Rock Island Today

Senate Republican Caucus members are urging Governor JB Pritzker to prioritize managing his administration in Illinois instead of using his time and resources to increase his national profile. During a press conference on November 1, Republican Senators highlighted their concerns about the ongoing mismanagement and failures within multiple state agencies under the Pritzker Administration. The call to refocus on Illinois comes in response to Governor Pritzker's national media tour promoting "Think Big America," a political organization aimed at supporting policies in other states.

The Republican Senators are emphasizing the need for Governor Pritzker to concentrate on the responsibilities he was elected to fulfill in Illinois. They are pointing out various instances of mismanagement and neglect within state agencies, including:

- The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has experienced high-profile resignations and terminations, along with exorbitant taxpayer-funded salaries, such as one assistant receiving up to $60,000 per month.

- The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is causing delays in license renewals, negatively impacting professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers, healthcare workers, and business owners.

- The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has faced long-standing issues of mismanagement and neglect towards vulnerable children, leading to the recent resignation of the agency's director after being found in contempt of court numerous times.

- The Illinois Department of Human Services is facing budget concerns with their Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Seniors program, which provides free healthcare to undocumented adult immigrants. Despite projections of the program costing over $1 billion, Governor Pritzker claimed it could be kept within a $550 million budget. However, the agency is now forecasting the cost to exceed its budget by over 50%, reaching more than $800 million.

- A recent audit requested by Senate Republicans revealed that Governor Pritzker's Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) made over $5 billion in improper payments during the pandemic, while many Illinoisans struggled to receive their rightful benefits. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the Pritzker Administration instructed employees to ignore fraud red flags and federal government guidelines.

These challenges underscore the pressing need for Governor Pritzker to take significant action and address the issues facing Illinois taxpayers. Senate Republicans are calling on him to prioritize reforming the state agencies that have been struggling under his leadership.

In response to these concerns, the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) will hold a hearing on November 7 to review the recent audit of IDES and the Administration's handling of the state's unemployment system during the pandemic. This audit was initiated by a resolution filed by Senate Republicans. During the LAC hearings, Republicans plan to introduce a resolution for a similar audit of staffing issues at IEMA and will also propose legislation in the full Senate to support this audit.

Senator Anderson highlights the contrast between the Governor's national engagements and the work being done by state legislators in Illinois. While the legislators were focusing on solutions for the people of Illinois, Governor Pritzker was in Washington, D.C., discussing foreign policy and national politics. Senator Anderson and his Republican colleagues are encouraging Governor Pritzker to shift his focus and prioritize the needs of Illinois by thinking locally.

The Republican Senators are united in their call for Governor Pritzker to prioritize the management of Illinois and address the issues plaguing the state agencies under his control. They emphasize the importance of focusing on the responsibilities entrusted to him by the people of Illinois and urge him to think Illinois first.

To find out more, go to this link: https://senatorneilanderson.com/2023/11/03/republican-senators-encouraging-pritzker-to-think-illinois/