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Lauren Underwood Refuses To Comment On Ilhan Omar’s Anti-Semitism: “I don’t have a comment on that”

NPR asked Underwood four times if she has anything to say about Omar’s comments, but Underwood refused to respond

“Lauren Underwood’s refusal to say anything about Ilhan Omar’s blatant anti-Semitism is shameful, encourages further anti-Semitic rhetoric, and gives cover to extremists who oppose the State of Israel. Underwood’s unwillingness to specifically condemn acts of anti-Semitism should greatly concern her constituents. It’s clear that Underwood would rather cater to the young radicals in the Democratic Party than the people of the 14th District.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

 

For the most part, Democratic members of Congress have decided to give a pass to Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s well-known use of anti-Semitic rhetoric. Omar recently accused Americans who support Israel of having a dual allegiance, putting the concerns of Israel above America’s.

One of those Democratic members is Lauren Underwood, who represents Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. Underwood has refused to say anything about Omar’s comments, let alone specifically condemn them.

From Underwood’s recent interview with NPR:

INSKEEP: This lawmaker, who carefully considers what to say, chose to say very little about another lawmaker’s choice of words. The day we met Lauren Underwood was the day last week when the House voted to criticize anti-Semitism. The resolution answered remarks by Underwood’s fellow freshman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. That issue divided Democrats, and Underwood was determined not to give it any more fuel.

Did she go too far?

UNDERWOOD: I don’t have a comment on that.

INSKEEP: You don’t?

UNDERWOOD: I don’t.

INSKEEP: You’ve been pretty frank on every other issue. What makes…

UNDERWOOD: That’s why I’m being frank on this one.

INSKEEP: Then why – what do – you mean you don’t know what to think about it? Or…

UNDERWOOD: I said I don’t have a comment on it.

Unlike Underwood, some other Democrats were quick to condemn Omar’s remarks. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel penned an op-ed in The Atlantic, saying:

But Omar is crossing a line that should not be crossed in political discourse. Her remarks are not anti-Israel; they are anti-Semitic.

Whether consciously or not, Representative Omar is repeating some of the ugliest stereotypes about Jews—tropes that have been unleashed by anti-Semites throughout history. She is casting Jewish Americans as the other, suggesting a dual loyalty that calls our devotion to America into question.

And here’s what the Boston Herald Editorial Board wrote in their editorial, titled, Democrats give anti-Semitism safe harbor:

It is remarkable that we find ourselves in a situation where the new faces of the Democrats in Congress speak freely in extremist terms and the rest of the party’s power structure is afraid to tamp it down in any real way. We must call on elected leaders to condemn hateful rhetoric rather than attempt to curry favor with a freshman congressman from the Bronx.

This wasn’t Rep. Omar’s first use of anti-Semitic tropes. In the past, Omar has said:

  • “It’s all about the Benjamins” for lawmakers who support Israel, implying that advocacy groups like AIPAC buy support with campaign contributions
  • Israel is “evil” and they’ve “hypnotized” the world

But none of that apparently bothers Lauren Underwood.

Underwood’s refusal to say anything about Ilhan Omar’s blatant anti-Semitism is shameful, encourages further anti-Semitic rhetoric, and gives cover to extremists who oppose the State of Israel. Underwood’s unwillingness to specifically condemn acts of anti-Semitism should greatly concern her constituents. It’s clear that Underwood would rather cater to the young radicals in the Democratic Party than the people of the 14th District.

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Underwood, Casten, Bustos, and other Illinois Democrats Vote To Publicly Finance Political Campaigns, Federalize Elections

Underwood, Casten, and Bustos together would receive over $17 million in public funds for their Congressional campaigns if they opted-in the program

 

“H.R. 1 is nothing more than an unconstitutional, political power grab by Democrats in Washington. Voters and taxpayers across Illinois need to know that their Democratic members of Congress want to force them to publicly fund and subsidize political speech they might disagree with. Lauren Underwood, Sean Casten, and Cheri Bustos together would receive over $17 million in public funds if they opted-in the program they voted for. That’s wrong. The Federal government has no business funding political campaigns with scarce public resources.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

 

Last Friday, Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Cheri Bustos, Congressman Sean Casten, and other Illinois Democrats voted for legislation that would publicly finance political campaigns and federalize many election administration regulations currently handled by state and local governments.

