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| while he waits to find out if he is going to be indicted for fraudulently obtaining $132,000.00 in property tax refunds, he likes to spend his time floating phony ethics reform proposals |
The governor said it’s time for Illinois to enact a revolving-door policy: “Elected officials shouldn’t be allowed to retire and immediately start lobbying their former colleagues. ... It’s wrong, and it’s got to stop.”
By Tina Sfondeles Jan 29, 2020, 12:32pm CST
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference last year. File Photo. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday took an aggressive stance against public corruption in his State of the State address, vowing that it’s time for Illinois to enact a revolving-door policy to end the tradition of elected officials who “immediately start lobbying their former colleagues.”
Pritzker said he wants to stop legislators from serving as paid lobbyists — a push that has grown
stronger in light of federal investigations that have so far reeled in a state senator and a state representative.
The speech prompted Illinois House Speaker Madigan to declare in a statement, “the game is over and every step will be taken to prosecute” any “bad actors” trying to game the system and break the law.
In his address, the governor touted his first year legislative wins and said “anything is possible.” But he also spoke at length about what’s been dominated the headlines: public corruption.
Pritzker’s speech comes a day after former state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to bribery and tax charges.
Pritzker said most states have a revolving-door provision for legislators, and it’s time for Illinois to adopt one.
“Elected officials shouldn’t be allowed to retire and immediately start lobbying their former colleagues,” Pritzker said. “It’s wrong, and it’s got to stop.”
“Now we have to work together to confront a scourge that has been plaguing our political system for far too long. We must root out the purveyors of greed and corruption — in both parties — whose presence infects the bloodstream of government.
“It’s no longer enough to sit idle while under-the-table deals, extortion, or bribery persist. Protecting that culture or tolerating it is no longer acceptable. We must take urgent action to restore the public’s trust in our government. That’s why we need to pass real, lasting ethics reform this legislative session.”
Alluding to the pressure he received to hire institutional Democrats as he began to hire staff for is administration, the governor during his speech said he hired people “from all walks of life, all different backgrounds, who were diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, geography and life experience and whose only loyalty is to good ideas and good results.”
RELATED
READ: Complete text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State address
“And I took heat for it from some who had been here a very long time. Many were incredulous that I wasn’t just automatically hiring the same old faces that get jobs year in and year out,” Pritzker said, adding that “the old patronage system needs to die, finally and completely.”
Foreshadowing the spring legislative session, Pritzker said he wants to see an end to the cash bail system and an adoption of new clean energy legislation to reduce carbon pollution. He also said he wants the state to tackle the property tax crisis by consolidating or eliminating some of the more than 7,000 units of government.
And he had a message for utility companies embroiled in federal investigations: “It’s time to put consumers and climate first. I’m not going to sign an energy bill written by the utility companies.”
The governor also spoke of some of his big first-year legislative wins involving healthcare, which included: capping the cost of insulin; expanding insurance coverage for mammograms; and reforming the state’s medical cannabis program.
Pritzker said under his leadership, President Donald Trump was put “on notice” that “Illinois will not be complicit in his shameful and draconian immigration policies.”
And in a dig at former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Pritzker said his administration has helped the state’s business climate: “We stopped bad-mouthing the state and started passing laws that make Illinois more attractive for businesses and jobs.”
He added: “I’m here to tell the carnival barkers, the doomsayers, the paid professional critics, the State of our State is growing stronger each day.”
The address brought out some of the toughest language on corruption from Madigan, who in a statement said while major changes were made during Pritzker’s first-year in office, “we have also seen the good work of the many honest members of this Legislature be overshadowed too often by the wrongdoing of individuals who have sought to put themselves first.”
“It’s clear that we must take significant steps within the coming weeks to restore confidence in state government,” Madigan said. “But let’s be clear: bad actors will always try to game the system and break the law. We must commit to sending the clearest sign the game is over and every step will be taken to prosecute.”
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday took an aggressive stance against public corruption in his State of the State address, vowing that it’s time for Illinois to enact a revolving-door policy to end the tradition of elected officials who “immediately start lobbying their former colleagues.”
Pritzker said he wants to stop legislators from serving as paid lobbyists — a push that has grown
stronger in light of federal investigations that have so far reeled in a state senator and a state representative.
The speech prompted Illinois House Speaker Madigan to declare in a statement, “the game is over and every step will be taken to prosecute” any “bad actors” trying to game the system and break the law.
In his address, the governor touted his first year legislative wins and said “anything is possible.” But he also spoke at length about what’s been dominated the headlines: public corruption.
