Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy has released the following statement in response to JB Pritzker signing the new Democrat-drawn legislative maps:

“Governor Pritzker lied to the people of Illinois when he pledged to veto a politician-drawn map. Governor Pritzker promised to take politicians out of the mapmaking process and hand it over to an independent commission that would be required to follow the Voting Rights Act and protect minority representation. Instead, he let politicians pick their own voters, split up numerous communities of interest, and use faulty data all in an effort to rig the system for those already in power. Pritzker didn’t keep his word and cannot be trusted.”

Pritzker was asked in 2018 by Capitol Fax publisher Rich Miller whether he would veto a map in “any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies?” The Governor responded, saying, “Yes, I will pledge to veto.”

Today, after finishing up numerous one-on-one interviews with media outlets this week, he didn’t veto. He signed off on the maps created by “legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs.” 

The media must now demand answers to why the Governor lied. The media should not let him get away with vague answers pontificating on his definition of fairness. That is irrelevant to the very specific pledge he made in 2018 that he has now violated.

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Illinois Democrats routinely put on a masterclass in how not to govern a state. Nothing displays this total disregard for good governance quite like their annual late-night budget drop and last minute blind vote. That’s right, Democrat budget negotiators again dropped an over 3,000 page document that spends more the $42 billion on the laps of legislators late last night and asked them to vote on the package minutes later without reading the document, holding committee hearings, or engaging in debate on the floor.

Democrat members of the General Assembly dutifully voted for this year’s budget and will undoubtedly go back home to their districts and tell taxpayers they are fighting for their interests in Springfield. That would be a lie.

Highlights of this years budget include:

• $1,100 pay raises for legislators
• A doubling of the legislator district budget allotment
• Hundreds of millions in new discretionary spending
• Increases taxes by over $600 million on job creators across the state
• Passed at 3 AM with no committee hearing and no debate

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to last night’s charade:

“The budget process in Illinois is an embarrassment. This year’s budget, like last years, was passed in the dead of night with no legislators actually reading the bill. It features new spending, higher taxes on small businesses, legislator pay raises, and extra perks for politicians. At a time when families and businesses have had to tighten their belts due to the pandemic, Illinois Democrats are going hog-wild at the federal government bailout trough with billions in new spending. 

Democrats should be ashamed of the process and the resulting budget they rushed to the floor at midnight when no one was watching. This budget makes clear that it’s not a ‘new day’ as Speaker Welch claimed when he took over for his mentor, Mike Madigan. This is deja vu all over again.”

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Last Friday at 7:30 PM, Illinois Democrats unveiled the Microsoft Paint version of their proposed remake of our state legislative maps. Late Sunday, they released a Google Map version with more detail. Still missing is any shred of data that could help the public understand why the maps look as ridiculous as they do.

The idea of an independent map commission determining new redistricting lines – a proposal previously championed by dozens of Democrat legislators – has been abandoned. Instead, this wholly partisan process conducted behind locked doors in the Stratton Building has been led by a former independent map commission supporter, new Speaker Chris Welch.

Specifically, Welch wrote an op-ed in support of such a commission and stated the following: 

1. An independent map commission would “protect minority representation.” And that it would “ensure that Illinois meets federal requirements under the Voting Rights Act to protect minority representation.”
2. “[T]his measure will make the redistricting process more transparent and take the process out of the hands of elected officials, which many of my constituents and residents across Illinois strongly support.”

At any point since becoming Speaker of the House, Chris Welch could have followed through on what is clear were hollow words of politician-speak. 

ILGOP Spokesman Joe Hackler responded, saying, “When given the opportunity to protect minority representation and take the mapmaking process out of the hands of partisan politicians, Speaker Welch crumbled. His word meant nothing in 2016 and it certainly means nothing now. The only Democrat left who has the opportunity to live up to their promises, is Governor JB Pritzker. The people of Illinois demand that the Governor follow through on his pledge to veto any new map drawn by politicians.”

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Late last week, an IG report was released to the public detailing massive failures throughout the Pritzker administration and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs that led to the preventable deaths of 36 veterans at the state-run LaSalle Veterans’ Home.  

