Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Next Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Posted in:
* From today’s press conference following Gov. Pritzker’s announcement…
Reporter: But from your speech, too, it also sounded like protecting legacy…
Pritzker: Well, sure, balancing the budget every year, that’s something we want to keep doing. Making sure that we’re moving our fiscal situation in the right direction, protecting people’s individual rights, like reproductive rights, LGBT rights. Those are all things that are part of a legacy that I think that we need to protect.
* He also talked about the country at large a lot. From his speech…
Our nation sits on the precipice of an economy that will be reshaped over the next few years by the innovations of artificial intelligence. And while there will be many ways in which AI makes us better and healthier and more efficient as a society – it will also require us to reform education to meet the future of work.
In that context we must create an American economy whose sole purpose is not to make a small amount of very rich people richer but rather one that provides good, stable middle class jobs that pay enough to afford to buy a house, raise a family, and live a fulfilling life.
We must reckon with the fact that everything is too damned expensive. From groceries to concert tickets to mortgages to cars to healthcare, we have created a world where one job isn’t enough to raise kids, one salary not enough to own a home and one lifetime of work not enough to earn retirement. And the answer does not lie in tariffs that tax workers, budgets that gut Medicaid, and DOGE bros that strip research funding from our universities.
Instead, the answer starts with growing Illinois’ economy – with relentlessly pursuing the industries and jobs of the future. We must continue the work started by my administration to attract and grow businesses.
That takes continual investment in
* world class airports and railroads
* peerless institutions of higher learning
* protected fresh water
* abundant clean energy
* well designed urban landscapes
* and nutrient rich rural farmland.But nothing is more important to grow our economy than the quality of our people, and we must protect that because we have a workforce that is second to none.
* Isabel asked what his big new ideas are…
Isabel: Your original campaign slogan was ‘Think Big.’ What are your big ideas for the remainder of this term and your third term?
Pritzker: Well, there are an awful lot of things we’ve got to still accomplish, right? We still need to get to universal preschool. We’re on our way. It’ll happen probably in 2027, but importantly, we have unfinished business, so we’ve got to keep moving forward. That’s one example. We’ve got to keep moving toward credit upgrades in our state, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re continuing to fund K-12 education. I want to say one important thing that gets overlooked often. When I took office, Illinois, eighth graders were 15th in the country in reading scores. We’re now second in the country. I want to be number one. We were 22nd in the country eighth grade math scores when I took office. We’re now number four in the country. I want to be number one. So again, the big things we’ve got to accomplish are, on behalf of the people of Illinois, the direction that we’re taking and keeping you along
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:12 pm
Previous Post: RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Next Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
It’s the speech of a man who has spent also two terms actually governing and knows you can’t just say random things. You have to be able to deliver for the people. And he’s delivered. It’s important to remember that people outside this bubble don’t actually know the accomplishments of IL and you have to use this time to remind them.
Comment by Thing one Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:17 pm
@Thing one- excellent post.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:22 pm
He absolutely wants to run for President, but also views the immediate future of Illinois to be too important to not stay in the job. As many others have noted, third terms are political landmines. To the Governor’s credit, he’s thinking big. Happy to have him at the helm for another term, assuming all goes well in 2026.
@Thing one is absolutely right. He isn’t a super well known entity outside of the state and outside of progressive circles. The average voter doesn’t know who JB Pritzer is and what he’s accomplished for the state of Illinois. Have to use that microphone to tell voters at large when give the opportunity.
Comment by RiverNorthGuy Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:29 pm
== past accomplishments rather than bold new plans ==
That’s a fair take. It’s not very exciting, but it’s likely more than enough to get him re-elected. Given the dearth of legit opposition, why risk proposing something bold?
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:31 pm
===why risk proposing something bold? ===
And what, exactly, does he have to lose?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:32 pm
=== And what, exactly, does he have to lose? ===
His credibility.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:37 pm
== And what, exactly, does he have to lose? ==
The potential damage that comes from failing to deliver it?
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:39 pm
==When I took office, Illinois, eighth graders were 15th in the country in reading scores. We’re now second in the country.==
According to NAEP, Illinois 8th graders rank 6th but with a score that is lower than it was in 2019. Is the end goal the ranking or more kids proficient in reading?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:42 pm
@city zen
Illinois has one of the highest proficiency in reading and math requirements in the nation. Nice job trying to ya but, but… nope
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/05/15/illinois-considers-changes-to-test-cut-scores/
Comment by Brandon Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:45 pm
@city zen
Illinois has one of the highest proficiency requirments in the natiom which allows people like yourself to use unfair comparisons on purpose.
Comment by Brandon Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:46 pm
Universal Pre-School. Talk about mission creep.
Comment by James Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:48 pm
“We have created a world where one job isn’t enough to raise kids, one salary not enough to own a home”
JB should be doing more on housing reform.
Comment by Joseph M Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:52 pm
For my money- JB should focus more on getting our pensions to start achieving better returns - with his alleged financial acumen- he could begin to use the to oversee the manager selection- too much pf the administration has been left to politically favored hires Trustee appointee process to appoint truly qualified folks onto the various boards to afford better oversight along with getting the legislature to force the boards to retain a firm like Blackrock - every dollar of return is one less dollar the State needs to contribute- the performance has been underwater for years- we are talking billions here-10’s of billions
Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:12 pm
=== JB should be doing more on housing reform. ===
What kind of reforms could JB propose that are feasible considering the budgetary constraints our state is in?
