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* Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) spoke today at the Illinois Freedom Caucus’ press conference in response to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s legislative address…

In DuPage County, we’re seeing the crime levels go up because of our neighboring Cook County. Last Saturday, when the ruckus was going on, last Saturday night when the ruckus was going on in Chicago, on Roosevelt Road, in Lombard, mind you, which is real close to where I live, they had to shut the carnival down because of all the misbehavior.

In Villa Park, not long ago, there was a vape shop. The vape shop was being looted by two men. The owner called the Villa Park Police. The Villa Park Police show up. The looters run out of the vape shop with their guns shooting at the police officers. This is what is going on, and you can only go…

Talk to our our state’s attorney Bob Berlin. Talk to our sheriff, James Mendrick. We have a jail in DuPage County, and believe you me, we are having problems. And it’s because of this crime.

And I don’t see that Brandon Johnson, he was bragging about all the money that they’ve put into schools and crime, but if they’ve put all this money into schools and crime, why is there still a problem? So you wonder, in the future, throwing money at government agencies, does it, I don’t know, I wish I knew.

…Adding… Also, I can’t find a news story about the alleged vape shop shooting. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, of course. Just sayin.

…Adding… Thanks to a commenter for finding it. The shooting was in Lombard last December.

…Adding… Press release…

The IL Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on the speech Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson gave during a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate.

“Much has been made about the great divide between Chicago and the rural parts of our state. Yes, there certainly is a deep ideological divide between the people of our districts and City of Chicago leaders on many issues but there is a recognition by everyone regardless of party affiliation that a strong and healthy Chicago is good for Illinois and the nation as a whole.

We all want Chicago to succeed. Unfortunately, what we heard today does not inspire confidence that Chicago is moving in the right direction. Brandon Johnson today decided to use his first interaction with the Legislature to launch one of the most partisan speeches we have heard in a long time on the House floor. It is hard to build a bridge with someone who comes to Springfield looking to pick a fight.

What we wanted to hear today was real ideas and real solutions – not more virtue signaling. What people want and what Chicago needs are good roads and sound infrastructure. Chicago families need good schools for their kids and above all they need and deserve safe neighborhoods. Instead of solutions, all we heard today was one woke cliché after another. There is no vision for building a better business climate in Chicago. Under the future Johnson Administration, businesses in Chicago will be taxed even more than they already are.

Brandon Johnson has proven again today the truth of the old adage that Chicago is a great city with terrible leaders. The problems in Chicago could be solved with better leaders and better policies. Unfortunately, under the Brandon Johnson administration, the City of Chicago will get neither. It is a sad day for Chicago and a sad day for Illinois.”

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of State Representatives Chris Miller (R-Oakland), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Jed Davis (R-Newark) and David Friess (R-Red Bud). The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are members of the Illinois General Assembly who are advocating for limited government, lower taxes and accountability and integrity in government.

“What Chicago needs are good roads and sound infrastructure,” say the same folks demanding that the motor fuel tax be cut in half.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:09 pm

Comments

Freedom Caucus member calls for defunding the police.

Comment by lol Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:11 pm
Hey, Wheaton resident. take care of your business. what causes the problems out where you live? it’s not Chicago.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:12 pm
Fables on both sides.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:15 pm
(Using my inner Tom Cruise voice)Show me the facts …

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:15 pm
== I don’t know, I wish I knew. ==

Honest words.

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:17 pm
OK, so you had to close the carnival in Lombard, but I live near Roosevelt Rd in Berwyn (so a little closer to Chicago) and did not notice any mass criminality here? What did the disorder hopscotch over entire parts of Roosevelt Rd?

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:26 pm
===on both sides.===

(Sigh) …

===I don’t know, I wish I knew.===

So why say anything at all?

I guess Grant isn’t about finding out why she doesn’t know or how to fix it?

That’s par for that caucus

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:28 pm
===did the disorder hopscotch over entire parts of Roosevelt Rd? ===

The ruckus-causers may be in possession of a TARDIS.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:28 pm
Sounds like a Certain Former President, and he came up to me Crying, Crying and he said Mr. ______ We miss you, we love you

Comment by Someone You Should Know Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:30 pm
The vape shop was on Roosevelt in Lombard, not Villa Park.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/police-officer-shot-wounded-in-lombard/

Comment by Toots Maytal Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:30 pm
If I were a Republican in BluPage County, I certainly wouldn’t be buddying up to the Freedom Caucus. Even Wheaton ain’t what it used to be. Grant is gonna need some moderate votes next year.

Comment by vern Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:32 pm
===Freedom Caucus member calls for defunding the police===

I almost fell off my chair.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:35 pm
“Crime - boy, I don’t know”

https://youtu.be/wvr1T1sFvEg

Comment by Oklahoma Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:38 pm
===Freedom Caucus member calls for defunding the police.===

Couldn’t beat that, I didn’t even try. Well played.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:41 pm
Rich dropping Dr. Who Easter eggs…

Grant is not a serious legislator to this issue.

Grant is seriously trying to seem grossly inept at understanding so someone else will say the quiet part for her… Grant is just clumsily adding anecdotal things to seem passively engaged.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:45 pm
What an inarticulate and ineffective response. Did Grant even prepare her response statement?

She should see if the College of DuPage has a class in public speaking.

