Category: News

CHICAGO — Following President Trump’s resounding debate win tonight in Atlanta, newly elected RNC Committeeman for Illinois Dean White responded on behalf of the Illinois Republican Party with the following statement.

“The difference between President Biden’s performance and the strong, definitive performance of President Trump could not be more clear. President Trump displayed why we need his leadership in the White House: to bring down the cost of living for American families, to close Joe Biden’s open border, and to give Americans confidence that we are leading from the front instead of covering for an out-of-touch career politician. There is a reason President Trump is leading in the polls across the country – the voters know he is the leader this country needs and it’s why he’ll win in November.” – Dean White, RNC Committeeman for Illinois

CHICAGO — In case you missed it, former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million in a Chicago courtroom on Monday. Federal sentencing guidelines suggested a prison sentence of six and a half years to eight years. Prosecutors asked for a whopping ten year prison sentence. The light prison sentence surprised many, including Illinois Democrats. Here’s how Non-Republicans are reacting to the light sentence:

Chicago Sun Times:

“Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot was propelled into office amid fallout from Burke’s prosecution by highlighting the ties that several of her opponents had to Burke. In a statement, she said Burke “should be grateful that his sentence wasn’t longer – it certainly could have been justifiably so.”

ABC:

U.S. Attorney Sarah Streiker had hoped the judge would not take Burke’s age into consideration, saying “His age did nothing to deter him to committing crimes, and shouldn’t absolve when it comes to punishment.”

POLITICO:

Better Government Association President David Greising called the sentence “light” and criticized “the powerful and connected” who wrote in on Burke’s behalf. “To those who believe in accountable government, it was a disappointing spectacle, putting personal allegiance ahead of the public interest, and should have had little weight on imposing a just sentence,” Greising said.

CBS News:

“Federal prosecutors argued Burke, who is 80 years old, deserved a sentence of more than 10 years in prison, arguing the lengthy prison term is necessary to “protect the public from his future criminal acts.”

“Burke so far has failed to accept any responsibility in this case and maintains to this day he has done nothing wrong,” prosecutors said. “It would be naïve to think that there is anything stopping Burke, the consummate political insider with his coterie of misguided friends and well-wishers, from engaging in the same type of conduct in conjunction with public officials in the future.”

Legendary FBI mole Bob Cooley:

“Ed put tens of millions of dollars in the pockets of mob run businesses and put hundreds of mobsters on city and county jobs. This is the Ed Burke I know.”

CHICAGO — In case you missed it, Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) exposed Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion for using slave labor while being connected to the Chinese Communist Party. While receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer funds, companies like Gotion are committing horrific crimes with America’s enemies.

Lahood, a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence called on the United States to ensure that companies follow the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act that prevents products made from Uyghur slave labor from entering the United States. Gotion has ignored that rule by taking taxpayer dollars and working with the CCP.

Read Congressman LaHood’s letter HERE.

CHICAGO — Illinois Democrats were dealt a blow by the state’s court system as new election law passed by the statehouse and signed by Governor Pritzker intended to take the voice away from Illinois voters was struck down yesterday by a Sangamon County court.

Gov. Pritzker and his crony Democrats tried to remove the ability to slate candidates without a primary, effectively ensuring that their candidates would go unchallenged in November. With this ruling, the vulnerable Democrats Pritzker and his allies tried to protect, Katie Stuart and Mary Edly-Allen, who are vulnerable to strong challengers already working to earn every vote of their future constituents.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement:
“When the Democrats snuck this amendment into legislation at the 11th hour, trying to pull a fast one on Illinois voters before taking their voice away, we called it what it is: despicable, loathsome crony politics. The courts felt the same way, that this action was a disgrace to our constitution, and struck it down. When Pritzker and his allies try to challenge this ruling, remember that they are fighting to take away your voice and your rights. The courts ruled in favor of the people of Illinois this week, and sent a message to Democrats who would take away choice for our citizens.”

CHICAGO — Today, JB Pritzker signed legislation that pushed a BILLION dollars in new taxes onto Prairie State residents. Without billions in federal assistance, Governor Pritzker signed the largest tax-and-spend bill in Illinois HISTORY and is making you and your families pay for it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time. See for yourself:

Pritzker DOUBLED the motor fuel tax

Pritzker implemented a parking garage tax

Pritzker increased taxes on cigarettes and e-cigarettes

Pritzker expanded Illinois’ sales tax to online market places

Pritzker reversed the phase out of corporate franchise tax

“Illinois Democrats’ bloated budget, which is filled with hundreds-of-millions of dollars of new tax increases for pet projects, illegal immigrants and his socialist agenda, is bad for Illinois,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “Illinois families are dealing with Bidenflation, higher prices and more financial problems than ever before and Democrats’ solution is to take even more of their money. Pritzker needs to stop treating taxpayers as his personal piggy bank as he dreams of running for President and of being the far-left’s tax-and-spend darling.”

