Finger-pointing (Updated)
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.
…Adding… From Rep. Reick…
Hi Rich: I saw your post about my comments and I want you to know several things. First of all, I’m speaking only for myself and not on behalf of anyone else. What’s going on at the federal level is not something that I’m happy about, and I’m doing my best to not talk about it because it’s something over which I have no control.
I do believe that these posts on the IDHS website are over the top, especially in the hyper partisan environment in which we find ourselves. I’m trying to stay in my own lane, and I would hope that the administrative agencies would stay in theirs and not stoke the fire of political partisanship.
I know that may sound strange coming from someone who has a reputation for incendiary rhetoric, but I’m scared of what I’m seeing both at the state and federal level where politics has become performative art. Believe it or not, I’d like to see us accomplish some things beyond throwing rocks at one another. My differences with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are completely based on policy, and I want them to stay that way. If we can’t differ on policy without becoming partisan, I see little hope for us getting anything done that will help anybody.
* 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
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 1:48 pm:
That Reick can always get a laugh
Guessin’ he was his usual “no” on the budget so rather than delay caused by GOPies failure to find 10 votes in the US Senate the “Reick Way” is to have no budget at all. Very smooth Stever
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 2:14 pm:
=== political statements on company time ===
The Illinois Ethics Act clearly spells out what is and is not prohibited political activity. There is a list, and it is explicit.
DHS did nothing illegal.
All other “political” activity is permitted. Politics is “the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.” Everything government does is, by definition, “politics.”
If Reick hates politics so much, I suggest he change jobs.
He of course does not hate politics, just the other side doing it.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 2:34 pm:
*The mantra justifying this has been the Governor’s insistence that he “follow the science”*
DPI says thanks for the endorsement. The science proved correct with Covid, as expected. Republicans used to be the party of science and experts. That party is long gone.
Speaking of right wing podcast doctors, one might be healthy enough to play against the Bears on Sunday.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 2:46 pm:
===Reick still crying about government trying to reduce the amount of unnecessary death during a pandemic.===
He’s not the only one. Election Day, driving to OKC, west of Rolla it is all Fox / Townhall.com, and they’re still carping about COVID closures / restrictions (while complaining Cuomo was too flawed to be a credible candidate against Mamdani).
- twowaystreet - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 3:32 pm:
==…Adding… From Rep. Reick…==
I struggle to take Reick’s response at face value. He chose to reshare the statement to his followers, who are likely to agree with his politics and will be upset over this.
If his goal was truly to tamp down extreme partisanship, this was an easy conversation to have offline with IDHS leadership and the people in the Governor’s office.
Instead, he elevated it.
- train111 - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 3:39 pm:
Political Cogintive Disonance:
The unique ability among fierce partisans to point out every flaw, every corrupt act, and every fault of the other side while simultaneously being blind to your own side/party committing the exact same acts - often at the same time.
Washington and Springfield have it in spades.
Train111
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 4:59 pm:
@Train111 isn’t wrong.
- Suburban Operative - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 5:52 pm:
Looks like JB has egg on his face regarding Curran. Curran made a joint statement with Harmon, and what JB said was wrong. And then the Governor doesn’t take two of his calls afterwards? Not picking up the phone from one of the four tops. Twice? Do better.
- Steve Reick - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 7:08 pm:
@twowaystreet: If you’re talking about my email to Rich, I didn’t share it with anyone, it was a private email that he chose to print, which I have no problem with. FYI, I have tried to contact IDHS and have heard nothing. So as far as my response goes, you can take it at faace value or not, or you can take it and do something else with it.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 7:34 pm:
- FYI, I have tried to contact IDHS and have heard nothing. -
In light of that I’ll take the opportunity to explain something to you. IDHS stated a fact. If it happens to upset people that doesn’t make it illegal.
If you’re embarrassed by your dear leader’s actions you should get off your knees and take it up with him.