* Background is here if you need it. Gov. Pritzker was asked about House Speaker Chris Welch’s pledge to lead the charge on sending more state money to CPS during veto session…
The funding that we provide at the state level is a known quantity for schools all across the state of Illinois. And I would say, you know, I think it’s of course challenging to face a budget that you know where there’s revenue that’s expected that the Speaker is planning to have a plan for, but we don’t know exactly how. […]
The Speaker must have mentioned it for a reason, so he may have a plan, and I’m unaware that he’s done a roll call about that plan. […]
Again, as I understand it, I mean, I only heard what the Speaker said, and he seems to have a plan or is planning to put something together, and so I look forward to seeing that.
I want to be clear. I have advocated for and accomplished higher education funding throughout my term in office by almost $3 billion a year. We’ve increased education funding across the state of Illinois. I want to do more, and we’re not yet where we need to be. I want to do more, and at the same time, I’m a big believer in, and I think you’ve seen this: balanced budgets. You have to balance the budget, try to run a surplus, make sure you have priorities in order to fund the things that we really need for the people of the state of Illinois. I came into a hollowed-out state government, and we now have, we are running surpluses. We’ve every year balanced the budget, but I want more to go into education. Again, always looking for a way to do that.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
* Meanwhile, Chicago Board of Education member Michilla Blaise put up a Facebook post celebrating the passage of a new CPS budget, which includes an assumption that $150 million in new money will come from the state. She was asked about this assumption in comments…
That’s a heckuva plan. /s
- low level - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:45 am:
Yes, I saw that comment by Blaise on FB and just shook my head. They clearly dont understand how budgeting or politics works in Illinois.
You really think you will just march to Springfield in the fall and get supermajorities for increased education funding? Let me know how that works out. Totally irresponsible.
- ;) - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:47 am:
Oh my…smh. The worst part is she probably thought to herself that was a thoughtful response. I can’t believe we continue to elect people like this.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:50 am:
Maybe CPS can get Welch to get funding from a new Costco.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:56 am:
“No Mayor fault, JB bad man” is going to be a really compelling campaign message. Dem turnout is going to be astronomical so we’ll see how thoroughly CTU has captured the imagination of the only voters they could ever appeal to.
- The Young Gov - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:57 am:
I am a Chicago legislator who would not have voted the way the majority of the CPS school board did LAST NIGHT because I think it makes it harder to get to 71-36-1. Having said this, I am ALSO for getting closer to 90% adequacy far faster than we are slated for (in 2038). Meaning, I want more K-12 education funding for the schools that are the farthest from adequacy, which includes CPS. I am ready to join “the fight”, however it has to be the right “fight”. This fight must involve getting to 71-36-0 if we do something before 12/31/26. This fight must involve serious consideration, scrutiny and persuasion of GA members on revenue proposals that would generate funds in a way that moves us away from an unfair and regressive tax system toward sustainable revenue. In order to get to 71-36-1, this fight will require the ability to compromise and consider some structural change to education funding. From my vantage point, little work has been done on this since 5/31, but as I see it now, the only way is forward. I hope people can stop squabbling about how this came to be in the vote last night and start rowing the boat in the same direction. Students and school communities in Rochester, Evanston, Harlem, and Chicago deserve a serious and thoughtful “fight”.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:58 am:
We got another question from a real member of the public, Poe Temkin: 100% honest and not paid-for question here, when this inevitably blows up in our faces, how will it be all J.B. Pritzker’s fault? /s
- the302 - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 11:58 am:
I think we should just focus on the first bullet point. Why am I ugly? It’s Brandon Johnson’s fault. Love it.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
== I can’t believe we continue to elect people like this ==
She was appointed
- fs - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
This would be a great response by someone representing a public body…if that public body was a junior high student council filled with 12 year olds. In the adult world, most places this is viewed as an embarrassing display.
- Well well well - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 12:10 pm:
Welch’s back is against the wall and I don’t think putting his caucus in this position is helpful - for him, CTU or school districts across the state.
Side note: declaring war on the most popular elected in the state? Uh-oh! Careful, Mr. Speaker.