Illinois State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, and Illinois 12th Congressional District candidate Darren Bailey railed against the immigration policies of the federal government and sanctuary cities like Chicago during a trip to the nation’s southern border this week.
Wilhour and Bailey held a press conference Monday at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas where they discussed immigration and border security as the city of Chicago continues to grapple with an influx of immigrants, many of whom are being sent to Illinois by the state of Texas.
The site of the press conference, Shelby Park, has become the center of rising tensions between federal immigration authorities and the Texas National Guard who recently blocked U.S. Border Patrol from accessing the park. The Texas National Guard has also been installing razor wire along the border there despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the federal government to remove it.
“God bless Texas and the Texas National Guard and Gov. Abbot for having the courage and foresight to come in here and take over this park,” Wilhour said during the press conference, which was livestreamed.
Two Illinois Republicans, both competing in the March 19 primary, broadcast Monday afternoon from Eagle Pass, Texas, to call for completion of the border wall.
“Friends,” said Darren Bailey, “it’s time to vote for a secure border. It’s time to vote for a safe America.
Meanwhile, Bailey stressed that he would strongly oppose the current bipartisan border proposal if he was a member of Congress.
“It’s shameful that any Republican would join in any kind of talks putting this together,” Bailey said. “What I do support and demand is a single action bill closing the border right now and finishing the wall. Let’s protect our country.”
* Bailey’s opponent, US Rep. Mike Bost, is hitting the airwaves with another spot. Press release…
Congressman Mike Bost’s campaign today has released its third television advertisement of the 2024 election cycle. The ad, titled “Fighting Patriot,” will air district-wide on cable, broadcast, and satellite television, as well as on streaming services.
“I’ve been to Eagle Pass twice in the past 10 months, meeting with border patrol and reviewing security measures at one of our most targeted points of entry. I voted to build the wall, end catch and release, and hire more border agents. I introduced legislation to stop the Biden administration from facilitating healthcare for illegal migrants with money intended for American veterans. Unlike my opponent, who hastily planned a meaningless publicity stunt at the border because we’re one month from an election, I’ve always viewed border security as a top priority.”
“I’m a governing conservative,” Bost told members of the local farm bureau at a campaign stop in Belleville last month. “Governing means, yes, we’re still going to operate government. We’re not going to blow up the world. We’re going to actually allow government to do its job, and we’re going to be as wise as we can.”
On the other side is the House Freedom Caucus, a small, far-right, pro-Trump faction of House Republicans that sees bipartisan deals as failures. They block House business using procedural rules, and some of its members have said they’d let the government shut down to secure spending cuts, among other demands.
Bailey’s on that side.
“Shut it down and let the American people rise up and wake up, and see that failed leadership has created that,” Bailey said in January during an interview at his homestead in rural southeastern Illinois.
Bost appears to be moving away from his January comments about being a “governing conservative,” at least through March.
* SEIU Healthcare is demanding higher wages and a “path to retirement” for 45,000 home and child care workers. That’s a whole lot of people. Press release excerpt…
As Illinois faces a care crisis where families can’t access affordable care and workers can’t afford to save for retirement, 45,000 Illinois home and child care workers are escalating their campaign to publicly demand a strong contract with a path to retirement and livable wages.
Care workers are sending their most direct message to Governor Pritzker yet with a package of new TV, digital and newspaper ads pushing for Pritzker to settle a fair contract.
While the frontline care providers are appreciative of the Governor’s ongoing leadership advocating for IL working families, they are calling upon him to take immediate action to solve Illinois’ care crisis.
Yesterday, Chicagoans opened up their Sunday Chicago Tribune to see a full page ad blaring, “GOVERNOR PRITZKER, ILLINOIS HAS A CARE CRISIS,” and directly calling on the governor to settle a fair contract with caregivers who “have waited long enough for a path to retirement and livable wages.”
The print appeal hit newspaper stands as an emotional TV ad hit screens in Chicago and Springfield highlighting a care worker’s direct-to-camera appeal for a realistic pathway to retirement:
Sheryl, Care Worker: I take care of people that have devastating needs. I’m 71 year’s old and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to afford to retire.
We live from paycheck to paycheck, we have to rely on credit cards and worry about going bankrupt. Governor Pritzker, we waited long enough. We need a path to retirement now.
We’re there to help people, but who’s helping us?
* The Question: Your thoughts on the merits of this campaign?
* Joni Mitchel wrote this song when she was in her early twenties. It seemed to take on far more meaning when she sang it last night at the age of 80…
Can you even imagine what it means to sing the lyrics to "Both Sides Now" when you're in your eighties? That song has always held so much wisdom, and now it feels even weightier. pic.twitter.com/yNVg7CJ6NG