One major aspect of the legislation would create a 6-to-1 government match on small-donor campaign contributions for candidates who qualify and choose to opt-in to the program. For every $200 contribution, the federal government will pay $1,200 in public funds to a congressional or presidential campaign. Here’s how much public funding a few Illinois Democrats would receive based on small-dollar contributions they received during last year’s election:

  • Cheri Bustos (IL-17) – $3,017,262 in public funds for her campaign
    • During the last election cycle, Bustos received $502,877 in contributions totaling $200 or less
  • Lauren Underwood (IL-14) – $7,279,224 in public funds for her campaign
    • During the last election cycle, Underwood received $1,213,204 in contributions totaling $200 or less
  • Sean Casten (IL-06) – $7,124,862 in public funds for his campaign
    • During the last election cycle, Casten received $1,187,477 in contributions totaling $200 or less

Congressman Rodney Davis, the Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, issued a statement outlining the top ten most egregious provisions of H.R. 1 prior to the legislation’s passage:

  1. Creates a 6:1 government match to any small donor contributions of $200 or less in a congressional or presidential campaign, meaning for every $200, the federal government will match $1,200.
  2. Creates a new voucher pilot program that grants eligible voters a $25 voucher to donate to any campaign of their choosing.
  3. Weaponizes the Federal Election Commission by altering the current bipartisan makeup of a six-member commission to a partisan five-member commission which will limit free speech and make partisan decisions about election communications.
  4. Weakens the voting system of the American people by increasing the election system’s vulnerability and failing to implement the necessary checks and balances regarding who is registering to vote. H.R. 1 will force states to allow online voter registration, automatic voter registration, and same-day voter registration with no safeguards.
  5. Raises constitutional concerns under the First Amendment by proposing to limit free speech and imposing vague standards that disadvantage all groups who wish to advocate on behalf of any legislative issue.
  6. Diminishes the process of Election Day voting by expanding “no excuse” absentee voting and allowing for any eligible voter to be able to cast their ballot by mail with no additional safeguards to this process.
  7. Disregards state voter identification laws by allowing sworn statements to be used in place of identification and allowing for signature verification, which can be submitted through a photo if the voter registers online.
  8. Does not provide states adequate enforcement mechanisms to guard against fraud.
  9. Impedes states’ ability to determine their registration and voting practices, as protected under Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution and violates separation of powers by Congress mandating ethics standards for the Supreme Court. H.R. 1 is a constitutional overreach.
  10. Forces states to count provisional ballots cast outside of the voter’s correct precinct which will inevitably result in the election of candidates at the state and local level by non-qualified residents.

Even the left-leaning ACLU has stated H.R. 1 “would unconstitutionally infringe on the speech and associational rights of many public interest organizations and American citizens.”

H.R. 1 is nothing more than an unconstitutional, political power grab by Democrats in Washington. Voters and taxpayers across Illinois should remember that the Democratic members of Congress want to force them to publicly fund and subsidize political speech they might disagree with. That is wrong.

Elections are best administered by state and local governments – as close to the people as possible. The Federal government has no business funding political campaigns with scarce public resources.

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J.B. Pritzker Should Domesticate His Overseas Holdings In Illinois And Subject Them To Higher Tax Rates He Proposed

ILGOP Chairman Schneider: “As one of Illinois’ richest residents and leading tax hike proponents, it’s time for Gov. Pritzker to pay his fair share”

“It’s time to end Governor Pritzker’s tax hypocrisy. Pritzker says he ‘chooses fairness’ when it comes to raising taxes, yet Pritzker is the beneficiary of many overseas holdings that allow him to dodge untold millions in state and federal taxes. If Pritzker truly believes that rich people such as himself have an obligation to pay more in taxes to the State of Illinois, Pritzker should take the first step and domesticate his overseas holdings in Illinois so they would be subject to the higher tax rates he has proposed for the people of Illinois.

