Category: News

Pritzker invests in billion dollar state Medicaid provider, breaks campaign promise with massive conflict of interest 

This morning, it was revealed in reporting done by the Better Government Association (BGA) that Governor JB Pritzker’s “blind” trust bought stock options in one of the state’s largest Medicaid contractors.

Trust Buys Stock in State Contractor

From the BGA…

The blind trust set up to manage Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s vast wealth bought stock in one of the state’s biggest Medicaid contractors in 2020, the same year his administration made several decisions that benefited the company’s bottom line.

The purchase of stock in health insurance giant Centene Corp. was made on behalf of the billionaire governor by trustees at Northern Trust, appointed by Pritzker to independently manage his portfolio to separate those investment decisions from his role as the state’s most powerful elected official.

Did JB Profit Off of Investment?

From the BGA…

Neither Pritzker representatives nor the managers of his trust would say how much the investment in Centene is worth to Pritzker’s bottom line. They also declined to say specifically when the stock purchase was made.

Asked whether the governor — after learning he became invested in one of the state’s largest contractors sometime during 2020 — took steps to recuse himself from decisions that directly affected the company’s finances, his spokeswoman said he has not.

More Pritzker Promises Broken

From the BGA…

In 2019, Pritzker took office assuring voters he would divest his portfolio of companies with state contracts, and also promised to make charitable contributions equal to any trust investment that made money from a state contract during his term.

Questions That Need Answering

• Why didn’t the Governor avoid this conflict of interest by simply telling his trust managers to refrain from investing in state contractors?
• When was the stock in Centene originally purchased and how much has Pritzker profited from the investment?
• Will the Governor release all correspondence and documents relating to Centene since he became governor?

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Only in JB Pritzker’s Illinois could a politically-connected arsonist get a pardon to become a fire chief. You have to read it to believe it. As reported by Capitol News Illinois:

SPRINGFIELD – Jerame Simmons got his long-held wish in December when he became the chief of the fire department that dismissed him 24 years ago after he was charged with setting fire to a vacant house and attempting to burn down his high school….

…But it was a pardon from Gov. JB Pritzker that finally cleared the way for Simmons to become the full-time, paid fire chief for the Prairie Du Pont Fire Department….

…The case drew national attention as 11 of the department’s 13 firefighters resigned following the fire protection district’s decision to oust the former chief in favor of Simmons…

…Simmons filed his petition on July 15, 2019, directly contradicting contemporary law enforcement reports of a number of 1998 incidents…

…Simmons, the son of a former deputy U.S. marshal and Metro East mayor, claimed innocence and submitted testimony from local officials attesting to his work ethic and trustworthiness.

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Another day, another criminal is getting away with murder due to Pritzker’s pro-criminal, anti-police agenda. 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Another man won’t face murder charge after change to state law; Republicans say SAFE-T Act should be repealed

For the second time this week, Cook County prosecutors cited changes to the state’s felony murder statute as the reason for not charging a man accused of being involved in a deadly shootout that led to a murder.

On Wednesday, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said 22-year-old Tayvon Powe would have faced a first-degree murder charge prior to last summer when the statute’s changes went into effect.

“If this was prior to July of [2021] when the change in the law that went into effect, this defendant would be facing first degree murder charges,” Murphy told Judge Mary Marubio at Powe’s bond hearing. “ … He is not facing those first-degree murder charges at this point,”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to the latest outcome of Pritzker signing the most pro-criminal, anti-police legislation in Illinois history:

“As violent crime surges across Chicago and bleeds into surrounding communities, we are now seeing the direct consequences of a Governor who prioritizes criminals over the safety of law-abiding Illinoisans. With each turn of the page, the SAFE-T Act reveals another way laws have been changed to give the advantage to criminals and make the job of protecting the public that much harder for law enforcement. We need to repeal the pro-criminal, anti-police SAFE-T Act immediately and elect a Governor who will make our communities safe again.” 

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Pritzker’s pro-criminal, anti-police reforms allows man to avoid murder charge after killing a woman

Chicago Sun-Times headline: State law change means man accused of starting shootout that killed bystander won’t face murder charges

A Cook County grand jury has declined to indict a man on a first-degree murder charge in connection with a December shooting that left a woman dead when she was struck by a stray bullet in Austin.

The case appears to be the first of it’s kind brought in the county since the state’s felony murder statute was changed as part of the SAFE-T Act — a landmark criminal justice reform bill that became state law last year.

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During a hearing Monday, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said jurors returned indictments against Travis Andrews on weapons charges in the shooting — but not for murder — and cited the SAFE-T Act as the reason.

In Governor Pritzker’s Illinois, the man who started a shootout that killed an innocent woman walking to buy lotto tickets will earn a simple weapons charge. According to Pritzker, this result will keep us more safe and represents a more just system.

