Category: News

Senator highlights “Pritzkerville” to showcase damage caused by Pritzker’s agenda

Last night Governor Pritzker failed once again to provide any specifics regarding how he would solve skyrocketing crime in our state. He dodged answers on how he would remedy the major faults in the [Un] SAFE-T Act, refused to grade Mayor Lightfoot and Kim Foxx’s performance, and doubled down on support for his DCFS director who has been held in contempt of court 12 times. Meanwhile, Darren Bailey highlighted Pritzker’s failures and the damage that his policies have done to our state’s largest city. 

“I’m gonna call it Pritzkerville because every one of Gov. Pritzker’s extreme policies are destroying the city — out of control crime, devastated education, the fact that corporations are packing up and leaving every day,” said Senator Darren Bailey. “Now I think Pritzkerville fits quite well because Gov. Pritzker, it’s time for him to own it.”

Since Pritzker has taken office, violent crime is up while residents and businesses flee Chicago in droves – citing high taxes, crime, and the anti-business climate. Already this year Boeing, Caterpillar, and Citadel have announced intentions to leave their Chicago headquarters for safer and more pro-business states – with other important businesses considering leaving. 

“Pritzker’s policies have turned Chicago into a dystopian version – Pritzkerville – which may soon spread into the suburbs and downstate. Only by electing a new Governor can we begin to rebuild from the damage he caused and once again make our communities safe for residents and businesses. That is the message that Darren Bailey delivered last night,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

Last week, ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy wrote an Op-Ed entitled “What Kind of State Does Illinois Want to Be?”, highlighting the rising crime, corruption, and damage done to Chicago under Pritzker, Lightfoot, and Foxx’s watch. Since Pritzker took office, four Democrat State Senators, three Democrat State Representatives, and nine Democrat Chicago Aldermen & Alderwomen have been indicted or convicted on corruption-related charges. Public safety remains on the ballot on November 8th with the end of cash bail on January 1st 2023 due to the [un]SAFE-T Act. 

Chairman Tracy concluded his op-ed by stating, “Together, we can make Chicago the city that works for law-abiding residents again. To that end, please join in that mission by electing pro-public safety candidates up and down the ballot this November.”

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Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer Excoriate Speaker Welch, Chairwoman Hernandez over Madigan “Show Trial”

Indicted former Speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan’s latest corruption charges involving AT&T amplify just how complicit current Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch and Democratic Party of Illinois Chair and State Representative Lisa Hernandez – both major recipients of Madigan Money – were in allowing corruption to run without restrictions in the Democratic party. 

 “Speaker Welch and Chairwoman Hernandez 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,” said Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. “What do they have to say now about the corruption charges against their leader and political godfather? The people of Illinois deserve to know.”

Two years ago, after ComEd admitted to a nearly ten-year scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin demanded the creation of a special committee to investigate Madigan’s corrupt activity and determine grounds for discipline. Instead of running a real investigation, Welch, who was chosen to ‘lead’ the committee by Madigan, called it a “show trial” and shut down the committee without issuing any conclusions or findings after only three sham meetings, one witness and no subpoenas. 

“Welch and Hernandez presided over a sham ‘Special Investigation’ into then-Speaker Madigan’s role in the ComEd scandal. They used it to provide him political cover, and were rewarded for their ‘hard work’,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “The Democrats talk about the defining choice in this election, and they are correct – we are very different. Democrats cover for corruption to protect their power and Republicans want to take it away and give it back to the people of Illinois.” 

Welch called the investigation a “political show that was concocted” by Republicans as a “power grab” for the minority party – but federal investigations prove otherwise as corruption charges against Madigan and his accomplices continue to grow.

After successfully shutting down the House investigation into Madigan, Welch was promoted to Speaker of the House and Hernandez was elected as the new chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. All three Democrats on the investigative panel were funded by campaign committees controlled by Speaker Madigan who had given about $585,000 to Manley, nearly $133,000 to Hernandez and more than $100,000 to Welch, according to state election board records as reported by  WBEZ.

“Speaker Welch and Chairwoman Hernandez had the opportunity to live up to their oaths of office and end the pervasive corruption that has plagued our state,” said House Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer who served on the committee.  “Instead, they chose to protect the power of politicians and political insiders. They failed the committee, they failed the people of Illinois and they continue to remain silent and actionless as the culture of corruption continues to operate.”

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Mary K. O’Brien, the Democratic candidate for Illinois Supreme Court in the 3rd Judicial District, is trying to cover up the campaign and financial support she’s received from Mike Madigan. Last week, O’Brien told Capitol News Illinois that she “was elected without Mike Madigan’s help” and that she “didn’t get help from the party.” News reports and campaign finance records say otherwise.

