* The governor was asked today if he thought a supplemental appropriations bill would be introduced during the upcoming veto session. The City of Chicago is hoping to use such a bill to pry loose more state dollars for new arrivals, which isn’t exactly receiving a hearty welcome. Here’s Gov. Pritzker’s response…
I have not heard of a supplemental that will be introduced. That’s certainly something the legislature might think about doing. But there are plenty of other things to consider, including, as you know, looking at a better nuclear moratorium removal, and a few other things that are, you know, the purpose of a veto session.
Doesn’t sound promising. The governor’s office usually is closely tied to any supplemental. They administer the budget, so they know if they need any additional authority.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* My associate Isabel Miller was also at the press conference…
Q: Governor, how many asylum-seekers are in the suburbs? And is there any word of the state taking control the situation through IEMA or any other state agency?
A: Let me be clear that the asylum-seekers are not required to tell us where they are moving to. They might choose to go to a suburb or anywhere Downstate, and some have without us even knowing. And so you would find out only if they’re applying for certain kinds of services, where they are. For us, in order to manage the major services that people need, working with the City of Chicago, we need to have them in locations where we can serve a number of people all at once, and not one family here, one family there, because there just aren’t too many services that many people need.
Sounds like he prefers to have them in Chicago. Also, they can track some of those folks who are being sent to the suburbs. [The governor’s office says that if the asylum-seekers leave the city it’s totally on their own volition, so they cannot track them.]
Isabel tried to ask a follow-up because he didn’t address the second part of her question, but got big-footed by a TV reporter. It happens.
* Asked if there was any news this week about the federal government cooperating on the migrant situation, Pritzker said…
A: I will say that they have moved quickly on a number of items. I think you saw that, shortly after our letter went to the White House, that the determination was made to expand the return of refugees who no do not qualify for refugee status. So that’s one thing. Another is very, very close to discussion about buses that are coming here, whether some of those buses are potentially breaking the law along the way, and working with the government about the logistics of those buses. Where would they go? Is Chicago the only place they can go? New York the only place they can go? And so those conversations are going, and the White House is taking action in a way that they didn’t before. So I’m very pleased about that.
Q: Were they breaking that midnight curfew? Is that the law you’re talking about?
A: No, no, no. This is just folks who do not qualify for refugee status. So remember, when they come here, they get temporary asylum status, they’re seeking asylum. And they have to go through a process. If they don’t meet the requirements for someone who could stay, we’re making sure, the federal government anyway is making sure those folks are returned.