The undersigned write to urge you for your support for a budget that provides tangible tax relief for hard-working Illinois families.
A proposal to expand the Earned Income Credit (EIC) would offer over 4.8 million Illinois residents across every zip code and legislative district needed relief– in the form of a cash refund– at tax time. More credit to no-, low-, and middle-income families is not simply morally sound, but is also financially beneficial, as the proposed additional credit costs only a mere one percent of the State’s total budget and would create over one billion dollars in local and state economic benefits.
We are in the midst of a critical moment where the pandemic continues to harm our most vulnerable communities. At this moment, however, the federal government has been unable to continue supporting the families most affected. Thus, it becomes our duty to ensure the State of Illinois to step up to the plate and provide solutions for the families in need of financial aid.
The Fiscal Year 2023 budget will be generationally important to our constituents and comes at a critical moment. We ask you to convey to the legislative leaders your desire that an expansion of the EITC be included in the State’s FY2023 budget legislation. We have the funds to act, what we need from you is a commitment to proceed.
Thank you for your letter expressing support for the EIC. I appreciate your passion on this issue, and it’s one that I share. My administration has always supported an expansion of the EIC. In fact, in 2019 we were proud to work with the 101st General Assembly to introduce HB5669, a bill that expands the EIC to:
• Permanently add individuals 18-24 without children
• Permanently add individuals 65+, and
• Add ITIN filers
It’s important to note that in that proposal, the EIC was refundable.
In addition to supporting an expansion of the EIC, I’d like to explore the possibility of targeting tax relief directly to low-to middle-income households who are eligible for the EIC.
Thank you again for your passion.
Sincerely,
Governor JB Pritzker
Pritzker’s most recent tax cut proposal didn’t mention the EIC.
…Adding… The governor’s office says the EIC expansion will cost $53.5 million, plus $25 milllion for every one percent increase.
…Adding… Amber Wilson, Statewide Coalition Manager at Economic Security for Illinois on behalf of the Coalition to Make EIC Work…
“We’re delighted to see the House and Governor’s Office align on the need to give more Illinois’ families and workers meaningful, permanent tax relief. The letters signal a commitment to expand the Earned Income Credit this year. We hope this can push budgeteers in both chambers to make EIC a top priority in the FY2023 budget.
While all Illinoisans have been impacted by the pandemic, we know that financial burden fell hardest on low-income Black and Brown families, which is why we are eager to see additional relief targeted to the families who could use the cash to pay for their basic living expenses this year.
Our coalition has been fighting since 2019 for an Earned Income Credit that includes ITIN filers, younger and older childless workers, and to make more credit available to each low- and middle-income family who qualifies. We feel confident 2022 is the year we can make it happen.”
Jim Reilly, a downstate Illinois lawmaker who became chief of staff to two governors and headed agencies that oversaw mass transit in the Chicago area, state construction projects and the operations of McCormick Place and Navy Pier, has died at 77.
He died of pneumonia Monday at the St. Joseph Village assisted living facility in Chicago, where he had been recovering from a fall, according to Steve Schlickman, a friend who was executive director of the Regional Transportation Agency during Mr. Reilly’s 2005-2010 tenure as chairman of the RTA board.
Schlickman credited Mr. Reilly with steering that agency through a period when it faced a $400 million yearly shortfall.
“As chairman of the RTA, he did more for transit than any other chairman of that organization that I’m aware of for the last 42 years,” Schlickman said. “He helped secure a [state] funding initiative that avoided huge cuts in service and fare increases in 2008.”
A Springfield native, Reilly graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and worked for the downstate city of Jacksonville before he became a state representative in 1977. Before serving in the Illinois House, Reilly also taught grade school in Winchester, Illinois.
He was chief of staff to former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson, and returned to the same role during Gov. Jim Edgar’s reelection campaign. […]
As Edgar recovered from emergency quadruple-bypass heart surgery, Reilly was “a familiar and respected stand-in for the governor,” the Tribune reported in 1994. The Tribune described Reilly as “an administrator with a well-known contempt for inertia.” […]
Between those stints, Reilly headed the city’s convention and tourism bureau. Later, he was chairman of the RTA board as the region’s transportation agencies sought to avoid financial doomsday. He helped avoid the worst-case scenario, and worked to plug a huge CTA pension shortfall, said Steve Schlickman, who was executive director of RTA at the time.
“He was a guy that was so nonpartisan in that position,” Schlickman said. “He worked so easily with both sides of the aisle, and he had great relationships with Democratic leadership as well as the Republican.”
