Finger-pointing
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Steve Reick…
Once again, IDHS is making political statements on company time. They're going to be sitting in front of me tomorrow at JCAR, and I'm going to be asking them about this.
Posted by Steve Reick on Monday, November 17, 2025
If the statement had read “the White House” instead of “the Trump administration,” would that be OK?
Also, this is just one of Rep. Reick’s official press releases…
Covid-19 dictated the agenda on everything that has happened since 2020 and has given J.B. Pritzker the colorable pretext to do whatever he damn well pleases. The mantra justifying this has been the Governor’s insistence that he “follow the science”. It’s time for the General Assembly to reassert itself as the voice of the People of Illinois and tell the Governor that it’s time for that mantra to end.
* Meanwhile…
XTwitter isn’t allowing embeds right now, so click the pic to see the original.
* And from the Pritzker campaign…
Illinois GOP Remains Silent While Kristi Noem-tied Firm Rakes in Big Bucks from DHS Ad Contracts
ICE terrorizes, Noem’s pals profit — Illinois taxpayers forced to fund corruption
CHICAGO — An explosive ProPublica investigation reveals that an ad firm owned by a personal friend of DHS Secretary Noem has been secretly given a portion of $220 million in taxpayer-funded contracts, circumventing traditional oversight, in order to film Secretary Noem gallivanting around Mount Rushmore on horseback during the middle of a government shutdown.
The ProPublica investigation uncovered that Noem’s DHS used a non-existent “national emergency” to bypass the regular competitive bidding process and funnel potentially tens-of-millions in tax-funded ad campaign contracts to a firm owned by the husband of Noem’s spokesperson.
“This is brazen corruption, plain and simple,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “After months of deploying ICE agents to terrorize communities in Illinois, Kristi Noem emerges on horseback with a taxpayer funded vanity campaign designed to enrich her friends. If the Illinois GOP wants to talk about ethics and fiscal responsibility, they can start by calling this what it is: a self-serving giveaway to Republican operatives in her inner circle.”
Illinois GOP Refuse to Call Out Corruption
The Illinois GOP had endless outrage when they were pointing fingers over the Republican-led shutdown. But as Kristi Noem funnels taxpayer dollars to her friend for a self-promotional political ad campaign, suddenly, the Illinois GOP can’t find its voice? For a party that claims to hate waste, fraud, and abuse, they sure go quiet when the corruption comes from inside the house.
While nearly a quarter of households live paycheck to paycheck, The Trump administration has turned corruption into a governing strategy. Kristi Noem’s self-dealing is just the latest example.
Governor JB Pritzker remains committed to calling out these abuses and defending Illinois taxpayers from politicians who put themselves before the people they serve.
- Think again - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:46 am:
=If the statement had read “the White House” instead of “the Trump administration,” would that be OK?=
I suppose I’m just splitting hairs, but when Reick makes potentially “political” statements via official PR, he is only speaking for himself. The IDPH notice assumes the entire Dept agrees with the statement trashing Trump.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:48 am:
Rep. Reick has got to be going berserk over the over-the-top political baloney flowing from the federal agencies over the last several months. /s
- Nathan Thurm - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:49 am:
Did Rep. Reick ask about his caucus leader putting out political/campaign statements on company time?
https://capitolfax.com/2025/06/26/pritzker-reelection-announcement-react/
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:50 am:
We are living in an episode of the Bickersons.
- Chuddery - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:54 am:
==I suppose I’m just splitting hairs, but when Reick makes potentially “political” statements via official PR, he is only speaking for himself. The IDPH notice assumes the entire Dept agrees with the statement trashing Trump.==
No one thinks that a notice on a state website reflects the personal beliefs of every employee down to the most junior clerk. The better analogy to an IDPH notice is that when Reick makes statements via official PR, it assumes that all of his constituents agree with his position.
- Who else - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:56 am:
I was thinking exactly the same thing, Norseman.
- Red headed step child - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:13 pm:
What was the right wing influencer doing at house.if he was peacefully protesting is he not afforded that constitutional right?
- Bud Grant - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:16 pm:
This message appears to have sent out on state letterhead and delivered at tax payers expense. I’m sure this violated some rule. I worked with the City for over 20 years and a blatant political message sent on the tax payers dime was prohibited and could lead to your dismissal.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:28 pm:
Reick still crying about government trying to reduce the amount of unnecessary death during a pandemic. Wah wah. What a victim.
- Mason County - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:32 pm:
Good comments “Think Again’ and ‘Rudy’s Teeth’.
These type of comments in the form of IDHS info releases is not good form.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:36 pm:
==The Illinois GOP had endless outrage when they were pointing fingers over the Republican-led shutdown. But as Kristi Noem funnels taxpayer dollars to her friend for a self-promotional political ad campaign, suddenly, the Illinois GOP can’t find its voice? For a party that claims to hate waste, fraud, and abuse, they sure go quiet when the corruption comes from inside the house.==
Given Illinois Democrats’ stance on Chuy García’s election interference and lack of fair play and fair dealing, I don’t think there’s any moral high ground here.
- Google is Your Friend - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:36 pm:
==- Think again - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:46 am:==
Can you point us to Reick’s statements criticizing the federal government’s violations of political standards during the shutdown? Because I’m sure his criticism isn’t partisan at all and is just part of his consistent efforts at good government.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/02/government-shutdown-emails-blaming-democrats
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:49 pm:
You gotta love the partisans who defend their bank robbers by pointing at the other sides’ shoplifters. Neither is morally acceptable but when acceptance of their guy’s immoral actions leads to a binary choice your forced to oppose the one whose actions are more harmful to the community.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 1:00 pm:
@Norseman +1