Tag: Blagojevich

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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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J.B. Pritzker Silent As Imprisoned Friend Rod Blagojevich Gets Conference Date From SCOTUS

If his supporters are an indication, Pritzker thinks Blagojevich deserves another day in court (probably)

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court announced that it has scheduled a conference meeting for April 13th to hear whether it will consider Rod Blagojevich’s appeal to get out of prison early.
Noticeably silent following the announcement is friend of Blagojevich J.B. Pritzker, but Pritzker’s allies are doing all of the talking. Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Mike Quigley and former Congressmen Glenn Poshard all have endorsed Pritzker’s campaign for governor and all have signed their names onto the brief concerning Blagojevich’s appeal.

Does J.B. Pritzker agree with his allies that Rod Blagojevich deserves another day in court?

J.B. Pritzker has long been under fire for his extremely close ties to Rod Blagojevich.

In bombshell investigative reports from the Chicago Tribune, it was revealed that Pritzker was recorded on FBI wiretaps conversing with Blagojevich about political appointments while making insensitive remarks concerning top Black elected officials.

Pritzker was later scrutinized for a $100,000 campaign contribution to Blagojevich where one reporter said “sounds like pay-to-play to me,” but those close ties only scratch the surface.

Given J.B. Pritzker’s long and sordid history with imprisoned former governor Rod Blagojevich, surely Pritzker has an opinion on Blagojevich’s attempt to get out of prison early.

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In 1998, Rod Blagojevich Compared J.B. Pritzker To President Abraham Lincoln

Pritzker’s close ties to Blagojevich go back over two decades

It is undeniable that J.B. Pritzker and disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich have been “bosom buddies” for decades.

Pritzker fundraised for Blagojevich’s run for Congress in 1996 and Blagojevich helped Pritzker in his failed run in 1998. Pritzker joined Blagojevich’s $25,000 Club with a large campaign check, and Blagojevich later appointed Pritzker to head Illinois’ Human Rights Commission. Then there’s the infamous FBI wiretaps between Pritzker and Blagojevich published by the Chicago Tribune, and that only scratches the surface.

Blagojevich and Pritzker were so close, Blagojevich swooned over Pritzker as early as 1998, talking of his “tremendous future” in politics and comparing him to President Abraham Lincoln.

From yesterday’s profile in the Chicago Tribune:

…He finished third with 20 percent of the vote in a 1998 primary won by Jan Schakowsky, who still holds the seat. Pritzker got campaign help from workers allied with former 33rd Ward Ald. Richard Mell, the father-in-law of future Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Two years earlier, Pritzker had helped Blagojevich win his congressional seat.

“This was a good first start and I think J.B. has a tremendous future,” Blagojevich said in a May 1998 Tribune profile of Pritzker. “Remember, Abraham Lincoln didn’t win his first election, and Mario Cuomo lost several races before he got elected. For J.B., this is only the beginning.”

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J.B. Pritzker Struggles To Escape Blagojevich, Madigan Questions At NBC Chicago Forum

J.B. Pritzker continues to struggle to answer questions about his ties to Mike Madigan and Rod Blagojevich, with his connections to them on full display at last night’s NBC Chicago forum. Pritzker’s opponents blasted his conduct on the Blagojevich FBI tapes and his support from Madigan, and post-forum coverage almost universally framed Pritzker as a part of the Chicago political machine that both Democrats and Republicans are fed up with.

Pritzker Can’t Explain Why He Didn’t Know Blagojevich Was Under Investigation

Debate moderator Carol Marin pressed Pritzker right out of the gate, asking him “How could you not have known” that Blagojevich was under FBI investigation. Pritzker dodged that question and stumbled through to respond. Watch HERE.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports, “Pritzker again denied any wrongdoing regarding the FBI wiretap conversation with Blagojevich…’Hundreds of people were speaking with Gov. Blagojevich at the time, and the bottom line is that, frankly, I did nothing wrong,’ Pritzker said. ‘And I was never accused of anything.’”

The Associated Press even included an entire section in it’s write up on Pritzker’s Blagojevich mess, highlighting how Pritzker can be heard saying “That’s a deal I would take” on the wiretap.

“BLAGOJEVICH QUESTIONS

“Kennedy renewed attacks on Pritzker over the recordings of him talking with the now-imprisoned Blagojevich about a possible job, saying Pritzker has become ‘the poster child for pay-to-play in this state’ and that would cause him problems in a general election.

“On the audio, Blagojevich and Pritzker discuss the possibility of Blagojevich appointing Pritzker attorney general. Pritzker is heard saying, ‘That’s a deal I would take.’ Blagojevich was later sentenced to prison for corruption.

“Pritzker reiterated that he did nothing wrong and ‘was never accused of anything’ and accused Rauner of running the ads to distract from his own ‘failed record.’

“Asked whether he should have known better than to talk to Blagojevich because prosecutors had said the Democratic governor was under investigation, Pritzker said hundreds of people spoke with him, and many more supported him.

“‘He never would have been governor of the state if people knew what he was doing.'”