“As one of Illinois’ richest residents and leading tax hike proponents, it’s time for Governor Pritzker to pay his fair share, before expecting Illinois taxpayers to pay more. Tax fairness should start with our governor.” – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider

Last week, Governor J.B. Pritzker finally released the specific tax rates of his plan to raise taxes on Illinois families and businesses. When you factor in the Personal Property Replacement Tax, Pritzker’s tax hike plan will hit corporations and trusts domiciled in the state of Illinois with a 10.45% and 9.45% tax rate, respectively, making it “one of the highest in the nation.”

During the course of last year’s gubernatorial campaign, Illinois voters learned that Pritzker is the beneficiary of many overseas trusts based in the Bahamas and Cayman Islands. Those trusts are not subject to taxes. Pritzker attempted to skirt the topic by saying there was nothing he could do about the trusts set up by his grandfather in the 1960s, and that all of his money from those trusts go to his charitable foundation.

But a Chicago Tribune investigated found that Pritzker himself utilizes overseas tax havens for his personal business ventures. Several overseas shell corporations were set up by Pritzker and his associates between 2008 and 2011. According to the Tribune, those corporations “are either wholly owned by J.B. Pritzker, his brother and business partner Anthony Pritzker, or list other close associates as controlling executives.”

All told, the Tribune found “35 offshore and domestic trusts and shell companies tied to Pritzker on top of the dozen offshore investment funds.”

Financial experts told the Tribune that the investment tactics used by Pritzker helped him maintain the secrecy of his overseas holdings while minimizing the tax liability.

When the investigation broke, Pritzker tax hike supporter Dan Biss said “J.B. Pritzker set up companies offshore, probably to avoid taxes and spent the entire past year lying about it.”

In 2008, The New York Times said the Pritzker family were “pioneers in using tax loopholes to shelter their holdings from the internal revenue service.” And J.B. Pritzker’s sister, Penny Pritzker, became the subject of media scrutiny after some of her overseas holdings were revealed in the Paradise Papers.

If Pritzker truly believes that rich people such as himself have an obligation to pay more in taxes to the State of Illinois, Pritzker should take the first step and domesticate his overseas holdings in Illinois so they would be subject to the higher tax rates he has proposed for the people of Illinois.

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ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider Statement on Governor J.B. Pritzker’s $3.4 Billion Tax Hike

Moments ago, Governor J.B. Pritzker released proposed graduated income tax rates as part of his plan to raise taxes on Illinois families and businesses. Pritzker’s proposed tax hike plan also puts in place “one of the highest in the nation” tax rates for businesses. Pritzker claims his tax increase would raise an additional $3.4 billion in tax revenue for state coffers. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider issued the following statement in response:

“More tax hikes will not solve Illinois’ fiscal problems. Pritzker’s proposed $3.4 billion tax increase will lead to even more out-migration of Illinois families, businesses, and jobs. Tax-and-spend Illinois Democrats cannot be trusted with more of our tax dollars. That is why Illinois Republicans stand united against the Pritzker-Madigan tax hike and will continue to support reforms that will lower taxes, create jobs, and make our state thrive once again.”
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Speaker Madigan Should Immediately Disclose All Instances Where He Fired Employees Accused Of Sexual Harassment

Madigan’s office: “Had allegations been brought to the Speaker at the time, he would have terminated any employment relationship… as he has done on other occasions upon learning of such incidents.”

“Speaker Madigan’s own office says that on multiple occasions, Madigan fired employees accused of sexual harassment, yet we don’t know who or when. Over a year ago, Madigan released a partial list of harassment complaints against unnamed employees of his, but the public was never given a full list of complaints and whether or not those complaints have been resolved. Outside of that list, there are three instances where a Madigan employee was fired, dismissed, or resigned because of harassment complaints, but that still does not give us the full scope of harassment in Madigan’s organization.

