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Pritzker talks up state budget and biz incentives, Irvin talks crime

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Illinois

* Greg Hinz…

Slamming “naysayers,” “pessimists” and “carnival barkers” who always talk trash about the state, Gov. J.B. Pritzker today laid out the business case for electing him to another four-year term in a speech to one of the state’s key business groups. […]

Lawmakers just passed the fourth balanced budget in a row under his leadership, paying off $17 billion in bills left behind by former Gov. Bruce Rauner and shortening the state’s bill payment cycle to just two weeks, he said. The state has restocked its rainy day fund with $1 billion, put another $1 billion toward old group health insurance debt and given taxpayers $1.8 billion in tax relief, he added. He cited these as reasons why, in his view, Wall Street rating agencies have given the state six credit upgrades after nine cuts in the Rauner years.

Illinois’ gross state product is now growing faster than it was before the pandemic, has the greatest growth in small business startups of any large state and gained people—not lost them—in the last decade, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Pritzker, a former venture capitalist who specialized In tech investments, said state progress in that field “gets my blood moving.” He noted, among other things, a new investment tax credit for data farms that has been successful, pulling in $8 billion in private investments, and other credits to incentivize electric vehicle producers and suppliers—a promising move but one which has not yet produced results.

Only at the end did the Democratic incumbent touch on a raging crime problem, especially in Chicago, that has business leaders concerned. “We continue to need to address our challenges,” he said.

* Irvin campaign…

– Last night Richard Irvin, Mayor of Aurora and gubernatorial candidate, discussed Illinois’ public safety crisis under J.B. Pritzker’s leadership with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.

“I’ve got two words for you that Pritzker disregards, and that’s ‘protect’ and ‘respect’,” said Irvin. “Protect our residents in the state of Illinois and our children, and respect our law enforcement try to keep us safe every day. He doesn’t do that…He wants to protect criminals more than he wants to protect the innocent victims of crimes. And he shows this disrespect and disdain for our police officers constantly.”

Irvin said Pritzker’s anti-police policies aren’t criminal justice reforms; they are making families across Illinois less safe and our state as a whole more dangerous–the three law enforcement officers that were shot in the line of duty this week in Chicago are just another ramification of this poor public policy that has emboldened criminals and sidelined law enforcement.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:05 pm

Comments

“He wants to protect criminals more than…” I do in my other job. - Defense Attorney Richard Irvin

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:10 pm
The Irvin campaign is stale and boring at this point. Zero substance, just a lot of redundancy of well worn talking points.

Comment by Alice Childress Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:13 pm
Irvin reminds me of a wind-up doll at this point. Wind him up and he babbles about crime bad, Pritzker bad, and that’s about it.

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:17 pm
It’s boring and stale because his campaign is not sincere nor authentic. It’s all phony and gimmicks. If he was serious about crime as he claims he would be running for a different office or the mayor of Chicago.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:20 pm
Which guy do I want running the state? The optimist or the pessimist? Gonna be hard to attract jobs with Irvin’s attitude.

Comment by LOL Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:39 pm
=respect our law enforcement=

You mean like how Irv did when he tried to help his really classy lady friend?

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:43 pm
Protect, respect…

His one word talking points are more in line with Mr. T or Sylvester Stallone rather than an actual political candidate.

Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:50 pm
The reason that his message has become stale is because it’s one note. And he hasn’t done an effective job of connecting crime to JB Pritzker in a meaningful way and/or laying out any sort of plan to address it as Governor. Couple that with his personal and professional background and it all seems contrived.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 12:53 pm
Ken G wanted someone in the Gov’s office and thought he needs a black guy running on crime. It has to be an empty vessel candidate repeating right wing buzz words and talking points.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 1:02 pm
The governor helped enact large public safety funding very recently. Only one party voted to pay for it. It’s the ultimate magic beans fairy dust, to run on anti-crime but vote against a state budget and extra money for public safety.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 1:05 pm
Kenny, my man, you been played.

Comment by Lost in Shawnee Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 1:28 pm
Looks like Irvin is running scared. Cozying up to Fox News is a bad look for a general election

Comment by Immigrants Welcome Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 1:40 pm
“Which guy do I want running the state? The optimist or the pessimist? Gonna be hard to attract jobs with Irvin’s attitude.”

Oh, cmon. It worked great for Bruce Rauner. Talked the state down at every turn and was easily re-elected…in his own mind.

Comment by New Day Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 3:37 pm
I think Irvin has to decide what he wants to be when he grows up.

The I’m a conservative black man won’t be enough to sway voters…a very old shtick…

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Jun 9, 22 @ 6:51 am