“Jim Reilly was, I think, the most significant (Illinois) individual in the last 30 years, maybe 40, who wasn’t elected,” says former Gov. Jim Edgar, for whom Reilly worked as chief of staff 1994-95. “He could walk with and get things done with Democrats and Republicans.” […]
“He was one of a kind. There weren’t many like him,” says former state Rep. Judy Erwin, D-Chicago, who got to know Reilly when she was press aide to then-Illinois Senate President Phil Rock and continued to interact with him through her days as chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. “It’s sort of a bygone era.” […]
“We both went into the (Illinois) House at the same time,” recalls Edgar. That experience moved Edgar into the higher office, as secretary of state and later as governor. It also brought Reilly, a self-described Rockefeller Republican, to the attention of Gov. Jim Thompson, a big-ideas type with a knack for finding top talent. Thompson made Reilly his counsel and then chief of staff.
* Marilynn Gardner, Navy Pier President & CEO…
“Navy Pier is saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Reilly, Life Trustee of Navy Pier, former Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), RTA and Chicago Convention Chief. Jim played an extremely significant role in the redevelopment and philanthropic support of Navy Pier. He worked alongside our Board of Directors and countless Pier staff members to advance our mission as a welcoming, inclusive, nonprofit cultural institution for all.”
“Jim was an amazing leader and colleague, and, most importantly, friend to us all at the Pier. We cherish his vision for Navy Pier and promise to uphold his legacy by keeping our destination exciting, accepting and available for everyone to experience. His contributions to Navy Pier will truly never be forgotten.”
* From his official obituary…
His interests were many and varied, but first and foremost, he considered the highlight of his life to be his love and affection for his wife of 30 years, M. Veronica Lynch. They were true companions and best friends.
Trains, both real and model, were among his many favorite pastime passions, highlighted by showcasing his train network for his many nieces and nephews during the holiday gatherings. They, and all who knew him, enjoyed his quick wit and easy smile.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra reflected his appreciation and passion for music, surpassed only by his commitment and dedication to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In the sports world, as a true Chicagoan, the Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls were his rooting interests, although his years spent in downstate Illinois led to the St. Louis Cardinals becoming his favorite baseball team.
Jim’s sense of adventure found him traveling extensively, both overseas and throughout the United States. His visits to Europe were frequent and he enjoyed calling the British Island of Tortola a second home. Favorite destinations were many, but he particularly appreciated Vienna, Taiwan, Venice, Kenya, and Paris.
Numerous charities were recipients of Jim’s generous support. Navy Pier, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Mercy Hospital, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Choose Chicago, the Boards of the Jacksonville Area Association of Citizens with Intellectual Disability, the Jacksonville Theater Guild, Illinois College, the Edgar Fellows Program and Chicago’s culture and arts community were among the organizations benefiting from his guidance.
The man loved his state and did a lot of good along the way. He was Illinois’ go-to guy and there will never be another like him.
…Adding… Illinois Council of Convention & Visitor Bureaus…
Jim Reilly understood the powerful connection between tourism and economic growth and prosperity for Illinois, serving as a visionary for the Illinois convention and tourism industry. His legacy will guide our state’s second largest industry for generations to come. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who was lucky to call him a friend and a colleague.
Announcer: Who’s paying for this false ad against Richard Irvin? Check the fine print.
Mary Ann Ahern: The new ad paid for by the Democratic Governors Association. Republicans call it meddling.
Announcer: It sure is. JB Pritzker knows he can beat Darren Bailey and Jesse Sullivan. After all, they both supported Obama for President. Bailey even admitted he backed Joe Biden.
Bailey: I might have voted for Biden.
Announcer: So the next time you see Pritzker smearing Richard Irvin, don’t fall for it.
There’s no proof that Bailey voted for Obama in 2008. And, as you’ll see, he actually said he might’ve voted for Joe Biden in 2008, not 2020 as implied.