News reports painted the horrific picture:

WBEZ – ‘Nobody Seemed To Know What To Do’: Blistering Report Outlines Illinois’ Failure To Protect Vets From Deadly COVID Outbreak: “An internal watchdog report blamed “inadequate leadership” in Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration, including a former agency director who “abdicated” her duties, for a COVID-19 outbreak last fall at the state-run LaSalle Veterans’ Home that killed dozens of residents.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE – Watchdog report details large-scale mismanagement of COVID-19 outbreak at LaSalle VA home where 36 veterans died: “It cites a lack of planning, training and communications at the home that resulted in the failure of contact tracing among COVID-19-positive employees, improper use of protective gear and a screening desk that was “frequently left vacated.””

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES – Response to coronavirus outbreak ‘inefficient and chaotic’ at LaSalle Veterans’ Home where 36 died, report finds: “Among Prince’s other initiatives are plans to develop clear, statewide policies applicable to each home; restructuring senior leadership with chain-of-command clarity and assurances that the homes are receiving proper clinical and administrative direction…”

RICH MILLER – Cleaning up LaSalle mess a vital task: “36 veterans died during the LaSalle catastrophe last year, a quarter of the facility’s population. Frankly, after reading the report, I was surprised more people didn’t die. It’s that bad.

The trouble started with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s hasty appointment of a state legislator to fill the IDVA director job after his initial appointee abruptly dropped out – a mystery that he has not explained to this day.”

“The Governor ran for office in 2018 blaming his predecessor for the Legionnaires outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home that tragically took the life of 14 American heroes. Pritzker said the incident revealed a callous regard for human life and a fatal lack of leadership,” reminded ILGOP spokesman Joe Hackler. “36 dead veterans later at LaSalle and the Governor is on record as now saying ‘these things can happen’ and has refused to take full responsibility for this tragedy on his watch. The IG report makes clear that candidate Pritzker in 2018 would think Governor Pritzker’s administration is fatally incompetent and responsible for the deaths of 36 American heroes.”

Today during a press conference, Governor JB Pritzker gave his clearest signal yet that he will go back on his 2018 campaign pledge to veto a new redistricting map drawn by partisan politicians. After months of numerous vague statements that he would veto an undefined “unfair” map, Pritzker was asked about his specific pledge today. 

His response (Watch the Video) was clear: he has no intention of following through with his specific promise and will instead happily sign the partisan gerrymandered map that Democrats in the House and Senate will send him. It turns out his promise in 2018 was a BIG LIE.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy has released the following statement in response: 

“The people of Illinois fundamentally do not trust our leadership in Springfield to spend their money wisely, to do the right thing, or to reform our system. Absolutely nothing fuels that fire more than politicians who say one thing to get elected and then do another once in power. Governor Pritzker lied to the people of Illinois and promised to turn our partisan and corrupt system of redistricting over to an independent commission. 

The Governor should come to his senses and keep his word by vetoing the politician’s map. A man is nothing without his word. Pritzker still has the chance to keep his.”

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A Chicago public employee pension bill was just signed into law that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and business groups opposed, “arguing that the cost to taxpayers would be too high.” 

Dan Petrella of the Chicago Tribune reports…

Lightfoot sent a letter to aldermen on April 1 urging them to oppose the bill. She said it would double pension costs by $18 million to $30 million each year.

“If the governor does not veto this bill, the city will have to find a means to address the increased cost since the legislation does not provide a way to pay for these increase costs,” Lightfoot wrote.

“During the 2022 budget season, it will then fall on the members of the City Council to make difficult decisions to pay for these additional costs.”

She said “the obvious revenue solution, another property tax increase…”

The bill passed in Springfield was signed by the Governor and Tax-Avoider-In-Chief himself, JB Pritzker. As a Chicago resident, Governor Pritzker should be sensitive to the ever-growing tax burden the city inflicts on its residents, but since he has a history of dodging taxes that others have to pay (stashing his fortune away in offshore accounts, ripping out toilets of his Gold Coast mansion to lower his property tax bill, begging Biden to lift SALT cap), Pritzker likely doesn’t mind because he’ll just find a way to avoid paying it.

