?
• When Chicagoans elected you, did they actually elect the CTU? Because sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s really in charge.
• Can you clarify how you plan to balance the city’s budget without overburdening taxpayers?
• Are you prepared to lose federal funding for refusing to work with the federal government?
• Instead of hiding improper and illegal gifts like Hugo Boss cufflinks and Gucci Bags, can you manage Chicago’s finances?
• How does it feel to have a lower approval rating than Blagojevich just before his impeachment?

Bottom Line: After tomorrow’s testimony in “one of the riskiest arenas of his political career,” how much lower can Brandon Johnson’s approval rating get? We’re guessing under 5% by Spring Break.

Fox News

March 2, 2025

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-state-gop-chair-unleashes-governor-grandstanding-demand-trum-admin

Gov. JB Pritzker and 16 Illinois Democrats sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought on Tuesday demanding the Trump administration release $1.88 billion in federal funding to Illinois. Chair of the Illinois Republican Party Kathy Salvi dismissed it as Pritzker playing politics.

. . .

“Governor Pritzker is grandstanding for his 2028 run for president instead of focusing on the mess that he’s left with us in Illinois. Since he’s been the governor, now in his seventh budget address, he has raised our budget by $16 billion from a $39 billion budget initially to $55 billion,” Salvi told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

. . .

“His travel to Washington is a distraction of the mess that he’s led here in Illinois,” Salvi said.

Salvi said Pritzker is asking for a “blank check” without “any examination of where the money goes.”

“Pritzker’s budget plan faces a $3 billion budget deficit. He has been given a blank check for the last four years. Now, he is being held to account. So, instead of dealing with the problems that he and his administration have caused here in Illinois, which are causing people to flee our state to neighboring states, he decides instead to distract and sue the federal government. Well, I think we need to have an accounting here in Illinois. We, Illinois taxpayers and citizens and families, we require results,” Salvi said.

To see the full interview with Fox news, click here.

CHICAGO — On April 25, 2025, the Illinois Republican Party will host the Red Gala, headlined by Congressman and Florida Governor candidate Byron Donalds.

This 2nd annual gala brings together a passionate group of Republican volunteers dedicated to making a difference in Illinois and capitalizing on growth and momentum following the 2024 elections. The mission is vital: to raise funds for our early voting, Vote-By-Mail (VBM), and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) initiatives.

Individual tickets will go on sale on March 10, but we’re excited to offer you an exclusive opportunity to be among the first to sponsor and reserve a table.

BACKGROUND: 

Republicans made significant gains in early voting and utilizing VBM as more Republicans embraced voting before Election Day, thanks to the efforts of our first Bank Your Vote gala. 2024 Results: Republicans were the only voting group who increased their share of mail/early voters from 2020 to 2024.

• The Illinois Republican Party increased Republican mail and early vote turnout by 35%.
• 1 in 4 low propensity Republicans voted before Election Day–the highest percentage in Illinois history.
• Low propensity Republicans voted early and by mail at a higher rate than unreliable Democrats for the first time in IL history, outperforming them by 7.6%.