Quincy Reporter

Senate Republicans are urging Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to prioritize the issues within his own administration instead of focusing on his recent national political initiative, "Think Big America." At a press conference, State Sen. Jil Tracy highlighted the mismanagement and failures in multiple state agencies under the Pritzker Administration. Tracy emphasized the need for the Governor to refocus his attention on the job he was elected to do in Illinois.

The mismanagement within various state agencies has been a cause for concern. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has faced high-profile resignations and terminations, along with exorbitant taxpayer-funded salaries. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has experienced long delays in license renewals, negatively impacting skilled professionals across the state. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has been plagued by mismanagement and neglect for vulnerable children, leading to the resignation of its director. The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) has faced budgetary issues with the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Seniors program, exceeding the allocated budget by more than 50 percent. Lastly, an audit revealed that the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) made over $5 billion in improper payments during the pandemic, while evidence suggests that the Pritzker Administration instructed employees to ignore red flags of fraud.

Senate Republicans are calling on Governor Pritzker to take significant action to reform these agencies. Tracy emphasized the need for the Governor to address these major problems facing Illinois taxpayers. She stated, "These are just some of the major problems facing Illinois taxpayers that must be addressed."

Furthermore, the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) will be holding hearings to review the recent audit covering IDES and the Administration's handling of the state's unemployment system during the pandemic. Senate Republicans plan to file a resolution for a similar audit on the staffing issues at IEMA and will introduce legislation in the full Senate calling for an audit.

In addition to agency mismanagement, the Illinois State Police (ISP) are conducting hearings on a confusing and controversial aspect of the state's new "assault weapon" ban. The ban prohibits the possession of certain firearms and firearm attachments, but allows current owners to keep them if they were purchased before Jan. 23, 2023, and if they fill out an endorsement affidavit. The ISP filed an emergency rule to implement the affidavit requirement, which will be reviewed by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). The hearings aim to address concerns regarding conflicting and confusing language within the law itself. State Sen. Tracy, a supporter of 2nd Amendment rights, voted against the ban and hopes it will be ruled unconstitutional by federal courts.

Meanwhile, the Fall Veto Session will resume on November 7. Senate Republicans are focused on saving the Invest in Kids scholarship program, which provides tax credits for donations to scholarships for low-income families. They are also pushing for a legislative solution to the Governor's veto of a bill that would end the moratorium on nuclear power plant construction.

As the Veto Session enters its final days, lawmakers are determined to address important issues for the people of Illinois. The focus remains on urging Governor Pritzker to address mismanagement within the state agencies and to find solutions to ongoing challenges.

To find out more, go to this link: https://senatorjiltracy.com/2023/11/03/senate-week-in-review-oct-30-nov-3-2023/