First of all, in 2008, you guys remember Rush Limbaugh? So he had Operation Chaos. And it was because everybody was scared to death of Hillary Clinton getting in. So the goal was if you didn’t have a local race, which, interestingly enough, we did at the time in Clay County, where I live at, we did not have a Republican running for state’s attorney. We had two Democrats running for State’s attorney. State’s attorneys grow up to be judges. So, I’ve never pulled a Democrat ballot in my life, but I can tell you, I’ll never do it again. Cindy and I being a, and this is, you’re gonna laugh at this, but the next two years Cindy and I were thinking, what if the world ends and Jesus comes back and we’re registered Democrats? That’s been that’s been 12 years, 14 years ago now. And you have no idea. And when I tell you this stuff, like I said you can walk over and ask Cindy about it. So I had a brother [crosstalk] I had a brother that followed him, and it made sense because it’s Hillary, I don’t even, I think I might have voted for Biden. I don’t even remember. Biden rhymes with [garbled]. I didn’t even know who these guys were in 2008. But we did that.
Emphasis added to show he’s being hit for voting for two Democratic presidential candidates in the very same primary. Also, please pardon all transcription errors.
Whatever the truth is, Bailey is gonna get absolutely freaking buried by this stuff if he doesn’t start fighting back on the air and in the boxes.
* And there is a way. A bit of Democratic oppo was tossed my direction today. Here’s Richard Irvin speaking in February of 2020 about former President Barack Obama…
And even through all of that, I don’t know if my grandfather, grandmother, or my slave-born great-grandfather could have ever imagined that our vote, our Black vote would make such a difference in this country that will elect a Black man to the presidency in 2008 when Barack Obama made history.
Also…
Mayor Richard C. Irvin and the City of Aurora congratulate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their historic election and empowering inauguration ceremony today. #POTUS#VPOTUS#UnitedStatesofAmericapic.twitter.com/fph2V8ouQ8
Again, none of this means anything if it ain’t on the air.
…Adding… Prompted by a commenter, I looked up Operation Chaos. According to Wikipedia, Limbaugh launched the program in late February of 2008. The 2008 Illinois primary was on Feb. 5. So, Bailey’s explanation may not actually be true.
The Irvin for Illinois campaign is setting the record straight on Pritzker’s cowardice in having his Democratic allies launch illegitimate attack ads to hijack the Republican gubernatorial primary.
The new 30-second tv spot “Best Chance” clears the air that the Democratic Governors Association is doing Pritzker’s dirty work to smear Richard’s strong record as a decorated combat veteran, tough on crime prosecutor and successful mayor of Illinois’ second largest city.
“Instead of manning up, J.B. Pritzker is letting the Democratic Governors Association do his dirty work in maligning the strongest candidate to take him out this November,” Irvin for Illinois campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis said. “J.B. Pritzker needs to take the silver spoon out of his mouth and fight his own battles.”
“Instead of being a man and putting his name on these false attacks, Governor Pritzker chooses to hide behind political insider groups by forcing them to meddle into the GOP primary on his behalf,” Durkin said.
…Adding… Christina Amestoy at the DGA…
“Republicans can whine all they want but they can’t point to anything false in this ad. This ad reveals Richard Irvin’s real record on crime and even he knows it - that’s why he still won’t talk about the 15 years of his career profiting off of defending these types of criminals. Turns out the only thing Richard Irvin won’t defend is his own record.”
* Another Irvin press release from this morning…
Today the Irvin for Illinois campaign is announcing a new list of legislative co-chairs who support Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne to take back Illinois from skyrocketing crime, high taxes, and never-ending corruption.
Topping the list of endorsers is State Senator and Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris), who believes we need new leadership in Springfield for a better Illinois.
“Our state has been critically mismanaged under JB Pritzker’s leadership,” said Rezin. “Illinois faces out-of-control crime, ongoing corruption within the statehouse, and diminished care for veterans at state-run facilities without real solutions to address these challenges. We have an opportunity for real leadership in Illinois with Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne, and I’m proud to support them.”
State Representative Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) has worked alongside Avery Bourne in the statehouse, and has seen her success in the General Assembly firsthand.
“Illinois under JB Pritzker has been one disaster after another—from his failure to take accountability for the state’s significant challenges or his inability to manage problems at state agencies,” said Spain. “Now we have an opportunity to elect proven leaders who have prioritized Illinois families and have pledged to root out crime and corruption, and provide the relief residents so badly need, which is why I am putting my full support behind Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne.”
Aurora Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin and his running mate, State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonvile) released the following statement regarding the endorsements:
“We are pleased to have this resounding support from legislative leaders who understand that JB Pritzker has not met the needs of families and businesses across Illinois. There are countless challenges our state faces–from crime and corruption to our state’s fiscal stability. Together, we are committed to taking our state back and working to reduce crime, cut taxes, and fight corruption.”
