Category: News

CHICAGO, IL – When Governor Pritzker signs the 2024 budget for Illinois this morning, he will evict thousands of children from schools they chose with the stroke of a pen. Governor Pritzker’s budget kills funding for the Invest in Kids educational opportunity program, a landmark program supporting thousands of low-income children and families.

IL Republican Chair Don Tracy released the following statement:

“The Governor claims his new budget is inclusive and supportive but fails to mention the thousands of low income families he will force out of schools they chose. This is a budget the Chicago Teachers Union will love. It is unconscionable that the Governor and his allies claim they are fighting for working families as they eliminate all current funding for the Invest in Kids program, which currently funds educational opportunity for thousands of low income children throughout the state.”

###

CHICAGO – Welcome to the first installment of Continuing Corruption, a glimpse at the longstanding history of corruption among Illinois Democrats. With the ComEd Four being held accountable for their actions earlier this year, it’s time to look at the many other Illinois Democrats embroiled in legal scandals.

This week we’re focusing on Democrat Sen. Emil Jones III who was indicted for taking a $5,000 bribe from a red-light camera company, SafeSpeed LLC. But that’s not all! Jones is also accused of lying to the FBI about the scheme. Just par for the course for Illinois Democrats.

Of course, he is not the only Democrat being indicted for taking handouts from SafeSpeed in return for protection from the legislative regulations…Former Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta, former Worth Township Supervisor John O’Sullivan, and former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci are just some of the names tangled up in the scandal.

Jones III, son of former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., plead not guilty in the case, and remains a sitting State Senator despite calls from the Governor for his resignation.

It’s no wonder why only 44% of U.S. adults trust their elected officials and candidates running for office. As the people of Illinois endure record inflation, rising crime, and smaller paychecks, they deserve accountability, not Democrats gleefully stuffing their pockets and breaking the very laws they’re entrusted to uphold.

Illinois families deserve leadership, not lawlessness. Republicans are ready to pave the way for accountability and restore common-sense legislation in Springfield. With the upcoming 2024 election cycle, we need to drain the Democratic swamp that’s had a chokehold on this state for far too long.

Stay tuned for next week’s edition of our corruption series, where we are exposing the Illinois Democrats who have let us all down.

###

Memorial Day weekend should be a time of reflection as Americans think of the sacrifice service members have made for this country in the name of safety and security. For families in Chicago, it’s a weekend marred by mourning and sadness as countless families across the city are left dealing with the aftermath of this year’s bloody holiday.

While reports are still inconclusive, a few things are clear: 11 are dead, more than 46 people have been shot, and Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s safety plan for the city has clearly failed.

Ahead of the holiday weekend, Pritzker and Johnson announced their efforts to combat violent crime over the weekend. Instead of focusing their efforts on policing, they invested in third-party organizations to keep the peace.

Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services sent 30 neighborhood peacekeepers to the city, while Johnson used tax dollars to fund 250+ grassroots organizations who would attempt to de-escalate violent situations.

Clearly it failed.

In addition to crime this weekend being worse than 2022, Fox News reported the “carnage was surpassed only by a record 12 fatal shootings in 2015.”

Violent crime in Chicago is nothing new, but neither is the lack of results from Democrats who preside over safety plans that deliver zero results. It’s time for Pritzker and Johnson to invest in law enforcement and finally get tough on crime.

###

Chicago, IL – Yesterday marked one week since Brandon Johnson’s inauguration as Mayor of Chicago, a week in which Johnson and his allies made clear that their goal is to grow the government and crush the city’s private sector.

Rather than take action on issues impacting every Chicagoan, like overbearing taxes and rampant crime, Johnson and his allies proposed policies and programs that would raise taxes and grow Chicago’s already massive government infrastructure – not to mention driving home the Chicago Bears’s decision to move to Arlington Heights.

Take a look at some of the chaos taking place in Mayor Johnson’s first week:

• Progressive Group Lays Out Own Plan to Implement Brandon Johnson’s Pledge to Tax the ‘Ultra-Rich,’ Big Corporations
  • “Hiking taxes by approximately $8 billion and saving more than $5 billion by reducing the Chicago Police Department’s budget and changing the way the city borrows money and handles its pension funds.”
  • “ACRE’s plan, titled “First We Get the Money,” would raise billions more than the platform that Johnson campaigned on, which proposed $800 million in new taxes.”
• Johnson allies push a $12 billion tax plan
  • As first reported by Crain’s Chicago Business, the $12 billion financial plan “doubles down on controversial tax-hike ideas pitched by Johnson during his campaign and adds a few more — including enactment of a city wealth tax and income tax, deep cuts in police spending, and an effective end to all tax-increment financing projects.”
• New Chicago mayor takes quick action with first executive orders — what to know
  • The orders create new positions in the mayor’s office to protect the rights of immigrants and improve community safety. They also give the mayor more control over the police department.
    • Establish a Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights
    • Establish a Deputy Mayor for Community Safety
    • Establish a Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations

Bottom Line: If this is what a week under Brandon Johnson looks like, imagine what the next four years will do to the city of Chicago?

###

Chicago, IL – Yesterday, Brandon Johnson took over as Chicago’s 57th Mayor. After years of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s failures, the bar is set low. Nevertheless, Chicago government is likely to get worse. Many residents and business owners are concerned that under Mayor Johnson, Chicago’s troubles of violent crime, infrastructure, failing schools, and cost of living will only get worse.  

