* As we’ve discussed, yesterday’s Black Caucus rally was pretty darned raucous and filled with angry denunciations of Gov. Pritzker’s budget address. The full caucus issued a toned-down statement today…
Following Governor JB Pritzker’s annual budget address, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to addressing systemic inequities by calling for greater investments in education, workforce development and public safety.
“While our nation is deeply divided, Illinois remains one of the few states that is primed, energized and prepared for the challenges ahead,” said State Senator Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago), Illinois Legislative Black Caucus joint chair. “We can only prevail against these challenges by enhancing the diversity of our legislative process and protecting the core values that bring us together.”
Members of the Black Caucus emphasized the need for targeted funding to expand academic opportunities for low-income and minority students, increase access to trade programs in communities of color, and enhance public safety efforts, particularly in areas disproportionately affected by gun violence.
“As Senate chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, I am committed to upholding the values of Black empowerment and advancing meaningful change in our communities,” said Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago), Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Senate chair. “Our most vulnerable populations deserve strong and effective leadership to ensure invest in high-quality accessible vocational education, business revitalization, and Black maternal health. By providing these essential tools, we can create lasting opportunities and build a stronger, more equitable future for all of Illinois.”
Despite past budget proposals including measures to address systemic inequities, data continues to show persistent gaps in resources and outcomes for Black communities. Black Caucus members are committed to ensuring that the final FY26 budget prioritizes the necessary funding to drive meaningful change.
“The ILBC demonstrated our resilience when we made history and passed our Black Caucus pillars. This was amazing, but we all know that these are simply just words on a piece of paper,” said State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago), Illinois Legislative Black Caucus House chair. “We must now usher in a new era, a new day, a new chapter where we have a budget that funds these critical programs, vital services, and very important initiatives. By doing this, we can achieve and accomplish the goals and the objectives of our pillars, criminal justice reform, education, health, and economic development.”
In the coming weeks, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus will work closely to advocate for a budget that fully reflects the needs of Black and Brown communities across the state.
* Meanwhile, I told subscribers about this statement from the governor’s press office earlier today…
Governor Pritzker has been a strong ally to the Black community in Illinois and helped deliver critical funds over the past six years on key priorities, including investments to improve birth equity and material health, the child tax credit, workforce training and youth employment programs, and violence prevention. While this budget includes tough decisions and fiscal discipline, we are still maintaining commitments to core priorities, including funding for the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA)’s violence prevention services, increasing MAP grant funding, and more. Governor Pritzker looks forward to an open dialogue with Black Caucus Members about advancing these shared priorities.
Discuss.
- Steve - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:43 pm:
It is possible to provide more resources for the Black community. How many votes are there for higher taxes? I don’t know. Why not find out? Illinois’ budget is much bigger than 8 years ago. If a majority wants higher taxes then vote on it.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
Better. Allies and friends working together is always the best approach. Especially, when the state and its citizens are faced with a dangerous threat from MAGA dominated Washington and red states.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:56 pm:
This is how the process is supposed to work. Proposals and negotiation between the legislature and executive. I’ve been calling DC weekly asking for some of this.
- Overbay - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:01 pm:
Embarrassing.
- Simon - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:05 pm:
Illinois has a massive multibillion-dollar social services safety net in place that disproportionally supports African-Americans. There are many good reasons for that. I think it is ultimately politically self defeating to not acknowledge Illinois gets it right and instead pretend like we’re Mississippi.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:08 pm:
Perhaps the Governor has not been direct enough. If there is going to be a tax increase that increase is going to have to originate from the legislature.
=== I’ve been calling DC weekly asking for some of this.===
How do you expect a member of congress to negotiate on the premise of the administration refusing to follow the law, illegally firing federal employees, and illegally refusing to appropriate funds for broad swaths of programs?
You might want to consider changing your ask.
- Merica - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:12 pm:
It’s Pritzker or Rauner 2 or an even a worse option. Let’s not pretend there is some magical 3rd option. November 7th proved this.
- Mason County - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:14 pm:
As Hispanics are now a much larger population base in Illinois, with potentially more political power, it will be interesting to see how they respond to the Governor’s budget.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:17 pm:
They are making it sound like stuff is getting zeroed out.
- Perrid - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:30 pm:
Well they got more specific, that’s good. As I said yesterday, their statements didn’t tell me anything. I don’t know enough about the “past budget proposals” that they’re upset haven’t been adopted to speak on them, but again, if they have a spending plan do they have a revenue plan?
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 1:51 pm:
Pritzker has to be one of the strongest allies, with room to improve. He enacted the country’s first social equity marijuana legalization, a model or idea that other states are implementing. That alone would never be done by many others. The list goes on and on with the SAFE-T Act, education funding, union support, state budgets, infrastructure, etc. Improving Illinois and racial injustice is a Herculean task, but Pritzker has been up to it.
The contrast can’t be clearer between him and the MAGA GOP, who is tearing down racial progress on a mass scale.
- Amalia - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 2:02 pm:
interesting to look at expenditures on a geographic basis. would also love to have this layered with expenditures from Illinois local governments.
- Ecosystem - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 2:03 pm:
Better than Rep. Ammons’ demand, “We want our money.”
- SpiDem - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 2:34 pm:
In the immortal words of Emily Letilla: “Never Mind”
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 3:19 pm:
Glad they are attempting to get back to square one.
- Frida's Boss - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 3:48 pm:
Meh was a quick reaction to some bad budget news.
The Black Caucus event last night proved they still back JB as Gov and are just throwing the complaint out there so as not to let anyone think their voice is diminished.
- Shytown - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 4:02 pm:
Better than Ammons’ statement, but still suffers from some tone deafness given the moment in time we are in. There’s no doubt that the Black community is in need of additional investment to help address deep systemic issues that impact their communities uniquely across the state. And I would argue that any increase in early childhood, k-12 education, higher ed, Medicaid, mental health, and other human/social service areas is an automatic investment in those communities. And there have been many new investments in these areas over the years. On the whole, the state budget also does a pretty good job of investing in programming that specifically targets communities with higher incidents of violence. Could it be more? Sure. Can we also be looking at how the money is being spent and invested to make sure it’s having impact? Yes. Is just putting more money towards the problem the answer or could part of the solution also be that we need to make sure that programming is being done well and has impact? Oversimplifying the needs/demand for additional funding makes for a good soundbite, but is not helpful to anyone, including this community. Starting out of the gate on the offense is not necessarily a winning strategy. Start out by acknowledging the financial difficulties we face and the need to continue managing them well and balancing the needs to make the right investments in people to ensure we’re doing everything we can to enhance their quality of life and well-being. Be specific about where investments need to be made. Refined statements that still say, just give me more money, are not helpful.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 7:46 pm:
Agree Shytown. Articulated well.