“In the interest of transparency, Madigan should release the full list of complaints made against his employees and disclose any instances where he terminated their employment. The people of Illinois deserve to know that the most powerful political figure in the state is fully addressing sexual harassment allegations in his own office.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

A recent court filing reveals a new sexual harassment complaint against a former employee of Speaker Mike Madigan.

WBEZ broke the story:

There are new details about an allegation that powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office did not act upon “sexual harassment and/or assault” complaints brought against one of his aides, according to federal court documents.

…Hampton’s lawyers write that she learned of two women who reported “sexual harassment and/or assault” by Travis Shea, who worked on Madigan’s government staff, to the speaker’s attorney.

But after reporting to Madigan’s attorney, Heather Wier Vaught, that “nothing was done in response,” Shea continued to work for the speaker’s office for two more years, according to the court filing. The document didn’t offer primary documentation of the complaints or any more details, except to say “Plaintiff’s investigation continues.”

Responding to the court filings, Madigan’s office claimed the Speaker himself was unaware of the allegations, but if he was, he would’ve terminated the employment of the employee in question, as he has on other occasions.

From the statement issued by Speaker Madigan’s office:

“Speaker Madigan was not made aware of the allegations. Had the allegations been brought to the Speaker at the time, he would have terminated any employment relationship with Mr. Shea, as he has done on other occasions upon learning of such incidents.”

Over a year ago, Madigan released a partial list of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation complaints he says his office has investigated during the past five years. The list does not pertain to Madigan’s political organization, only complaints made by employees of his Speaker’s office. The list did not include any names of individuals accused of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. Madigan claimed that the complaints in the partial list have been resolved.

And outside of that list, we know that these top employees of Madigan have been fired, dismissed, or resigned:

  • Tim Mapes, Madigan’s former Chief of Staff, Clerk of the Illinois House, and Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois, “resigned”
  • Shaw Decremer, former top campaign aide to Madigan and lobbyist, “dismissed”
  • Kevin Quinn, former top campaign aide to Madigan, “fired”

In the interest of transparency, Madigan should release the full list of complaints made against his employees and disclose any instances where he terminated their employment. The people of Illinois deserve to know that the most powerful political figure in the state is fully addressing sexual harassment at the State Capitol.

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 Watchdogs & Analysts: Pritzker’s “Structurally Out Of Balance” Budget May Threaten Illinois’ Credit Rating

Pritzker’s one-time revenue measures, delayed pension payments, new pension borrowing, spending increases, and more threaten Illinois’ already-fragile fiscal condition

“Governor Pritzker’s unbalanced budget proposal is setting our state on a road to fiscal ruin. According to the Big Three credit rating agencies and financial analysts, Pritzker’s pension holidays and one-time revenue gimmicks will threaten Illinois’ already-fragile fiscal condition. To move our state forward, we must change our fiscal course, but unfortunately, Pritzker’s proposals maintain the status quo in Springfield.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

 

Last week, Pritzker gave his first budget address, outlining his Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal which included:

  • Tax increases, including spending of revenue not yet realized
  • Spending increases, expansion of programs
  • Reduction in pension payments, a flip-flop from Pritzker’s campaign pledge
  • Issuing new pension debt and other general obligation bonds
  • No job-creating, economic reforms

Credit rating agencies did not respond positively to Pritzker’s budget. One financial publication said Pritzker’s one-time revenue measures leaves Pritzker’s budget “structurally out of balance,” contrary to Pritzker’s assertion that he’s resolving the state’s structural budget deficit.

Here’s what financial industry watchdogs and analysts had to say about Pritzker’s proposal:

 

The Bond Buyer: Why Illinois budget proposal raises new rating concerns

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s pension and budget proposals raised red flags among watchdogs, investors, and analysts, along with questions about the threat it may pose to the state’s investment-grade ratings.

…The [Municipal Market Analytics] report warns that the risks associated with the uncertainties over the valuation of asset transfers and the arbitrage gamble on POBs are ideas that “can become gimmicks that pose credit negatives potent enough — scaled to management’s desperation to shape its spreadsheets — to smother the plan’s benefits to the state’s credit profile.”