“Add getting away with murder to the long list of consequences stemming from Governor Pritzker signing the most pro-criminal, anti-police legislation in Illinois history,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Joe Hackler. “In addition to Pritzker standing in solidarity with Kim Foxx, and his Prisoner Review Board releasing violent criminals onto our streets early, Pritzker’s SAFE-T Act has made us less safe and made Illinois a refuge for the worst of humanity.” 

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Last week, reporters asked Gov. JB Pritzker whether he felt responsible for rising crime in Illinois and for the brutal deaths of police officers since his anti-police, pro-criminal legislation became law.

Pritzker’s response, as reported by the Chicago Tribune:

“I attend the funerals of police officers. I talk to family members in the wake of the deaths of their loved one who was a first responder,” Pritzker said. “So, no one needs to tell me about the seriousness of the attack that has taken place on a police officer because I feel it, I talk to those people, unfortunately, too regularly. But it’s also one of the important duties of being governor.”

How outrageous and disgusting. JB Pritzker signs the most anti-police legislation in Illinois history while his Prisoner Review Board lets cop-killers out of prison early – and his response to skyrocketing crime and the murders of police officers is to brag about attending the funerals of police officers? 

“Governor Pritzker is responsible for the rise of crime in Illinois and to deflect criticism by bragging about his attendance at police funerals is absolutely reprehensible,” ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy said. “Pritzker thinks attending police funerals is one of the important duties of being governor. Well Governor, do you know what’s more important? Supporting police in jailing violent criminals so no one has to attend another funeral. The Governor turned his back on law enforcement and the law-abiding public by signing that anti-police, pro-criminal legislation.”

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Facts are facts – cashless bail is coming and more criminals will be let into our communities

JB Pritzker knows crime is becoming the number one issue in the 2022 election.

He knows crime is out of control in Illinois. 

And he knows he shares responsibility for siding with criminals over communities.

Which is why the Governor is lying, deflecting, and trying to spin the “create more crime” bill he signed into law isn’t actually what we think it is. 

The truth: it’s EXACTLY what we all know it to be – a bill that eliminates cashless bail that will result in criminals being let back out on the street to commit more crime.

• He’ll spin that his law doesn’t hurt victims of crime by giving their attackers more power. It does.

• He’ll claim that his law doesn’t open up anonymous complaints against police to ruin their careers and deter them from doing their jobs. It does.

• He’ll spin that his law doesn’t leave your home or business vulnerable to criminal trespass. It 100% does.

• He will even lie to voters and claim that it wasn’t him that personally let criminals out of prison who then went on to hurt other victims…trying to blame “the system.” 

Facts are facts. And the law he signed does all of those things and he personally let dangerous criminals back into our communities.

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police called it an “anti-police bill.”

The Illinois Sheriff’s Association warned Illinois families would be harmed by it.

JB Pritzker is the most pro-criminal governor in Illinois history. And we are all paying the price.

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Mike Frerichs was for consolidating the Treasurer and Comptroller’s offices, then against, then for, and now we just don’t know

With news this week of an effort to save taxpayer money and eliminate redundancies in state government by consolidating the state Treasurer and Comptroller’s offices, we thought it would be helpful to explore all the different positions Treasurer Mike Frerichs has taken on the issue.

Frerichs confusing consolidation history:

FOR: In 2011, Frerichs voted to consolidate the office as a state senator in the 97th General Assembly. Good job Mike!

AGAINST: In 2014 during his first campaign for Treasurer, he flip-flopped and criticized a plan to consolidate offices. Mike, what happened?

FOR: Immediately following the above referenced flip-flop, Frerichs restated his previous support for office consolidation. The State Journal-Register noted the change saying, “Frerichs again supports combining state’s fiscal offices.” Mike, now it’s time to follow through!

AGAINST?: After finally landing on the right position of support for office consolidation, Frerichs hasn’t lifted a finger to make it happen since being sworn-in as Treasurer in January, 2015. Treasurer Frerichs has not supported any of the legislative efforts to consolidate the offices of Treasurer and Comptroller even though his party has held majorities in the General Assembly his entire time in office. You’ve let us down, Mike.

“The only thing Mike Frerichs stands tall for are tax hikes and the status quo of bloated and wasteful state government,” said ILGOP Spokesman Joe Hackler. “Frerichs aggressively supported Governor Pritzker’s 2020 tax hike amendment, spoke positively of the possibility of taxing retirement income, and has done nothing to save taxpayer dollars by consolidating offices, despite ample opportunity.”

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After 36 veterans died in LaSalle home at the hands of state government, Pritzker administration forgets to sign veteran protection bill

Governor JB Pritzker reportedly failed to take action on a bill that unanimously passed the Illinois General Assembly aimed at protecting veterans by providing a new avenue for those who served, and their allies, to file complaints about the state’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The Chicago Tribune reports: “The Democratic governor, whose reelection campaign this year will face tough questions over his administration’s handling of a deadly 2020 coronavirus outbreak at a state-run veterans home in LaSalle, did not sign or veto the proposal within 60 days after it reached his desk, meaning it automatically becomes law.”