“The Governor’s lifestyle is so far removed from the average working family in Chicago he may be under the assumption everyone has a second mansion they can rip toilets out of to lessen their tax burden. Well, he’s wrong,” said ILGOP Spokesman Joe Hackler. “At a time when the pandemic has hit small businesses and workers the hardest, the last thing Chicagoans need is the Governor stepping in to hike their property taxes. Take it from Mayor Lightfoot, Pritzker’s legislation will raise property taxes.”

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It was revealed recently that Governor JB Pritzker joined with six other Governors from high-tax Democrat-led states in penning a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to eliminate the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions (SALT cap) – a provision of the 2017 Republican tax cuts. 

A study from the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that if Governor Pritzker – champion of the so-called “Fair Tax” – were to get his way and the SALT cap was lifted, 62% of the resulting benefits would go to the top 1% of income earners. And 86% of the benefits would go to the richest 5% of Americans. Governor Pritzker is in the top 1%.

The 2017 Republican tax law was a tremendous boon to the middle class because it nearly doubled the standard deduction for single and joint filers, while the SALT cap is not applicable for the vast majority. Governor Pritzker is begging Biden to end the SALT cap that primarily targets the richest Americans, including himself.

ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to Pritzker’s letter:

“Governor Pritzker begging Biden to lower his tax bill and that of his billionaire buddies is not surprising given his history of trying to avoid taxes. But this time, instead of writing a work order for a contractor to rip out the toilets in his mansion, he wrote a letter to the President. JB needs to answer how many thousands of dollars he stands to save if Biden grants his wish.”

State Representative Avery Bourne of the 95th District was elected to represent the 13th Congressional District on the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. The Committee is the governing body of the Illinois Republican Party and is composed of members elected from each of Illinois’ 18 Congressional districts. 

Bourne’s election followed a vacancy on the Committee after the resignation of former State Central Committeeman Fred Floreth.  Avery was elected unanimously by a vote of Republican County Chairman throughout the district. 

Applications to the position were made open to the public after Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy declared the position vacant early this week. The Republican county chairmen in the district convened today to hear testimony from each of the applicants to the position, followed by a question and answer session. After deliberation, the county chairman elected State Rep. Avery Bourne to the Illinois Republican State Central Committee.“I’d like to thank the Republican County Chairmen of the 13th Congressional District for running a smooth and transparent process to fill the vacancy. The Chairmen’s swift action ensured the 13th congressional district’s representation on the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “State Representative Bourne has been a strong conservative and taxpayer champion for her constituents in the 95th District. Avery is a rising star in the party and her courageous defense of the unborn on the House floor in 2019 has earned her praise from leaders around the state. We are delighted to add State Representative Bourne to the leadership team of the ILGOP.”

Yesterday, Bustos voted against an amendment to COVID-19 relief legislation that would open up federal funds to biofuels producers who face unexpected market losses due to the pandemic

When she’s back home in her district, Illinois Democrat Congresswoman Cheri Bustos likes to pretend that she’s fighting for farmers and supporting ethanol, but when she’s voting on legislation in Washington, Bustos sides with Democrats who block much-needed aid for rural America.

Yesterday, Bustos voted against an amendment offered by Illinois Republican Congressman Rodney Davis to COVID-19 relief legislation that would allow producers of ethanol and other biofuels to receive direct federal financial assistance (Amendment #10, Vote #6). The assistance would be available to biofuels producers who face “unexpected market losses as a result of COVID-19.”

Ethanol is critically important to the Illinois and IL-17 economies, creating over 4,000 good-paying, full-time jobs and over $5 billion in economic impact for the state, according to the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association. The pandemic has hit the agricultural economy and biofuels producers hard. Estimates from last year show that roughly half of the ethanol industry shut down due to COVID, destroying huge demand for Illinois corn growers. Biofuels producers have not recovered since, with losses upwards of $10 billion nationwide.

“Cheri ‘Beltway’ Bustos has turned her back on Illinois farmers and the critically-important ethanol industry. It’s no surprise because Bustos always sides with liberal Washington Democrats like Nancy Pelosi who continue to block much-needed aid for rural America. That’s why Pelosi put Bustos in her inner circle. For Bustos, it’s all about her Beltway connections and power – she has sold Illinois farmers out.” – ILGOP Spokesman Joe Hackler 

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