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:13 pm
=We must reckon with the fact that everything is too damned expensive.=
This caught my ear. I believe that the economy was something that Democrats failed to speak about in real terms in the Presidential election. It’s something the expected new Mayor of NYC discussed very well.
So keep talking about it. Find things to present as solutions. It’s only getting worse.
=and knows you can’t just say random things.=
The only problem is you can. There are examples of this multiple times a day. People don’t seem to want the truth - they just like being told the truth. I’m all for the honest approach. But its an up hill climb against the outright lies and misinformation of a segment of the political world.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:13 pm
JB forgot to include hotel rooms are too darned expensive.
Comment by Blue Dog Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:24 pm
Thought the education claims were fake news politician BS based on the constant complaints about CPS. But a little googling says JB correct. Nice job. We should be proud of our state!!
Comment by 44 Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:24 pm
I can envision a future where AI will be used in higher education.
Comment by Blue Dog Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:28 pm
===What kind of reforms could JB propose that are feasible===
Go re-read his State of the State address. None of that got done.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:33 pm
=== Go re-read his State of the State address. None of that got done. ===
Will do.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:34 pm
Joseph M.
His hands are tied on housing reform. To build more affordable housing the cost of construction needs to be greatly reduced or the housing isn’t affordable and with all of his buddies in the trades and unionized he’ll never do it. And they won’t allow it.
Comment by Tim Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:54 pm
Blue Dog
How can the cost of hotel rooms be reduced when they keep using hotel taxes to pay for all of their new programs?
Comment by Tim Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:58 pm
I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with focusing on building on the past. He’s been very successful so building on that success is a good message. But I also think it might be good to have some brand new goals he would like to achieve.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:58 pm
Some of you will literally gripe about anything.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:59 pm
- For my money- JB should focus more on getting our pensions to start achieving better returns -
Is it ever not about you?
Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:00 pm
I think he must be given credit for the new credit for the eradication of IL GOPies. Actually the whacks have done i, but he certainly boosted the efforts.
Gotta count for somethin’ Right Ken? Bruce? Dick?
Comment by Annon'in Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:06 pm
== His hands are tied on housing reform. ==
Not legally, but maybe politically. The state can pre-empt local zoning laws and make it way easier to build multi-family dwellings. But it’s a heavy lift in the GA. Lots of suburban NIMBY-ism would make it tough to hit the 60 Dem vote rule in the House. He’d really have to twist some arms to pass it. Failed to do that on hemp.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:12 pm
Until whatever the “big beautiful bill” finally becomes and the AG lawsuits are settled, it’s kind of hard to launch many new things when you may be scrambling to keep the house from burning down. This seemed like a realistic approach to me.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:22 pm
===it’s kind of hard to launch many new things===
Again, re-read the State of the State speech.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:38 pm
Roman,
Politically is the only thing that matters in this state. I read a while back a quote of $650,000 as a cost per unit in the city for affordable housing units. In what world is that affordable? Good luck negotiating any number down with the trades. Why would they even think about reducing that number?
Comment by Tim Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:53 pm
===Good luck negotiating any number down with the trades===
That cost is a whole lot more than union workers.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/03/31/chicago-new-affordable-housing-building-city-hall-housing-department-richard-day
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:54 pm
@Tim, I think you are conflating things.
Yes, labor costs are one of the things that increases the price and therefore impedes the building of new housing. Another barrier is zoning laws that restrict the development of multi-family dwellings, not to mention other NIMBY nit-picking like minimum parking requirements. Labor would join the governor in pushing to repeal those restrictions.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 3:57 pm
One of my concerns is that Illinois is far behind neighboring states in terms of funding its higher education institutions. The Governor has been in office since 2019 and the state universities are still imperiled. Neighboring states are more appealing to many students.
Comment by Old Professor Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 4:40 pm
He misses completely that a competitive tax and regulatory environment and public safety, especially in Chicago’s streets and public transit is essential to growing our economy
Good quality people leave Illinois if they don’t feel safe and too many good jobs leave the state
Comment by Paul Powell Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 4:53 pm
=Is it ever not about you?=
It’s a comment section. Is she not allowed to share HER viewpoint? Do better.
Comment by Just a Random Guy Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 5:03 pm
- And what, exactly, does he have to lose? -
I completely agree. The entire Democratic Party needs to be talking about big changes, and big things to come. Looking backward and telling people they should be content is for losers.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 5:46 pm
Roman,
I am certain the labor with Joy in the governor and taking money out of everybody else’s pocket O. And you’re right there are other considerations that drive up the price of housing construction. However, the biggest portion of any construction project is always the labor. And facia organize labor. It would take everybody else’s money and give up nothing. That’s why nothing gets built for affordable housing in Chicago.
Comment by Tim Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 7:40 pm
Sorry Roman, it’s hard when you’re doing talk to text. The point I was trying to make is that labor is always the most expensive piece of any project, and until the labor cost goes down even with the changes you suggested, which are more politically palatable to the left, you’re not gonna get the price of new units in Chicago to a point where people of low and moderate income levels can afford housing.
Comment by Tim Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 7:45 pm
- That’s why nothing gets built for affordable housing in Chicago. -
I work for a union contractor and we successfully bid against non-union contractors all the time, even in right to work states. Having highly productive, skilled, reliable workers makes up for higher wages.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 7:58 pm