Pritzker Called Out For His Ties To Mike Madigan, Opposition To Term Limits

J.B. Pritzker was blasted at the forum for his ties to Mike Madigan. ABC 7 Chicago’s post-debate coverage highlighted Pritzker’s refusal to criticize Mike Madigan or Joe Berrios, as well as Pritzker’s opposition to legislative term limits – a view also shared by Madigan.

ABC 7 Chicago reports, “It was a question to JB Pritzker about whether his reluctance to criticize Madigan and Berrios was due to his benefitting from them that turned a forum with decorum into a finger-pointing shouting match between Pritzker and Daniel Biss.”

“But when he was asked if he agreed with Governor Bruce Rauner on term limits, he said, ‘I am not in favor of term limits for everybody in the legislature.'”

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ICYMI: Pritzker Faces Brutal Coverage After Dodging Madigan And Blagojevich Questions At Sun-Times Forum

J.B. Pritzker is facing brutal press following yesterday’s Chicago Sun-Times editorial board forum after refusing to call for Mike Madigan’s resignation or show remorse for his conduct on the Blagojevich FBI wiretaps. Pritzker was given multiple opportunities to distance himself from both controversial politicians. Instead, he chose to dodge and hedge in a transparent attempt to avoid casting blame on his longtime political allies and take responsibility for his actions.

Following the forum, NBC Chicago reported that Pritzker “will not speak critically of Madigan or Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios.” Watch here.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times write-up of the forum focused on Pritzker’s ties to disgraced Governor Rod Blaogjevich.

“Pritzker, a billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been hit hard as of late by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign over FBI wiretaps of Pritzker’s conversations with now imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

Pritzker was asked at the forum whether he had “close ties” to Blagojevich. Pritzker dodged that question, instead only saying that he regretted “the tone of portions of that conversation.” Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown labeled Pritzker’s response a “limited” and “fuzzy defense,” calling the FBI tapes a “significant problem for Pritzker.”

“To the extent Pritzker ‘rebuffed’ Blagojevich, he did so rather gently, leading to the particularly unbecoming ‘I’d do it’ segment being used in the Rauner television commercials.”

J.B. Pritzker’s ties to Mike Madigan and Rod Blagojevich represent an existential threat to his candidacy.

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J.B. Pritzker’s Campaign Supporters Are Riding To The Rescue Of Pritzker Friend Rod Blagojevich

Does J.B. Pritzker agree with his campaign supporters that the U.S. Supreme Court should hear Rod Blagojevich’s appeal?

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Illinois Democrats, including key allies of J.B. Pritzker, signed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear imprisoned Governor Rod Blagojevich’s most recent appeal to get out of prison early.

Congressmen Luis Gutierrez, Mike Quigley, and former Congressmen Glenn Poshard all have endorsed Pritzker’s campaign for governor and all have also signed their names onto the brief concerning Blagojevich’s appeal.

Does J.B. Pritzker agree with his campaign supporters that the U.S. Supreme Court should hear Rod Blagojevich’s appeal?

J.B. Pritzker has long been under fire for his extremely close ties to Rod Blagojevich.

In a bombshell investigative report from the Chicago Tribune, it was revealed that Pritzker was recorded on FBI wiretaps conversing with Blagojevich about being appointed State Treasurer, among other offices. Pritzker and Blagojevich also discussed campaign contributions on the same wiretap recordings.

Pritzker was later scrutinized for a $100,000 campaign contribution to Blagojevich where one reporter said “sounds like pay-to-play to me.”

In the late 90s, Pritzker said that Blagojevich would be “very helpful” for Pritzker’s own political plans. Public records also reveal that J.B. Pritzker was Rod Blagojevich’s fifth-largest gubernatorial campaign contributor.

Given J.B. Pritzker’s close ties to imprisoned former governor Rod Blagojevich, surely Pritzker has an opinion on Blagojevich’s latest attempt to get out of prison early.

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Blagojevich Asks to Get Out of Federal Prison Early as Pritzker Talks Criminal Justice

Does Pritzker support his imprisoned friend’s petition before the U.S. Supreme Court?

 

“J.B. Pritzker’s favorite governor is back in the news. As Pritzker is scheduled to talk criminal justice this afternoon, lawyers representing his imprisoned friend Rod Blagojevich plan to file a petition to the US Supreme Court, asking them to review his conviction on corruption charges. Blagojevich’s petition begs the question – does J.B. Pritzker, Blagojevich’s fifth-largest campaign contributor, support Blagojevich’s request to get out of prison early?” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Today, lawyers representing imprisoned former governor Rod Blagojevich plan to file a petition for a writ of certiorari before the United States Supreme Court, asking them to review his conviction on corruption charges.

Currently, Blagojevich is five and a half years into his fourteen-year sentence in a Colorado federal prison for orchestrating a “political corruption crime spree” ranging from attempts to sell a U.S. Senate seat appointment to shaking down state vendors for campaign contributions.

Blagojevich’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court is his latest attempt to get out of prison early.