The legislative endorsements include the following lawmakers:
Tim Ozinga, Illinois State Representative (HD 37)
Seth Lewis, Illinois State Representative (HD 45)
Dan Ugaste, Illinois State Representative (HD 65)
Jeff Keicher, Illinois State Representative (HD 70)
Ryan Spain, Illinois State Representative (HD 73)
David Welter, Illinois State Representative (HD 75)
Jackie Haas, Illinois State Representative (HD 79)
Jim Durkin, Illinois State Representative (HD 82)
Tim Butler, Illinois State Representative (HD 87)
Mark Batinick, Illinois State Representative (HD 97)
Amy Elik, Illinois State Representative (HD 111)
Donald DeWitte, Illinois State Senator (SD 33)
Sue Rezin, Illinois State Senator (SD 38)
John Curran, Illinois State Senator (SD 41)
Jesse Sullivan tried hard to convince Sen. Rezin to be his running mate. Didn’t work. Rep. Spain is one of the most likeable members of the HGOP caucus.
Announcing: The Bitcoin & Freedom panel at #TGFB2022:@jimmysong will be joined by AZ Senate candidate @bgmasters, IL governor candidate @JesseSullivanIL, & former NFL player/philanthropist @TimTebow to talk about Bitcoin as a tool for freedom.
Sullivan said “hand on the Bible” he will not do the bidding of his big crypto currency donors or any others.
“I want to go to Heaven more than being Governor,” said Sullivan. “I owe no man anything when I step into office. So all my top donors, that I have gotten to know, have done this work with me around the world…trying to back companies and create jobs…didn’t even really know my politics. For me, the one area that I believe in that they also believe in is in the future of the internet.”
As governor, Jesse Sullivan will transform Chicago into a hub for cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.
Sullivan’s top campaign contributor said the candidate will “put Chicago in the rightful position as a top-five global financial center by embracing fintech and crypto. He’s a bridgebuilder to a more unified future.”
*** UPDATE *** Also from the Thank God for Bitcoin conference organizer J.M. Bush’s Twitter feed…
A bill that allows teachers and other school and university employees or contractors who are fully vaccinated to take paid administrative leave if they have to miss work due to coronavirus-related issues cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday and will soon be sent to Gov. JB Pritzker.
House Bill 1167, by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, would guarantee full pay for any day that a fully-vaccinated school employee misses if they are required to stay home because they have a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. […]
Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, pointed to a hypothetical example of two teachers, one vaccinated and one not, who have to stay home to take care of a sick child. He said one of those would receive paid leave to do so but the other would not. […]
Harmon, however, said the bill does not mandate that any school employee be vaccinated, and he compared the extra benefit vaccinated employees would receive to the extra pay some teachers receive if they pursue an advanced degree.
“This is not a vaccine mandate,” Harmon said. “There is no requirement that one needs to be vaccinated to work in public schools. It is, however, an incentive.”
There are also provisions in the measure giving retroactive time to vaccinated staff who previously took time off because of COVID-19 issues and guarantees pay for workers like bus drivers if schools have to shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
The measure found bipartisan opposition, but secured enough votes to pass both chambers and could now be sent to the governor.
Senate Democrats not voting were Belt, Collins, Crowe, Loughran Cappel, Muñoz and D. Turner.
No Republicans voted for the bill.
…Adding… IEA President Kathi Griffin…
“Our state is in the middle of a growing teacher and education employee shortage. We have thousands of open public education positions right now. We need to be doing everything we can to attract young people to the profession and to also show those who’ve chosen education as their life’s work that they are respected. Providing COVID administrative days and paycheck protection for hourly employees is one way we can do that. We know some of our support staff and teachers have exhausted their sick and personal time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have educators who saved their sick time to take after the birth of a child, who have since run out of days and are now forced with a very difficult decision - to take unpaid time off or to cut precious bonding time with their newborn short and return to work early. We have support staff who’ve used all their sick and personal days, and are being forced to take unpaid time off to quarantine or for another COVID related reason. House Bill 1167 would provide much needed relief to our teachers and support staff who’ve worked diligently to not only provide a quality education for students but also work to keep their students, schools and their communities safe over the past two years.”
The Tazewell County Republican Party in cooperation with the Peoria County Republican Party and the Woodford County Republican Party will host the Central Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Forum at Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington, IL from 7pm – 9pm, Monday, April 25th, 2022.
The candidates who will be attending this forum are Senator Darren Bailey, Gary Rabine, Paul Schimpf, Jesse Sullivan, and Max Solomon.
