Pritzker introduces ‘Fighting For Illinois’ playbook for Democratic Congress to pass in 2027

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – Gov. JB Pritzker is already making his first goals clear post-election, and they include 200 different plans for Congress to pass after new members are inaugurated in January.

Pritzker told reporters in Chicago Wednesday that the new Democratic majority in Washington should waste no time introducing policies to restore critical programs and fight back against President Donald Trump. These ideas range from restoring SNAP and Medicaid benefits to increasing the federal minimum wage and ending mass deportations.

“State government administers these programs and is left picking up the pieces when Washington breaks them,” Pritzker said. “We know what works here, where the gaps are and what happens when federal policy ignores what is happening on the ground.”

The governor is calling on Congress to preserve and fully fund supportive housing programs. He also argued lawmakers should withdraw the public housing work requirement rule created by the Trump administration.

“Americans don’t just want a repair job,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “They don’t want a patch job. They need, and they deserve, a top-to-bottom renovation.”

The Fighting for Illinois playbook also demands that lawmakers pass strong farm policy that restores trade relationships. Leaders from the Illinois Beef Association said this could bring back demand for commodities and tamp down tariffs that are driving up fuel and fertilizer expenses.

“We have to truck our cattle across the Midwest to markets now, wrestling with the high cost of diesel,” said IL Beef Association Executive Vice President Josh St. Peters. “Our pastures and hayfields in Illinois are challenged by the extreme costs of fertilizer products that are too expensive to import.”

Pritzker also called on Congress to pass legislation to send tariff refunds to Americans instead of large corporations.

The 75-page plan states Congress should restore programs or increase funding for these services instead of funding the war in Iran. Pritzker said he knows Trump will likely veto most of these ideas, but he said that shouldn’t prevent Democrats from acting.