In her first campaign for Illinois House in 1996, O’Brien received nearly $90,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan and political organizations under his direct control. O’Brien was even assigned a Madigan staffer for her race, which makes clear that Madigan made it a priority to elect O’Brien (Editorial, “Wishing for some goodies for public officials in 1998,” The State Journal-Register, 12/28/97). Throughout her political career in the Illinois House, O’Brien received over $200,000 from Madigan and his political organizations.

Mary K. O’Brien is personally credited as being the deciding vote that helped Madigan regain the Speakership in 1997 with a 60-58 majority (Editorial, “Wishing for some goodies for public officials in 1998,” The State Journal-Register, 12/28/97). O’Brien was appointed as an Appellate Court Justice during her final year in the Illinois House after voting with Madigan 93.6% of the time.

Following her appointment to the Appellate Court, O’Brien personally cut seven checks to Madigan’s main political organization, Friends of Michael J. Madigan, totaling $3,350 while she was a sitting justice.

“Mary K. O’Brien is trying to cover up the campaign cash she’s received from Mike Madigan because she knows if voters become fully aware of her deep ties to Madigan, she will lose in a landslide. Illinois courts need a clean break from the Madigan Machine. That’s exactly what Illinois voters can get by voting against Madigan Machine Justice Mary K. O’Brien.” – Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Shaun McCabe

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Today AT&T agreed to a $23 million settlement in the ongoing Madigan saga, while prosecutors levied additional corruption charges against indicted-former House Speaker Mike Madigan and his confidant Michael McClain. The Illinois Republican Party issued the following statement:

“Indicted former House Speaker Mike Madigan’s legacy continues to haunt Illinois as he now faces additional corruption-related charges. Since 2019, nine Chicago Democratic Aldermen & women, three Democratic State Representatives, and four Democratic State Senators have been indicted or convicted on corruption-related charges, including Madigan himself. 

While these additional charges, as well as AT&T’s settlement, is another step towards justice, with Ilinois Democrats and their corruption charges, it’s like the “Never Ending Story”. This sad saga hasn’t ended with Madigan. It will only end when Democratic leaders like Speaker Welch and Senate President Harmon stop turning a blind eye to Madiganesque behavior in their caucuses.”

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Twelve years after getting rejected by Illinois voters after his scandal-ridden Senate run, Alexi Giannoulias has spent much of his campaign & reclamation project hiding from Illinois voters. This week, his Republican opponent for Secretary of State Dan Brady released an income tax summary from the past two years and called on Giannoulias to do the same.

“Alexi Giannoulias’ record continues to follow him. His history of fiscal mismanagement as State Treasurer and family bank’s loans to mobsters when he was senior loan officer should worry Illinois voters at the prospect of putting him in charge of our state’s largest office,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “With such a checkered past, Giannoulias should follow his opponent’s lead and release his taxes.”

As State Treasurer, Giannoulias’ mismanagement of Illinois’ college loans savings programs, caused families to lose millions. When he was Senior Loan Officer, Giannoulias’ family bank loaned millions of dollars to mobsters. Later, the bank was seized by federal regulators.

“His lack of transparency is the latest in a long line of reasons why Illinois voters should not trust Giannoulias for higher office,” said Tracy.

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Today the Illinois Republican Party was made aware of a ballot issue in Schuyler County, where Early Voters were given ballots containing the name of a former Republican candidate instead of current Republican nominee for Senate Kathy Salvi.  As well, over 300 Vote By Mail ballots containing this same defect had been disseminated to Schuyler County voters.  Kathy Salvi’s campaign was justifiably upset over this error.  

From the Salvi campaign press release earlier this afternoon: 

“On Tuesday, October 11th, it was brought to my attention that ballots drafted by the Schuyler County Board of Elections, and approved by the Illinois State Board of Elections, incorrectly listed one of my primary opponents as the Republican nominee for United States Senate.  Our campaign legal team immediately took action and worked with the Schuyler County State’s Attorney. While we came to the best remedy – to sequester the hundreds of ballots that were distributed – this does not solve the most pressing problem of election integrity and transparency.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy issued the following statement in solidarity with Salvi and her campaign:

“Voters need to have confidence that our election process is conducted fairly and transparently. This is an unacceptable error by the Schuyler County Clerk.  While we are lucky that we caught this error early, this doesn’t change the fact that it could very well disenfranchise dozens of her voters. Officials responsible must be held accountable professionally, and Schuyler County must come up with a solution to remedy their mistake and ensure these voters have a say in who represents them in the United States Senate.”