“Now that Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union have taken over City Hall, the nation may have to witness damaging progressive utopia politics that will complete the push of this great city to financial ruin. Democrat Socialist Mayor Johnson will be soft on crime and pursue the political agenda of the CTU, instead of the will of the people.  As warm weather and Memorial Day weekend arrives, will we have another ‘Summer of Joy’ in Chicago with anti-police rhetoric and mob takeovers of downtown Chicago?

We wish the great people of Chicago good luck and hope we are wrong about Mayor Johnson,” said Illinois Republican Chairman Don Tracy. 

###

Chicago, IL – Last week, the “ComEd Four” were found guilty on all charges related to a conspiracy to bribe Former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, and while this guilty verdict is a reflection on every House Democrat who enabled Former Speaker Madigan and the pervasive culture of corruption in Springfield over the past few decades, more questions remain.

At present, one very large question is why – in December 2020 – now House Speaker Chris Welch, Democratic Party of Illinois Chairwoman Lisa Hernandez, and State Rep. Natalie Manley voted along party lines to shut down the Special Investigating Committee tasked with looking into alleged misconduct by then House Speaker Michael Madigan. This was a clear abdication of their responsibility and duty to taxpayers, and they should have to explain this to their constituents.

“Speaker Chris Welch, Democratic Party of Illinois Chairwoman Lisa Hernandez, and other Democrats on the Special Investigating Committee failed the people of Illinois, and it is no surprise they continue to cover up the truth. Why did Welch and Hernandez refer to the special investigation committee on Madigan a ‘political show’ and ‘sham investigation’? They had the opportunity to uphold their oaths of office and end the culture of corruption but chose not to,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “This guilty verdict only proved what we already knew – that Illinois Democrat corruption is not a Republican talking point but something that is unfortunately real, pervasive, and a serious threat to honest government,” added Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. 

Instead of promoting accountability, and ending the pervasive corruption that has plagued our state, Speaker Welch, Chairwoman Hernandez, and other House Democrats chose to protect the politicians and political insiders by covering for Mike Madigan, and they were rewarded handsomely for their loyalty with major leadership positions in the Democratic Party. In light of last week’s guilty verdict, Welch and Herandez should have to explain this decision to their constituents and all Illinois voters.

###

Chicago, IL – Earlier this week, the “ComEd Four” were found guilty on all charges related to a conspiracy to bribe Former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“Finally, we are starting to see Illinois Democrats held accountable for their corrupt actions. After decades of Democratic insiders putting their personal interests ahead of Illinois residents, it’s now clear that the Madigan Democrat machine corrupted Illinois State government,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

“Former Speaker Madigan may be gone, but we can’t forget that Illinois Democrats across the state – from Gov. JB Pritzker on down – supported, enabled and kissed the ring of Speaker Madigan,” added Chairman Don Tracy.

In 2020, a special investigation committee was created in the Illinois General Assembly, but then quickly shut down by now House Speaker Chris Welch and Illinois Democratic Party Chairwoman Lisa Hernandez. They abdicated their responsibility to the people of Illinois to cover for Mike Madigan and were rewarded for their loyalty by obtaining major leadership positions in the Democratic Party that they currently hold. Speaker Welch even called the investigation a “political show that was concocted” by Republicans as a “power grab” for the minority party,” but this week’s verdict proved what we already knew – that Illinois Democrat corruption is not a Republican talking point but something that is unfortunately real, pervasive, and a serious threat to honest government.

###

Chicago, IL – President Joe Biden announced his re-election campaign through a digital ad, according to a statement released yesterday morning. However, regardless of how many takes, cuts, edits, and sound effects are added, President Biden cannot erase his Administration’s disastrous record over the last four years.

“Americans are deeply concerned about four more years of inflation, out-of-control spending, massive amounts of fentanyl coming across the open border, and rising crime rates as nine major cities recorded record homicide numbers in 2022. In addition to inadequate platforms at home, his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan projected weakness abroad.”

“Families are hurting under Biden’s America as real wages have fallen every month since Biden and Democrats passed their wasteful and inflationary stimulus, and under Biden’s leadership, all 50 states have recorded their highest average gas prices ever,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

“The simple question every voter across the country should be asking themselves right now is: are you safer, more secure, and more prosperous than you were four years ago? The simple answer is no,” added Chairman Don Tracy.

The President’s re-election announcement further reinforced just how out of touch he is with reality. In the 2024 Presidential Election, voters will choose between two paths for America: a bright future filled with safety, security, and economic prosperity for all Americans; or more of the same from Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.

###

Chicago, IL – Earlier today, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Kim Foxx announced at the Chicago City Club that she is not seeking re-election. This comes as no surprise to those who have closely followed her two terms in office.

“It’s clear that Kim Foxx sees the writing on the wall and is not seeking re-election because she failed in every aspect as State’s Attorney. Cook County residents are sick and tired of watching her abdicate her basic responsibility to simply enforce the laws on the books and keep violent criminals off the streets,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

“There’s one thing that Republicans, Democrats and Independent voters can all agree on – her last day can’t come soon enough,” added Chairman Tracy.

Under Kim Foxx’s tenure, we’ve seen the highest number of Assistant State’s Attorney resignations in a decade, a record number of felony cases dropped – including the high-profile Jussie Smolett case – and her adamant refusal to prosecute criminals and promote accountability.

###