The budget also relies on a series of one-shot revenue measures, leaving it structurally out of balance.

…Moody’s Investors Service would view the move to lower near-term pension contributions and extend the amortization period as a negative but is withholding judgment to see how the legislative session plays out and what is the broader context of the package that’s approved, Moody’s lead Illinois analyst Ted Hampton said.

 

Fitch Ratings: Illinois Governor’s Budget Plan Would Make Insufficient Progress

The fiscal 2020 executive budget plan recently introduced by Illinois’ governor would not materially address the state’s structural budget issues in the current fiscal year or the next, says Fitch Ratings.

…Fitch has indicated that we would lower the state’s IDR if Illinois returned to a pattern of deferring payments for near-term budget balancing. Elements of the governor’s proposal, including a $1.5 billion GO bill backlog borrowing that reduces but leaves largely unresolved the 2019 deficit and numerous one-time measures in fiscal 2020, appear to do that without a clear path toward long-term balance.

 

Reuters: Proposed Illinois budget falls short on filling structural gap, credit rating agency warns

Pritzker’s nearly $39 billion general funds budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 depends on $1.1 billion in estimated new revenue, including money from yet-to-be legalized sports betting and recreational marijuana. It also frees up cash by reducing contributions to the state’s five retirement systems.

“Illinois faces significant fiscal problems that will likely take multiple years to fully address, but the executive budget does not provide enough clarity on how the state will deal with them,” Fitch said in a statement.

 

Capitol News Illinois: Pritzker’s budget and pension plans could irritate bond markets

But in order to accomplish that, the state would need to borrow money, a lot of money. And there are significant questions about how the financial markets would respond to that.

All three major credit rating agencies — Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings — currently rate state of Illinois bonds at one notch above “junk” status. And there are elements in Pritzker’s plan that some analysts say could cause those agencies to consider making that downgrade, a change that would have dire financial consequences for the state.

Chicago Tribune: Wall Street credit agency warns Illinois could face credit downgrade under Gov. Pritzker’s budget plan

A Wall Street credit rating agency is warning that Illinois could face another debt downgrade if lawmakers adopt Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget plan.

Fitch Ratings said in a news release Tuesday that the plan Pritzker presented last week “would not materially address the state’s structural budget issues in the current fiscal year or the next.” The warning comes four days after S&P Global Ratings panned the new Democratic governor’s spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, calling it “precariously” balanced.

Like S&P, Fitch took issue with Pritzker’s plan to stretch out pension payments to lower short-term costs while extending the state’s funding deadline by seven years.

Chicago Tribune: With ‘precariously’ balanced budget plan, Pritzker ‘punts’ on difficult decisions, ratings agency says

“This revenue stream is far from certain, and there is no detail yet on rates, brackets, or the amount of revenue it is supposed to generate,” S&P said. “Despite the potential for a more collaborative budget process with single-party control of state government, Illinois has yet to prove its ability to make politically difficult decisions in favor of structural balance and sustainability. If it adopts the budget in its current form, it remains at risk of repeating a pattern of putting off hard choices while eroding pension funding.”

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Durbin and Duckworth Vote To Deny Medical Care To Infants Who Survive Abortions

U.S. Senate Democrats block Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act as Illinois Democrats push radical abortion agenda; ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider responds

 

“In the not too distant past, then-Congressman Dick Durbin advocated to place limits on abortion and overturn Roe v. Wade. Now, Senator Dick Durbin is voting to deny medical care to infants who survive abortions, allowing infanticide. This is how radical the Democratic Party has become on the issue of abortion. Democrats consistently say they ‘fight’ to protect the most vulnerable, but what is more vulnerable than a newborn baby? I think we all should be able to agree that a living, breathing child recently born deserves to do just that – live.” – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider

 

Yesterday, U.S. Senate Democrats blocked a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311). The legislation would have mandated that doctors provide life-saving medical care to infants who survive abortions at the end of a pregnancy. This legislation was introduced by Republican Senator Ben Sasse after the Democratic Governor of Virginia endorsed post-birth abortions and a Democratic lawmaker from Virginia pushed legislation that would authorize a mother to request an abortion during birth.

Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth opposed the legislation. Support for the legislation was bipartisan – Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Doug Jones or Alabama joined Republicans in supporting the legislation. Only Democrats opposed the legislation.

When he was a Congressman, Dick Durbin opposed abortion and said the “right to an abortion is not guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution” and that “Roe v. Wade should be reversed” by the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more about Durbin’s former pro-life position on abortion here.

Now, Illinois Democrats in Springfield, at the behest of Governor J.B. Pritzker, are pushing legislation to remove all late-term limits on abortion, eliminate statutes protecting children who are born after an unsuccessful abortion, and mandate that all private insurance plans cover abortion procedures.

According to Gallup polling from last year, Americans are evenly split in defining themselves by the “pro-life” and “pro-choice” labels. When broken down by trimester, a majority of Americans generally oppose abortions performed in the second and third trimesters of a pregnancy.

And according to a study performed by the pro-choice Guttmacher Institute, “most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment.”

This is how radical the Democratic Party has become on the issue of abortion. Democrats are pushing an abortion agenda most Americans disagree with.

 

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J.B. Pritzker’s “First Major Flip-Flop”: Skipping Pension Payments

Analysts, advocacy groups, newspaper editorial boards, and lawmakers from across the political spectrum threw cold water on Pritzker’s pension flip-flop

“During his budget address last week, J.B. Pritzker said he was a student of history. You would think someone who has studied Illinois’ past would know that pension holidays are a recipe for disaster. Repeating mistakes of the past won’t fix our state’s $135 billion unfunded pension liability. I urge Governor Pritzker to stop taking pages from the Blagovich playbook and stay true to his campaign promise of making our state’s full pension payments.” – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider

One aspect of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s pension plan is being called the “first major flip-flop” of Pritzker’s tenure. During his campaign for governor last year, then-candidate Pritzker told the Crain’s Chicago Business Editorial Board that lawmakers must increase, not decrease, annual contributions to our state’s pension systems. Now, Pritzker has proposed doing the exact opposite – reducing the state’s Fiscal Year 2020 contribution to the public pension systems by $878 million.

During the campaign, Pritzker also pledged to use new, unrealized tax revenues – from taxing legalized sports betting or retail marijuana sales – on increased payments to the pension systems. To add insult to injury, Pritzker’s recently proposed budget spends that theoretical tax revenue on other projects and spending plans.

Pritzker’s budget also increases the state’s contribution to the Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago by over $20 million, while decreasing the state’s contribution to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) by over $200 million, something that did not go unnoticed by the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. TRS manages pensions for suburban and downstate public school teachers.

Analysts, advocacy groups, newspaper editorial boards, and lawmakers from across the political spectrum threw cold water on Pritzker’s pension flip-flop:

When asked if deferring pension payments without elaborating on a new payment schedule is the equivalent of a “pension holiday,” Ralph Martire of the left-wing Center for Tax And Budget Accountability said “well, yeah.”

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association blasted the “irresponsible” proposal, saying:

Members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) are imploring Governor J.B. Pritzker to cease the decades-long practice of not fully funding the pension systems.

…During his budget address Wednesday, Governor Pritzker proposed allocating $4.237 billion into the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), a figure $576,000,000 too short of what is legally and ethically required to pay for the pension benefits of retired teachers and current teachers.

…It should be noted that this pension holiday is focused only on teachers outside of the City of Chicago. Pritzker did propose increasing the payments to the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund.

The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board published an editorial of takeaways from Pritzker’s budget address, saying it “[kicks] the pension can”:

Pritzker’s plan to address $134 billion in unfunded liabilities relies on notions calibrated to not offend public employees unions: shoring up the pension funds with additional money from tax revenues; the sale of unspecified state assets; borrowing up to $2 billion by selling pension bonds; stretching out the current payment schedule; and making permanent an employee buyout program. Taken together, it’s more can-kicking. The only way to save the pension funds, and protect taxpayers, is to amend the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause. No, Pritzker didn’t say anything about that.