Pritzker’s speech comes a day after former state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to bribery and tax charges.
Pritzker said most states have a revolving-door provision for legislators, and it’s time for Illinois to adopt one.
“Elected officials shouldn’t be allowed to retire and immediately start lobbying their former colleagues,” Pritzker said. “It’s wrong, and it’s got to stop.”
“Now we have to work together to confront a scourge that has been plaguing our political system for far too long. We must root out the purveyors of greed and corruption — in both parties — whose presence infects the bloodstream of government.
“It’s no longer enough to sit idle while under-the-table deals, extortion, or bribery persist. Protecting that culture or tolerating it is no longer acceptable. We must take urgent action to restore the public’s trust in our government. That’s why we need to pass real, lasting ethics reform this legislative session.”
Alluding to the pressure he received to hire institutional Democrats as he began to hire staff for is administration, the governor during his speech said he hired people “from all walks of life, all different backgrounds, who were diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, geography and life experience and whose only loyalty is to good ideas and good results.”
RELATED
READ: Complete text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State address
“And I took heat for it from some who had been here a very long time. Many were incredulous that I wasn’t just automatically hiring the same old faces that get jobs year in and year out,” Pritzker said, adding that “the old patronage system needs to die, finally and completely.”
Foreshadowing the spring legislative session, Pritzker said he wants to see an end to the cash bail system and an adoption of new clean energy legislation to reduce carbon pollution. He also said he wants the state to tackle the property tax crisis by consolidating or eliminating some of the more than 7,000 units of government.
And he had a message for utility companies embroiled in federal investigations: “It’s time to put consumers and climate first. I’m not going to sign an energy bill written by the utility companies.”
The governor also spoke of some of his big first-year legislative wins involving healthcare, which included: capping the cost of insulin; expanding insurance coverage for mammograms; and reforming the state’s medical cannabis program.
Pritzker said under his leadership, President Donald Trump was put “on notice” that “Illinois will not be complicit in his shameful and draconian immigration policies.”
And in a dig at former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Pritzker said his administration has helped the state’s business climate: “We stopped bad-mouthing the state and started passing laws that make Illinois more attractive for businesses and jobs.”
He added: “I’m here to tell the carnival barkers, the doomsayers, the paid professional critics, the State of our State is growing stronger each day.”
The address brought out some of the toughest language on corruption from Madigan, who in a statement said while major changes were made during Pritzker’s first-year in office, “we have also seen the good work of the many honest members of this Legislature be overshadowed too often by the wrongdoing of individuals who have sought to put themselves first.”
“It’s clear that we must take significant steps within the coming weeks to restore confidence in state government,” Madigan said. “But let’s be clear: bad actors will always try to game the system and break the law. We must commit to sending the clearest sign the game is over and every step will be taken to prosecute.”
I love the JB Ptitzker act where he plays the role of a down trotting guy who is only living paycheck to paycheck to pay his tax bill.
ReplyDeleteHe on the other hand wipes his ass with a $10,000 bill.
and yet this blob, who started buying ads a year and a half before the election, who Rauner correctly claimed never had a legitimate job in his life, shows up like a lap-dog every time Hillary Clinton comes to town to fleece her sheep for more campaign money. Go get yourself a lamb chop JumBo.
ReplyDeleteAfter every round of FBI Illinois politician roundups our legislative bodies love passing “ETHICS LEGISLATION”. Unfortunately ethics laws/rules are only as good as those responsible for enforcing them. That would mean our Illinois City ,County and state Officials such as our attorney general would be responsible for enforcement. I think we all know that is not going to happen.
ReplyDeleteHow about instead of fighting corruption in Illinois (an uphill battle) We legalize it and tax it. Alderman, state and county legislators would be allowed to accept bribes but would have to give half back to City,County or State treasury. It is well known that although our governments have giving up enforcing criminal, drug or traffic laws they are very efficient at collecting taxes and pursuing those who don’t pay them.
ReplyDeleteI think it was more like $275,000. All of it based on phony facts. How is it they don't indict this guy and everyone else involved?
ReplyDeleteis it true Pritzker shows up at fundraisers and steals pats of butter from the tables at the venue and puts them in his pocket so he can eat them later like Hershey kisses?
ReplyDeleteI always get a kick out of these reform speeches. One has to wonder how many politicians over the years were bribed or gifted by the Pritzker family on their way to building the Hyatt Hotel empire
ReplyDeleteSadly, he'll be a 2 termer I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteDo as I say, not as I do.......
ReplyDeleteSo why doesn't he turn himself in and confess????
ReplyDeleteSmokescreen
ReplyDelete