CHICAGO — Last week, Illinois Congressman Eric Sorensen, declared that our economy would shut down in THREE days if we secure our border. See for yourself:

“The economy of the United States would end in 3 days. We have 3 days of what we need in the United States, so if we just shut down the entire southern border, it would be to the detriment of our country.” – Eric Sorensen

Bottom Line: Our southern border is a national security threat as we’ve seen record crossings of migrants after Biden’s reversal of the Trump Administration border policies. We can’t afford naive, fear-mongering Democrats like Sorensen that vote against legislation to secure our border and destroy the Republican agenda to secure our border.

CHICAGO — Earlier this week, in the middle of the night, Illinois Democrats passed their newest budget, pushing $750 million in tax hikes onto Illinois families. Check out what they are saying about the Democratic machine’s newest tax-and-spend bill:

The Center Square: “In the dead of night, Illinois House Democrats approved the largest spending plan in state history. The more than $53 billion plan increases taxes by $750 million and spends 32% more, or $12.8 billion, than when Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office in 2019. The measure also spends $400 million more than what Pritzker proposed in February.”

Chicago Tribune: “Democratic dominance in the Illinois legislature was put to the test this budget season as House lawmakers stumbled across the finish line at dawn Wednesday, needing three votes and a series of procedural maneuvers to pass a $750 million tax hike package necessary to balance their $53.1 billion spending plan.”

NBC5: “While things like the grocery tax might be eliminated, another provision in the budget could result in a higher tax bill for most of the state’s residents. . .This is going to hit low-income and middle-income families, and it is a tax increase,” Senate Minority Leader John Curran told WBEZ. “If the legislature does not go along with this, people will get a greater tax savings with the current existing law than what the governor has proposed.”

Newsmax: “A Republican Illinois state senator has decried the passage of a $53.1 billion budget by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, claiming taxes were raised nearly $1 billion alone to spend on illegal immigrants who have flooded the state because of President Joe Biden’s open border policies. “We just passed the largest budget in Illinois state history,” state Sen. Dan McConchie said in a video posted on X. “Over $53 billion. It includes almost $1 billion in tax increases and nearly $1 billion on the migrant crisis.”

The State Journal-Register: “The real drama played out when it came time to vote for the revenue package, which includes details on more than $1.1 billion in tax increases. It took three votes and north of two hours in debate, wrapping up a little before 5 a.m., where Democrats holding a 78-40 super-majority had to wrangle for 60 votes.”

The Pantagraph: “That plane just barely avoided a crash landing early Wednesday morning as the Illinois House, in the dark of night, approved the state’s $53.1 billion spending plan for the fiscal year 2025 budget, and – in a theatrical display that took three attempts – the more than $750 million in tax increases and other revenue enhancements needed to keep it in balance.”

Associated Press: “The legislation also grants Pritzker’s desire to provide $182 million to fund services for tens of thousands of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S., largely bused to Chicago from Texas, where they cross the border. And it provides $440 million for health care for noncitizens.”

CHICAGO — Following the verdict in the New York trial of President Trump, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement:

“Let’s call this trial what it really is: a political prosecution the likes of which occurs in banana republics but not previously in these United States. Democrat activist investigators and prosecutors have relentlessly hounded President Trump for years. First, they challenged the legitimacy of his election in 2016 thru the Russian collusion hoax. Then, they strove to defeat his re-election in 2020 thru impeachments and the Hunter Biden laptop coverup. Then, they indicted him and his supporters to tarnish his legacy in an effort to re-elect President Biden. This weaponization of the judicial system has weakened our country here and in the eyes of the world, which I’m sure President Biden will savor while he vacations in Delaware as his handlers make critical decisions for the country.”

CHICAGO — In the dead of the night, Illinois Democrats passed their newest tax-and-spend budget that will raise Illinois families taxes. JB Pritzker’s plan, passed along party lines, includes $750 million in tax hikes.

“Illinois Democrats have been clear that they want Illinois taxpayers to pay more taxes so the government can take control of even more of their hard-earned dollars,” said ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy. “The Democratic machine’s newest tax-and-spend bill includes $750 million in tax hikes as skyrocketing prices and crippling inflation are making Illinois families poorer. We need leaders that are good stewards of our money, not spendthrift Democrats who can’t manage a budget without tax hikes. Governor Pritzker’s desire to be Commander-in-Chief and the country’s far-left darling is coming at our expense.”

SB2978 passed the Illinois Senate on May 2, 2024 and is under consideration by the Illinois House. The Illinois Republican Party continues to work to stop this legislation from advancing forward.