Comment by Gravitas Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:49 pm
===inarticulate and ineffective response===

The whole thing was a hoot. Rep. Wilhour’s “let’s stop with this equity nonsense” was quite something.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:52 pm
Can you describe the ruckus?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEHczKoBM5s

Comment by Stu Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 3:52 pm
Wait, Amy Grant is joining the Freedom Caucus? I Assumed that boys club would never let a women in. Seriously, why would ANY woman want to be associated with them?

Comment by Game Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 4:02 pm
==all we heard today was one woke cliché after another.==

I’m not saying the Freedom Caucus didn’t actually listen to this speech, but they definitely wrote this statement before they listened to it.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 4:18 pm
“It is hard to build a bridge with someone who comes to Springfield looking to pick a fight.”

Did the Freedom Caucus watch the speech or did they spend the whole time looking in a mirror?

Comment by vern Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 4:19 pm
===Instead of solutions, all we heard today was one woke cliché after another. There is no vision for building a better business climate in Chicago.===

This is the part where your favorite aunt feels bad for letting the in-law uncle go too far because that in-law uncle just couldn’t help himself in alienating the family by showing how ignorant he is to any honest discussion.

The good news is that the mini caucus within the super-minority caucus wholly exist to remind the super-majority that it’s more than fine to freeze out these purposely ignorant unhelpfuls

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 4:25 pm
Imagine blaming your crime problems on a city that’s an hour+ away.

Comment by Politix Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 4:27 pm
=What people want and what Chicago needs are good roads and sound infrastructure.=

There were lots of polls and surveys done leading up to the most recent Chicago Mayoral election. I don’t recall either of these issues ranking near the top of anyone’s list of wants and needs. More cops? Maybe. More shovels? Doubtful.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 4:54 pm
7 member caucus. Arrived in the same minivan

Comment by Stormsw7706 Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 5:00 pm
“We all want Chicago to succeed.”

And yet you asked voters to pick a candidate that called Chicago a “hellhole.”

Comment by Anon E Moose Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 5:01 pm
-the Brandon Johnson administration, the City of Chicago will get neither-

It’s a little too early to blame someone who hasn’t even taken office yet. If Mayor Johnson’s policies fail then he can be criticized.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 5:15 pm
“Chris Miller (R-Oakland), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Jed Davis (R-Newark) and David Friess (R-Red Bud)”

I recognize that those are locations, but Decatur is the only one I could place on a map.
Glad they’re focused on Chicago’s problems though, I know those places are all doing great and don’t have any problems of their own to solve.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 5:20 pm
==The ruckus-causers may be in possession of a TARDIS.==

I watched an episode of Dr. Who last weekend for the 1st time in at least a decade. It was fun.

To the post, I think Arsenal was spot on: the Freedom Caucus might or might not have actually listened to the speech, but that press release was likely already teed up.

Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:09 pm
Oh yeah, there was definitely not any crime going on in Villa Park until six months before Brandon Johnson got elected and retroactively made all heck break loose. No other problems to note from there, either. That town was basically Pleasantville until the wokes ruined it with their wokery.

Related, please do not go to the emergency room at Elmhurst Hospital and see where the bulk of overdose cases are coming in from.

Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:13 pm
==Talk to our sheriff, James Mendrick.==

Amy, are you aware of what happened the last time our esteemed sheriff saw fit to open his mouth?

Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:14 pm
The IL Freedom Caucus whose definition of freedom is being free to win the race to the bottom.

Comment by Manchester Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:17 pm
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 5:20 pm:

“Chris Miller (R-Oakland), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Jed Davis (R-Newark) and David Friess (R-Red Bud)”

I recognize that those are locations, but Decatur is the only one I could place on a map.
Glad they’re focused on Chicago’s problems though, I know those places are all doing great and don’t have any problems of their own to solve.

Other than Decatur, the armpit of East Central Illinois, they are.

Comment by 1911 Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:43 pm
=== they are===

What do statistically base that on?

How many “Main Street” stores are vacant?

School consolidation?

Population losses?

If you have those statistics, have at it.

These are also the same folks that go out of their way to say Illinois is failing AND people are leaving every day.

So if they are thriving…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:48 pm
Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.

Comment by Honey Roasted Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 6:50 pm
We went from senseless rioting, beatings, and shootings to the motor fuel tax awfully quick here. Reach.

Comment by Wait, What? Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 7:02 pm
If only Paul Vallas had won… carnivals could be open… (sigh)

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 8:58 pm
=to launch one of the most partisan speeches we have heard in a long time on the House floor.=

Lol, she apparently has not heard any of Baily’s speeches.

Amy, as a educator that used to work in Dupage county, Wheaton in fact, you may want to spend your tie on the decades old heroin problem that is quietly simering in your community.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 9:01 pm
The Eastern Bloc / Otherland crowd should focus on revitalizing their own dying (for decades) rural areas, before criticizing Chicago’s issues.

Comment by Ares Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 9:11 pm
Lord knows I wasn’t a supporter of Johnson in either round, but I am going to give him every chance to succeed.

But when y’all yahoos say this, “Chicago is a great city with terrible leaders” I’m left wondering what happened to the “hellhole” rhetoric?

The ahem, “freedom caucus” (which is anything but) can bite my multicultural loving, urban dwelling rear end. There’s a reason you guys are in the super duper minority.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 9:21 pm
Important to clarify that Grant isn’t an ILFC member. Appears from the video she kind of ran in seeking to share her thoughts. Perhaps because House GOP isn’t even organized enough to prepare media opportunities for its members on a major issue like today’s speech?

Comment by Whitehat76 Wednesday, Apr 19, 23 @ 10:21 pm