Seems like a certain Aurora somebody is missing. Hmm.
* Speaking of the governor’s race…
…Adding… Eliza Glezer at JB for Governor…
Any reasonable person, but especially a candidate for the highest office in the state, should not be raffling off guns while voting against common-sense gun legislation like background checks to protect Illinois families from senseless gun violence. This is just another example of how out of touch and extreme Darren Bailey’s conservative views are, which will not bode well for his chances at winning this election.
* Dan Brady campaign…
Illinois Secretary of State candidate Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican, has pledged to take specific actions as Secretary of State to stop the rash of gasoline thefts that are currently plaguing Illinois car dealerships.
“With gasoline at $4.50 a gallon and unattended cars sitting in dealership lots, the temptation to make a quick, illegal profit has proven to be too hard to resist for many criminals,” Brady said. “I plan to use the resources of the Secretary of State’s office to help keep fuel in the cars and put thieves behind bars.”
Once elected, Brady will convene a special task force consisting of Secretary of State Police, local law enforcement officials and car dealer trade association representatives to come up with ways to help prevent these brazen parking lot thefts, which often result in expensive damage to the targeted vehicles. Since Secretary of State Police officers are frequently at car dealerships as part of their routine duties, Brady will also direct those officers to work with individual dealers to heighten security and to recommend additional anti-theft measures they may take.
“I realize this problem is occurring now and can’t wait until after the election for a solution,” Brady said. “So I encourage current Secretary of State Jesse White to take these ideas and run with them. Gasoline thieves don’t care about your political party affiliation.”
The Illinois Secretary of State Police Division helps to regulate the automotive industry in Illinois by tracking auto thieves, conducting surveillance on suspected “chop shops,” infiltrating auto theft rings, investigating fraudulent state identification documents and conducting “sting” operations.
The objection adjudication process began Tuesday, bringing forth multiple challenges against Central Illinois political candidates’ petitions. […]
Political newcomer Travis Weaver is also being challenged. Weaver tells WMBD it’s a “tactic being used by his opponent.”
“I’ve had multiple legal professionals tell me this is one of the most frivolous challenges they’ve ever seen. It’s a clear tactic by my opponent to distract from the fact that he has an anti-business, anti-farmer voting record and is incredibly conflicted as he is a State Rep while also being mayor.”
“The challenge alleges that I don’t live at the address I claim because it is listed as a wedding venue. There is a barn on the property that is becoming a wedding venue, but anybody can drive down War Memorial towards Kickapoo and see there is clearly a home. And if they drive by late at night or early in the morning they’ll see my car parked in the driveway.”
“The challenge also alleges I lived in Chicago until recently because that is where Caterpillar listed my office address. This is a shot in the dark. Everybody in Peoria knows that Cat was fully remote during the pandemic. I did hold a temporary residence there at one time, but my priories were always in Central Illinois and I fully transitioned home once remote work began over two years ago.”
Effective April 1, 2022, tours, rallies and events will be permitted inside the Capitol Building. Masks are recommended, but not required to be worn by the public.
* So, now groups like this won’t have to go across the street like they had to yesterday…
Rep. Camille Lilly and other IL State Legislators will join restaurant owner and worker advocates gathering for a press conference at the Lincoln Steps to rally support for the One Fair Wage Act (HB 5139), which would end the subminimum wage in Illinois.
The legislation was introduced in response to a wage shortage crisis across Illinois. One Fair Wage has issued multiple reports demonstrating that raising wages for restaurant workers who work for subminimum wages is critical to helping the industry recover. One Fair Wage has also tracked over 200 restaurant owners in Illinois who have voluntarily raised wages for tipped workers in order to recruit staff during the state’s worst-ever staffing crisis; this bill would create a level playing field for these responsible restaurant owners and help them fully reopen by sending a signal to millions of workers that wage increases will be permanent.
WHERE: Across the street from the IL State Capitol Building at the Illinois State Library in the Atrium
WHEN: Wednesday, March 30, 3:00pm CT
WHO: Restaurant Owners, Restaurant Workers, Representatives from the Illinois Full and Fair Wage Coalition Including Speakers from One Fair Wage, Women Employed & Shriver Center on Poverty Law
* Meanwhile, some members of this group, which tried to hijack a recent Chicago event, gathered on the 3rd floor of the Statehouse yesterday. It didn’t appear to be an organized rally, however…
A rally to draw attention to the deaths of two Black transgender Chicago women turned into a chaotic shouting match when another small group of anti-violence advocates crashed the event at Federal Plaza on Monday evening.