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Statement from ILGOP Executive Director Shaun McCabe on false and defamatory “All for Justice” TV Ad:

“The latest false TV ad from ‘All for Justice’ is even more defamatory than their first false ad. This Madigan Machine-backed group is lying about Michael Burke and Mark Curran because they’re attempting to cover up Mary K. O’Brien’s and Elizabeth Rochford’s ties to the Madigan Machine. Don’t be fooled, Illinois voters. If elected to the Supreme Court, Madigan Machine judges O’Brien and Rochford will put their political cronies before the people of Illinois.”

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More State’s Attorneys are joining the chorus of law enforcement leaders suing the Pritzker Administration challenging the SAFE-T Act to stop the potential release of thousands of violent criminals back onto our streets. 

From WTVO last week: 

“Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley has joined a host of other Illinois state’s attorneys in challenging the constitutionality of the state’s new “no cash bail” provision in the SAFE-T Act.

‘I cannot ignore that, as currently drafted, this law is unconstitutional. Further, it will create unjust results and does not protect the public. Accordingly, it is my duty as your State’s Attorney to fight it,’ Hanley said.

Last week, the Winnebago County Board voted against supporting Illinois controversial SAFE-T Act law, which would eliminate cash bail statewide on January 1st, 2023.”

From Mercer County State’s Attorney Grace Simpson’s press release reported on by WRMJ: 

“It is of utmost importance as a State’s Attorney’s Office that the Constitution is abided by on all levels. As the Chief Legal Officer in Mercer County, it would be unethical to move forward with the implementation of the SAFE-T, without properly raising those concerns to the Court. I am obligated to inform those that I have sworn to protect that version of House Bill 3653, now Public Act 101–652 set to take effect January 1, 2023 poses a serious threat to public safety, specifically, to victims of and witnesses to violent crimes in our community.”

17 of Illinois’ 102 State’s Attorneys have now sued the administration while 100 of Illinois’ State’s Attorneys publicly oppose the legislation. When pressed on the debate stage Thursday, Pritzker refused to provide a specific answer regarding how he would reform his signature legislation.

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The Illinois Republican Party issued the following statement following the conclusion of the 1st televised debate between State Senator Darren Bailey Governor JB Pritzker:

“Governor Pritzker’s defining legacy – the [un]SAFE-T Act has made our communities less safe, and unfortunately the worst is yet to come. On January 1st cash bail is set to be eliminated across Illinois, potentially releasing violent criminals back onto our streets. 

100 of Illinois’ 102 State’s Attorneys oppose this law while numerous Democratic State’s Attorneys have sued the administration to stop it from taking effect. When pressed by moderators numerous times. Governor Pritzker failed tonight to provide specific changes that would support to reform his disastrous law to save lives before it’s too late. 

Make no mistake, Darren Bailey won this debate. He outlined a positive vision for our state’s future – one that prioritizes public safety, law enforcement, and a strong & competitive business climate. Illinois voters are fed up with the culture of corruption and criminal coddling that has defined Pritzker’s tenure in office. It’s high time for a change.”

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The ILGOP today unveiled CleanUpILCourts.com, highlighting the Madigan Machine’s historic influence on our judicial system and their latest attempts to stack the bench with two of their very own. 

Judge Mary K. O’Brien is the ultimate Madigan insider and her deep ties to the Madigan Machine are well known. O’Brien was appointed as an Appellate Court Justice during her final year in the Illinois General Assembly after voting with Madigan 93.6% of the time. She also “Helped Madigan Regain The Speakership,” and received over $200,000 in political contributions from political groups led by Madigan. O’Brien’s record on the bench is even more concerning, having overturned the convictions of numerous violent criminals. 

Judge Elizabeth Rochford is funded by many of the same trial lawyers that bankrolled indicted Speaker Mike Madigan and his judicial cronies for years – receiving nearly $600,000 from them. Further, Rochford donated $1,500 to indicted Chicago Alderman and political machine boss Ed Burke, after he was indicted on corruption charges. When asked, Rochford called Burke a “longtime friend of our family.” Rochford has donated a total of $15,350 to Burke since 1999. She’s also used her connections to lower her property taxes under the same property tax appeals system that made Madigan millions of dollars.

“Illinois voters deserve to know the truth. The Madigan Machine has had far too much influence on our judicial election process for far too long,” said Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Shaun McCabe. “Justice Mary K. O’Brien and Judge Elizabeth Rochford are no exception. Instead of electing two more Madigan Machine retreads to our state’s highest court, it’s well past time Illinois voters made a clean break with the Madigan Machine and its ‘politics-as-usual’ process for electing our judges.”

When voters learn the truth about O’Brien and Rochford’s Madigan Machine ties and troubling records, unsurprisingly they oppose them by wide margins.

Click here to visit the website and get the facts.

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