Blagojevich’s most recent request begs the question – does J.B. Pritzker, Blagojevich’s fifth-largest campaign contributor and now Democratic candidate for governor, support Blagojevich’s request to get out of prison early?

In a bombshell investigative report from the Chicago Tribune, it was revealed that Pritzker was recorded on FBI wiretaps conversing with Blagojevich about being appointed State Treasurer, among other offices. Pritzker and Blagojevich also discussed campaign contributions on the same call.

Upon the release of the wiretaps, news outlets called it a “campaign crisis” for Pritzker. Pritzker was later scrutinized for a $100,000 campaign contribution to Blagojevich that one reporter said “sounds like pay-to-play to me.”

Given Pritzker’s well-documented close ties to imprisoned former governor Rod Blagojevich, surely he has an opinion on Blagojevich’s latest attempt to get out of prison early.

So, as Pritzker plans to discuss criminal justice this afternoon, does he support his imprisoned friend Rod Blagojevich’s petition before the U.S. Supreme Court?

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Pritzker Forgot to Include 24 Years of Corrupt Deal-Making in New Ad

If it’s pay-to-play with Blago or a corrupt deal with Madigan and Chicago insiders, Pritzker has “been there”

 

“If it’s pay-to-play with Blagojevich, a corrupt property tax cut from Joe Berrios, or bank-rolling Mike Madigan’s political organizations in exchange for Madigan’s support, then J.B. Pritzker has “been there”. Pritzker is trying to cover up his record as a corrupt insider who uses public service for personal gain and voters should be worried about that.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Today, Capitol Fax reported the Pritzker campaign released a new ad citing events in his life that highlight his “progressive values” between 1992 and 2017.

Unsurprisingly, the ad conveniently left out what Pritzker was up to between 1993 and 2016. Here’s what Pritzker is trying to hide:

  • 1996 – Pritzker, wearing a dark green suit, says he helps Blagojevich with “fund-raising” (Chicago Sun-Times, “In Mell’s World, It’s Politics as Usual,” Jorge Oclander, March 23, 1996)
  • 1997 – Pritzker says “Rod [Blagojevich] is going to be very helpful” in his potential 1998 race for Congress
  • 2001 – The Chicago Sun-Times reports Pritzker would help fund Blagojevich’s first gubernatorial race if Pritzker would receive backing from Blago’s father-in-law, Dick Mell, in a potential 2002 race for Congress
  • 2002 – Pritzker gives $20,000 to Friends of Rod Blagojevich (State Board of Elections)
  • 2003 – Blagojevich appoints Pritzker to the top post of a state government commission (The Associated Press, “Governor Appoints Mikva Head Of State Human Rights Commission,” 7/27/2006)
  • 2006 – Pritzker gives $100,000 to Friends of Rod Blagojevich (State Board of Elections)
  • 2006 – Blagojevich authorizes $1 million state grant to a group where Pritzker serves as the finance chief
  • 2008 – FBI wiretaps reveal Pritzker schemed with Blagojevich to be appointed Illinois Treasurer, among other state offices. In the same call, Blago also pressed Pritzker for campaign contributions and Pritzker said “I hear ya, I hear ya”
  • 2012-2016 – Pritzker rips out the toilets of a neighboring “uninhabitable” mansion and Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios approves an 83% property tax cut, slashing the property tax bill on his multi-million dollar Chicago mansion by $230,000
  • 2000-2016 – Pritzker’s lawyers who won him the property tax break gave more than $100,000 in campaign contributions to Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and his affiliated political organizations (State Board of Elections)
  • 2016 – Pritzker and his company contribute $900,000 to a Super PAC run that a Democratic political operative referred to as a “Madigan joint”
  • 2017 – Madigan steers unions, interests groups, and politicians to throw their support behind Pritzker’s campaign for governor
  • 2017 – Pritzker selects Madigan-backed running mate as his lieutenant governor candidate

Whether it’s pay-to-play and quid pro quo with Blagojevich, a corrupt deal with Joe Berrios to cut his property tax bill, or bankrolling Mike Madigan’s political organizations in exchange for Madigan’s support, Pritzker has “been there”.

J.B. Pritzker is trying to cover up his record as a corrupt insider who uses public service for personal gain and voters should be worried about that.

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ILGOP Releases Digital Ad: Wiretap

Ad highlights FBI wiretaps that revealed J.B. Pritzker’s close ties to now-imprisoned Governor Rod Blagojevich

On the heels of disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s recent news interviews from a Federal prison in Colorado, the Illinois Republican Party is releasing a digital ad highlighting the FBI wiretaps that revealed J.B. Pritzker’s close ties to Blagojevich.

The FBI wiretaps were first disclosed in a bombshell Chicago Tribune investigative report published this past May.

The wiretaps revealed Pritzker schemed with Blagojevich to be appointed Illinois Treasurer, among other state offices. In the same wiretaps, Blagojevich pressed Pritzker for campaign contributions.

There is no doubt Pritzker’s and Blagojevich’s ties run deep.

Illinoisans should be worried about what Pritzker will do if he’s allowed to buy the governor’s office just like he bought influence with Blagojevich.

Watch the ad HERE.

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