As transgender activist Zahara Bassett was pleading for justice for the two women, several members of Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change, including founder Tyrone Muhammad, interrupted the event with bullhorns.
“Our community is dying every day in these streets,” Muhammad said into the bullhorn.
After a scuffle between members of the two sides, the transgender advocates said they’d reschedule their action.
Sheesh.
* ECCSC has some very sharp-looking automobiles with the group’s logo and its activists have been down here this session looking for more state funding…
Maria Pike found her calling after her son Ricky was shot and killed in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood in August 2012.
She became an advocate for a better support system for grieving families, which is why she and hundreds of other relatives of victims of violence came to the Illinois capital on Wednesday to push legislators to invest in community-based efforts to combat street violence that would serve as alternatives to traditional law-and-order methods.
“I want them to see us,” said Maria Pike in a ballroom at a downtown Springfield hotel, where activists were joined by several state legislators. “Those survivors are in pain. They want answers and solved cases, right? But they also have other needs.”
Those needs include better housing and employment options, as well as mental health support for families coping with the loss of loved ones.
Tuesday’s event was hosted by the group Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Family members held up photos of relatives lost to violence and signs that included one saying, “Freedom from violence is a human right.”
…Adding… This Richard Irvin press release was sent out before the new TV ad was available, but the Irvin campaign did appear to know last night the general topic of the new spot…
JB Pritzker is running scared.
After releasing child killers from prison and signing the worst crime bill in America that puts criminals into our communities, he’s now hiding behind the Democratic Governors Association to meddle in the Illinois Republican Party Primary for Governor — airing a smear campaign against Richard Irvin and his strong record as a combat veteran, former prosecutor, and successful crime-fighting mayor of Illinois’ second largest city.
“For months, I’ve told voters that Pritzker was desperate and would do anything to win,” Irvin said. “Now, Pritzker is trying to hijack the Republican primary because he can’t run from the facts: crime is out of control, tax hikes continue, and corruption lives on in state government under Pritzker’s reign.”
Pritzker and his allies know he’s weak after he proudly and publicly turned his back on law enforcement and crime victims during his tenure as governor. He signed one of the most dangerous anti-police laws in our state’s history - a law that prioritizes criminals over communities throughout Illinois. His own Prisoner Review Board allowed the early release of cop killers, child murderers, and other dangerous criminals.
Richard Irvin’s record as a decorated combat veteran, a tough on crime prosecutor and a proven mayor has forced Democrats to intervene in the primary because Irvin is their worst nightmare.
* Politico has Irvin’s career timeline mixed up (he became a defense attorney in private practice after, not before, he was a prosecutor), but here’s some of the piece…
The goal is to rev up Republicans to vote for Darren Bailey, or maybe any of the other GOP candidates, over Irvin.
There’s nothing Republicans hate more than a candidate who’s not tough enough on crime, or conservative enough on social issues — at least that’s what the DGA and Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign are hoping. […]
In the meantime, isn’t it interesting that Pritzker donated $250,000 to the DGA in December? His campaign told Playbook not to read too much into that. The governor donates to Democratic caucus and candidates regularly, after all. “How the DGA uses their money is up to them,” said a spokesperson.
This isn’t the first time the DGA has meddled in an Illinois Republican primary. Four years ago, it launched ads calling former state Rep. Jeanne Ives “too conservative” for the state, which was a boost to her campaign during the primary contest against Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
The tactic didn’t work. Rauner edged out Ives in the primary.
Richard Irvin’s real record on crime? For 15 years, Irvin has been a defense lawyer, profiting by defending some of the most violent and heinous criminals. Domestic abusers and sexual assaults. Kidnapper who molested a child. Reckless homicide. Even accused child pornographers. Irvin has been getting rich by putting violent criminals back on our streets. Tell Richard Irvin to stop pretending to be tough on crime and start supporting policies to keep people safe.
* It’s more than this, I think, but here you go…
Democratic Governors Association (DGA) just placed their first broadcast buy for 2022. So far we've seen $360k placed for #ILGov. Ads are set to begin airing tomorrow.
Richard Irvin’s real record shows he is anything but ‘tough on crime’. For 15 years, Irvin made money by getting violent criminals off the hook and back on the street. Illinoisans deserve to know who the real Richard Irvin is. Irvin needs to stop pretending to be tough on crime and actually support the policies that will keep people safe.