Rank incompetence led to the avoidable deaths of dozens of brave veterans trapped at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. Those veterans received inadequate care and were forgotten by our state’s highest government official. Despite tragic mistakes made by the Pritzker administration, which were uncovered and outlined in an explosive and damning IG report, Governor Pritzker once again forgot about the lives of our nation’s heroes this week.

Capitol Fax publisher Rich Miller summed it up best when he said, “the last time I remember this sort of bungle happening was under Rod Blagojevich.”

“Why does JB Pritzker show such blatant disregard for the lives of veterans? After the tragedy at LaSalle, all veterans wanted was a proper way to voice their concerns about a state agency that made deadly mistakes – and JB Pritzker couldn’t even find the time to sign the bill. That’s shameful,” said ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy.

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 Pritzker previously gave $10 million to Madigan funds, said he was “grateful” for Madigan

The Better Government Association today revealed a massive investigation into millions of dollars of infrastructure projects requested by Mike Madigan that were approved and coordinated by Governor JB Pritzker and his key budget staff.

It took the intervention of the Weglarz brothers’ longtime property tax lawyer — then House Speaker Michael J. Madigan — to find a solution. Now Illinois taxpayers are footing the $98 million bill for what would undoubtedly be one of the most expensive brake jobs in history.

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In addition to the $98 million brake job, Madigan delivered another $31 million for a charter school that provided the BGA records detailing only $1.5 million in requests to lawmakers, $9 million for a Chicago high school even though nobody from the Chicago Public Schools sought it and another $6 million for a suburban airport control tower a Madigan political ally wanted for years.

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A BGA examination of public records found at least $144 million went to just four projects backed by Madigan, the longest-serving house speaker in U.S. history. Each of those projects benefitted those to whom the former speaker has personal, professional or political ties.

In addition to the $98 million brake job, Madigan delivered another $31 million for a charter school that provided the BGA records detailing only $1.5 million in requests to lawmakers, $9 million for a Chicago high school even though nobody from the Chicago Public Schools sought it and another $6 million for a suburban airport control tower a Madigan political ally wanted for years.

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The remaining $1.2 billion were identified only as “leadership additions.”

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“I also confirmed that Speaker Madigan has submitted the request to the Governor’s office,” she wrote to Bria Scudder, one of Pritzker’s top deputies. Emails show Scudder quickly forwarded the message to the director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, which plays a critical role in releasing state grant funds.

The Illinois Republican Party calls on JB Pritzker to answer questions about his role in authorizing taxpayer money be spent on secret infrastructure projects at Mike Madigan’s request.

Specifically, Governor Pritzker should start by:

1. Releasing all communications between the Office of the Speaker of the House and the Governor’s office, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and/or the Illinois Department of Transportation;
2. Releasing all communications between the Governor’s Office and both the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Transportation regarding Rebuild Illinois projects; and
3. Release the full list of projects that fall under the category “Leadership Additions.”

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Behind the violent crimes ravaging our state are the faces and names of victims. Instead of standing up for those victims – and working to prevent more people from becoming victims – Pritzker has signed legislation putting criminals first and victims last.

It’s no surprise Pritzker doesn’t care about the victims of crime. This is the same governor that let 36 veterans die of COVID at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home in 2020.

Now we learn that Pritzker’s administration has engaged in state-sponsored child abuse at the Department of Children and Family Services. JB Pritzker should be held accountable for what his administration has done.

When did Pritzker find out his agency director was abusing kids and why has he not fired his director?

In case you missed it, as reported by CBS 2 Chicago:

One court order against Smith describes how a 9-year-old girl suffered years of physical and sexual abuse at home. Then after entering DCFS care, she was put into a psychiatric hospital. She was medically ready to be discharged back in June 2021, but she’s still hospitalized.

A judge wrote DCFS disobeyed numerous court orders to get the child out of the hospital in October and November. This is why DCFS Director Smith is being held in contempt.

The girl has been confined in the psychiatric hospital for 221 days since the date she was supposed to be discharged.

The other contempt order was issued after a 13-year-old boy in DCFS care was forced to sleep in a storage room.

“He was sleeping on the floor of a utility room in an office,” said Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert. “Closet of an office.”

That child was then sent to a downstate shelter and has been stuck there for 145 days – the reason for Smith’s other contempt charge.

DCFS had received repeated complaints regarding her dating back several years. At least five men had sexually assaulted her since the age of seven and she suffered other abuse. DCFS failed to put her in protective custody until her final rape case at the Grand Motel in October of 2020. 

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