The Daily Journal published an editorial on Pritzker’s plan to short the pension funds, writing:

…Facing pension payments of $7.1 billion this year, $8.2 billion next year and $9 billion by 2022, the J. B. Pritzker administration has a different pension funding plan.

The idea is to short the state payment $800 million per year. Then, take several of those $800 millions and roll them into a bond issue. Three years’ worth of payments, say $2.4 billion, become a much, much higher number when you pile 20 years of interest on them.

…Ironically, a version of this sleight of hand was performed under Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He skipped $10 billion worth of payments — borrowing the money instead. Taxpayers will be making those bond payments until 2033.

…The scheme is akin to taking your credit card payment and rolling it into your mortgage. You’ll feel better this month. Whether you will feel better in 10 years is unknown.

And Republican State Senator Jason Barickman said Pritzker’s pension plan is a “very risky gamble.”

Pritzker’s pension “plan” is more of the same, failed policies that got our state into the mess it’s currently in. Illinois taxpayers and retirees cannot afford to return to the pension holidays of the Blagojevich era.

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J.B. Pritzker’s Unbalanced Budget Proposal: Pritzker Is The New Blagojevich

ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider issues statement on Governor Pritzker’s first budget address

“Skipping pension payments, borrowing new debt, raising taxes, increasing spending – it’s clear that J.B. Pritzker is the new Rod Blagojevich. Pritzker’s unbalanced budget proposal is more of the same, failed policies that got our state into the mess it’s currently in. Illinois taxpayers cannot afford to return to the budget deficits and failed policies of the Blagojevich era. Pritzker pledged to deliver a balanced budget, and he failed.” – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider

Today, Governor J.B. Pritzker gave his first budget address where he outlined his first, and probably not last, unbalanced budget proposal. In his speech, Pritzker advocated for a return to the same, failed budgeting that got our state in the mess it’s in:

  • Skip pension payments, $800 million a year for the next seven years
  • Issue $2 billion in new pension obligation bonds to make up for skipping pension payments
  • Increase spending by hundreds of millions of dollars
  • Levy new taxes
    • Theoretical graduated income tax, could not be enacted unless voters approve referendum in fall 2020, and Pritzker still refuses to release rates or revenue projections, yet Pritzker promises it will pay for everything – from pensions, to property and income tax cuts
    • Enact statewide plastic bag tax
    • Legalize recreational marijuana use, tax sales
    • Legalize sports betting, tax winnings
    • Increase video gaming taxes
  • Phase out the bipartisan Invest In Kids tuition tax credit scholarship program for low-income schoolchildren

Shorting the pension system $800 million a year might be the most irresponsible proposal from Governor Pritzker’s FY2020 budget. Pritzker’s decision to skip pension payments will cost billions of dollars more down the road. This is the exact opposite of what Pritzker pledged he would do during his campaign for governor. Last year, Pritzker told the Crain’s Editorial Board that the state should increase, not decrease, yearly contributions to the state pension systems.

Furthermore, Governor Pritzker’s spending plan relies on tax revenue the state has not yet received. It will take years to enact a theoretical graduated income tax, yet Pritzker is already committing that revenue to new projects. Pritzker’s budgeting is reckless and fiscally irresponsible.

It’s clear – J.B. Pritzker is the new Rod Blagojevich. Illinois taxpayers cannot afford to return to the budget deficits and failed policies of the Blagojevich era. Pritzker pledged to deliver a balanced budget, and he failed.

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Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider Statement On Governor Pritzker Signing Minimum Wage Legislation

Moments ago, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation into law that will nearly double Illinois’ minimum wage over the next six years. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider issued the following statement in response:

“This is only the beginning of J.B. Pritzker’s war on taxpayers and small business. Nearly doubling the minimum wage will destroy entry-level jobs, raise prices for consumers, and bust budgets at every level of government. Pritzker pledged to govern differently and listen to all parties and stakeholders, but those turned out to meaningless words.”

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