As Major Issues Stall, Some Democrats Take Aim at Pritzker
Some Democratic lawmakers are voicing frustration with Gov. JB Pritzker.
While Democrats in control of state government try to reach agreement on the major remaining issues facing lawmakers before Sunday’s scheduled adjournment of the spring legislative session, some frustrations appear to be simmering over.
Numerous House and Senate Democrats voiced their displeasure Thursday with The Illinoize, mostly aiming their criticism at Democratic Governor JB Pritzker.
Numerous Democrats we spoke to are frustrated with Pritzker over his handling of issues like the Bears/megaprojects bill, the state budget, housing regulations, artificial intelligence, procurement, and numerous other issues.
“Good faith negotiations have gone out the window with him,” said one frustrated lawmaker. “He’s saying one thing in public and another in private.”
One Democrat pointed to a list of budget cuts that was circulated last week that were unpopular with many Democratic legislators, including progressives, but many felt Pritzker wasn’t willing to make significant cuts to departments and line items under his direct control.
Others are frustrated because Pritzker’s administration has proposed raises for top staff in some departments as high as 9% in the upcoming fiscal year, which progressives have bristled at.
An instance shared by one lawmaker, and confirmed by another, stalled budget negotiations on Wednesday when lawmakers asked Pritzker to return the remaining $89 million in the “bridge” fund passed last year, aimed at giving Pritzker the ability to plug holes in the state budget from federal cuts, back to the general revenue fund. Pritzker, we’re told, refused to do so claiming the state was still under threat of more cuts from the Trump administration.
“There’s always frustration with each other at the end of session, but there seems to be a special amount of frustration with the governor this time around,” said another top Democrat, pointing some frustrations at Pritzker’s handling of budget issues since an influx of pandemic money has dried up.
“That gave him an amazing amount of money and power. Then he had to change the way he operates, just a little bit,” the lawmaker said. “But now, that the honeymoon’s over and the hangover is setting in, he hasn’t necessarily changed the way he operates and that makes members very, very frustrated.”
Some blamed Pritzker’s national ambitions for the way he’s handling state issues.
“This happens everywhere when you have an executive that wants to run for president,” said on lawmakers. “You can’t do both things at one time. Whether or not it’s fair or true, the perception is that he’s not holding up his end of the bargain because he’s busy jet setting around the country getting people to know his name.”
In a statement Thursday night, Pritzker’s office defended his handling of major issues this spring.
“Governor Pritzker’s priority this session has been delivering a balanced budget that protects core services while remaining fiscally responsible. Additionally, he has championed improving affordability for working families and lowering costs where we can in the face of President Trump raising gas prices, groceries, and more. Governor Pritzker looks forward to signing the AI, junk fee, Know Before You Owe, and insurance bills that passed this session and will continue working in partnership with the General Assembly on other legislative and affordability priorities.”
After a budget meeting between Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch, and Senate President Don Harmon reportedly went “off the rails” Wednesday, we’re told a meeting between the three main leaders “seemed to go fine” Thursday, according to one source.
We’re told the Governor and two leaders still haven’t agreed on an expected revenue number (and the potential tax increases to go along with it) for the upcoming fiscal year, but we’re told that number could be released as early as this morning.
Progressives continue to push back on a so-called “maintenance” budget, claiming they won’t support a spending plan that doesn’t include at least some tax and spending increases on schools, social services, and other new programs.
“We’re not going to support a maintenance budget,” said one progressive Democrat. “A maintenance budget means more cuts to social services and that’s not acceptable.”
Sources also point to growing frustrations on the Chicago Bears/megaprojects bill, aimed at keeping the team in the state of Illinois.
Some senators Thursday repeated concerns from their caucus last week, feeling Pritzker and the Bears are leaving the Senate “out to dry” on trying to save the deal at the last minute.
“The Bears and the Governor have not been good faith partners here,” said one frustrated lawmaker.
The Bears have recently enlisted lobbyist Mary Hanahan, a former Senate Democratic staffer, to help save the bill in the Senate, which, we’re told, has encouraged numerous exasperated lawmakers.
But, there’s a growing belief among some in the upper chamber that Senate President Don Harmon is leaning toward not advancing a megaprojects bill before Sunday’s session deadline and allowing the chips to fall where they may with the future of the team. Numerous senators confirmed a Crain’s Chicago Business report earlier this week that a plan to reduce the megaprojects bill to a Bears-specific plan was also under consideration.
A Harmon spokesman denied any decisions have been made.
The caucus continues to consider options,” Harmon spokesman John Patterson said late Thursday.
In a statement, the administration defended their handling of the Bears issue.
“Governor Pritzker and his team have been consistent for years both publicly and privately that any legislation must protect taxpayers. This session, the Governor’s Office helped convene the House, Senate, Arlington Heights, and Bears leadership to work on a deal to keep the Bears in Illinois that delivers property tax fairness, public infrastructure improvements, and affordable measures for working families.”
Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), who is shepherding the bill through the House, told The Illinoize Thursday night he didn’t know what the Senate would do with the bill.
Asked if he’s confident there will be a Bears deal by Sunday, Buckner did not sound encouraged.
“I sure hope so,” he said. “It’s foolhardy to say for certain that something is going to get done when it’s not in your control. I just don’t know where the Senate is on this and what they’re going to decide to do.”
