* Pritzker campaign…
Today, JB Pritzker kicked off a series of live streamed policy discussions called “JB & Me Live.” The debut livestream focused on education funding, with JB urging Bruce Rauner to sign Senate Bill 1 – legislation the governor agrees 90% with. If Rauner doesn’t agree to sign the bill, Illinois schools may not be able to open on time. JB also discussed his own priorities for education and his over two decades of advocacy for early childhood education in Illinois and across the country.
Click here to watch it.
* The ILGOP pounced…
“J.B. Pritzker’s support for SB1 in its current form is all about politics, not the children. He knows that a Chicago bailout hurts children across Illinois by redistributing their tax dollars towards a broken pension system without reform, but he doesn’t care. Pritzker is willing to hurt children in order to maintain his good favor with Mike Madigan’s Chicago machine.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
In a Facebook live video today, billionaire J.B. Pritzker declared his unequivocal support for SB1 in its current form – a school funding bill that includes a massive taxpayer funded Chicago bailout.
Pritzker knows that funneling 64% of all new education funding towards Chicago is fundamentally unfair, but he’s unwilling to speak up for children across Illinois.
Pritzker knows holding SB1 in the Senate is a perversion of the democratic process. And he knows that Madigan wants the bailout – so he’s playing ball.
It’s just more evidence that Pritzker works for Mike Madigan and his Chicago Machine, not us.
* Pritzker campaign response…
“As JB outlined in his Facebook live event today, Bruce Rauner is willing to say just about anything to distract voters from that fact that when it comes down to it, he’s not looking out for Illinois children and families. And his partner, the Illinois GOP, trots out the same tired talking points to paper over their governor’s callous disregard for children and families.
“Bruce Rauner doesn’t seem to care about anything other than his personal political agenda. This is the man who vetoed the entire Illinois budget, including literally every single program that gives children and families the tools they need to build better lives.
“If Rauner had his way, Illinois wouldn’t have funding for public education, agriculture and vocational training, child care, higher education, MAP grants for low-income college students, roads, bridges, clean water, community care for seniors, mental health and substance abuse treatment, job training, adult literacy programs, HIV/AIDS prevention, state parks, breast and cervical cancer screenings, small business incubators, immigrant integration services, homeless youth services, heating assistance for seniors, or meals on wheels – to name a few.
“What sort of man tosses the best interests of children and families across this state aside in favor of a radical right-wing agenda, and then places blame on everyone but himself?” — Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh
- MissingG - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
If anything, Madigan works for JB
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
This is getting mighty interestin’…
Lots and lots and lots of things Rauner wanted hurt… Vetoes speak for themselves.
Rauner just doesn’t care about Illinois.
Thank goodness for the override.
- Bee - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
Say what you will about Rauner, but his message the Pritzker is an establishment candidate attached to Madigan is probably working to some extent. Pritzker is not particularly popular, but he has the establishment support and money. I am not convinced he is going to get elected.
I do not agreed With Oswego Willy that Rauner doesn’t care about Illinois. Rather, his budget battle was costly and a failure.
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
School superintendents throughout the state who want Rauner to sign SB 1 also work for Mike. So do their school boards.
And anyone who has ordered the Chicken & Peppers entree at Maldaner’s also works for Mike.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
So, this finally does explain everything. If the governor actually signed a bill that Mike Madigan supported, the governor would be working for Mike Madigan. So if the governor actually worked out a compromise with Mike Madigan, he could not support it because he would then work for Mike Madigan. To quote George HW Bush, “I have opinions, strong opinions, though I sometimes don’t agree with them.”
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:07 pm:
Rauner is right. J B is supporting SB1 in its present form. He has refused to even consider all the changes and improvements to the bill that Rauner announced and presented the other day
O wait, never mind
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:07 pm:
@Bee
When all you’ve got in your quiver are anti-Madigan comments, you need to maybe get a grip.
The only agenda Rauner and the IPI –which now owns the ILGOP– really have is to get Rauner re-elected by attacking Madigan. Not an ounce of goodwill nor an effort to negotiate.
@Sad.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
Great response by the Pritzker campaign. That, all day.
Where is the response of the ILDems or DPI or whatever it’s called? The Democrats’ unified press presence is so scarce I don’t even know what is its name.
- Union Dues - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
By hurting Rauner’s chance at reelection, the new staff at the Governor’s office/former IPI staff obviously work for Mike Madigan.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
C’mon Rauner. Is this the best that team IPI can come up with?
- Downstate - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
“Where is the response of the ILDems or DPI or whatever it’s called?”
As head of the Illinois Democrat Party, Speaker Madigan has been really kicking it on his Myspace page. /s/
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
It’s Democratic Party.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jul 26, 17 @ 4:55 pm:
These boring talking points brought to you by IPI and the governor it controls.