Today’s quotable: ‘I mean, it’s your job’
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background is here if you need it. Press release…
JERSEYVILLE — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local leaders to announce Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $31 million to support site readiness activities at 24 sites across the state. The program includes two competitive funding opportunities: Planning grants to support due diligence activities, studies and site plans, and Capital Ready grants to support capital infrastructure improvements. Through this funding, 13 Planning grantees and 11 Capital Ready grantees will undertake due diligence and development projects to better prepared sites to attract future investment and new job opportunities in the industrial sector across Illinois’ Economic Development Regions.
“Readiness planning, assessments, infrastructure improvements – these things are all the fundamental work that must be done for businesses and investments to flourish and jobs to grow across the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “In every corner of Illinois, there are communities that are overflowing with untapped potential but do not have the resources and support they needed to fully realize it. Now, standing in front of you, I’m happy to say a whole lot has changed – we are investing in our sites, we are thinking about the future, and we are growing economic development across the state.” […]
“Economic growth has a unique power to bring people together. It transcends differences and unites us around a common goal. These resources allow us to pursue developments that are not only the right fit for Jerseyville but align with our values, strengths, and ambitions,” said Jerseyville Mayor Kevin Stork. “Thank you again, Governor, DCEO, and Intersect Illinois for your partnership, vision, and belief in Jerseyville.”
* Pritzker took questions today from reporters. One asked whether he was concerned that Illinois, as a “Blue State,” would have contingencies on federal aid moving forward…
This upsets me, this whole conversation. Because, you know, once you get, I get it, you run in an election, and it’s, you know, it’s the red kid, you know, the Republican candidate against the Democratic candidate. And you know, you’re battling it out. It’s a battle of rhetoric.
And finally, the voters vote. Then you take office. Your responsibility is to all of the people that you lead and represent. So, you know, I’m a Democrat, but I know I did not win Jersey [laughs], Jerseyville. And I know that there are areas of the state that I didn’t win. It’s my responsibility nevertheless, to help build business opportunities and help education systems grow and, you know, get better, and invest in our community colleges and universities. I mean, it’s your job.
And so the idea that a president would target certain areas that didn’t vote for him, I think is something I hope we will not come to accept as okay. It’s not okay. So, that’s disturbing to me.
Do I think that this President will take out his revenge against states that didn’t vote for him? All I can say is, I hope not, and I’m going to try like heck to make sure that they don’t. And I do think that, as discovered yesterday, a lot of these programs, they affect red states, blue states all the same. And so it’s a bad idea to target when you’re going to hit some others that you didn’t know you would.
Darren Bailey defeated Pritzker in Jersey County 74 percent to 23 percent.
Discuss.
- Beep booop - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 12:12 pm:
Very strong answer by the Gov.
On the last question though, and yes this is nitpicking, he could’ve been more direct. “Most likely Trump will target blue states because he’s a petty, vindictive individual who runs the federal government like a low level mob racket.”
It’s harsh but it’s the reality. Everyone knows it. There is no appeasing Trump if you’re a Dem. You’re in his crosshairs. He’s said as much. He’s governed as such.
- Original Rambler - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 12:23 pm:
JB’s messaging for the most part has been very strong. Kudos to him and his team.
- We’ll See - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 12:34 pm:
“ Darren Bailey defeated Pritzker in Jersey County…”. Who’s that and where’s that? I’ll see myself out.
- low level - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 12:49 pm:
JB showing once again he is the best governor we have had since Jim Thompson. When all is said and done he may go down as one of the best ever.
- Stephanie Kollmann - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 1:05 pm:
==Who’s that and where’s that?==
1) the guy who livestreamed himself doing gun crimes
2) a place that also voted for a woman who had to be told it’s a bad idea to favorably quote Hitler
- Stephanie Kollmann - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 1:07 pm:
fact check: sorry, the video may not have been live
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 1:28 pm:
This is good statesmanship: “ I may not be the guy you voted for, but I respect you and hope to prove I’m the guy who will still deliver for you, get you what you need, and listen to your concerns. Whoever gets this job, they have to deliver for everyone. “
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 1:34 pm:
===JB showing once again he is the best governor we have had since Jim Thompson.===
Better than JRT. JB funded pensions as required by law, his GAAP surpluses far exceed anything JRT had.
- Nope. - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 2:12 pm:
Jersey county has 21,000 people. 15,000 to 7,000? HUGE win for Bailey I guess.
- green mountain boys - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 2:15 pm:
Considering JB only won in 8 counties that is not a surprise.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 2:19 pm:
===Considering JB only===
And how is this germain?
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 2:27 pm:
==JB only won in 8 counties== Okay, but how many people voted for him?
If you’re unaware, Illinois Gubernatorial races are not decided by some county-level Electoral College. It’s whoever gets the most votes. Which JB did. By a lot. Twice.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 3:09 pm:
Could some of these governors please start reminding everybody that it’s not the Feds’ money — it’s OUR money.
- Cool Papa Bell - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 3:13 pm:
==JB only won in 8 counties==
Every once in a while, I like to remind people that one ward in Chicago has as many people as the 11 smallest counites in Illinois combined.
And if one ward was a county - it would be larger than 80 of the state’s 102 counties.
- Annon3 - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 4:15 pm:
Thank you Cool Papa Bell, I get so tired of explaining to people how people vote not dirt and how many people live in Cook County.
- walker - Wednesday, Jan 29, 25 @ 4:53 pm:
“”JB’s messaging for the most part has been very strong.”"
Yes good point.
Even more important is that it’s not simply messaging, it is who JB is.