Senate Republicans argue Pritzker should focus on Illinois problems instead of national politics

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker's new nonprofit organization donated $250,000 to Virginia Democrats Wednesday with a week left before their legislative elections. Illinois Senate Republicans believe Pritzker needs to stop focusing on national politics and think about problems in his own state.

Think Big America is helping Democrats across the country protect abortion access in their states. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Think Big America has also donated $1 million to the Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom PAC and $250,000 to Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights.

Yet, the Senate GOP in Illinois argue that Pritzker should keep his focus on Illinois.

"Right now, here in Illinois, our constituents are hurting," said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). "The ship of state is sinking."

Rose told reporters Wednesday that he is fed up with the lack of transparency about issues within the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Department of Employment Security and Department of Children and Family Services. He plans to file a resolution calling for an audit to investigate how an IEMA office assistant was paid $60,000 dollars per month.

"The folks I represent in Edgar County are having a hard time finding a job that pays $60,000 a year let alone $60,000 a month," Rose stressed. "That's just one example of what's going on."

Rose said he is also furious that he couldn't get real-time information on the deadly Teutopolis crash and ammonia leak.

"I was calling a number for a legislative aide or legislative liaison who had apparently been fired and no one was told," Rose said. "So, in the middle of what was a pretty significant disaster for the people that I represent, there was literally no one to talk to to get actual information."

Senate Republicans are also concerned that thousands of health care providers are still waiting for the state to approve or renew their licenses. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is responsible for licensing your doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists.

Many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers and other health care workers have expressed concern about losing their jobs if their licenses lapse due to no fault of their own. Some have waited nearly a year for license approval.

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) speaks during a virtual press conference on November 1, 2023.

Sen. Sally Turner (R-Lincoln) said there's little to stop these essential workers from looking for jobs in other states.

"This leads to a direct correlation of delays Illinois residents end up facing to receive the necessary healthcare benefits that they deserve," Turner said. "When our state's officials fail these professionals, they are failing every Illinoisan."

The department told lawmakers in September that they spent months trying to find a replacement for the state's outdated licensing system. IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto explained his agency landed a master contract with a company to build a new system, but the deal fell through and health care providers will need to wait longer.

Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said many of his members are hearing complaints about the assault weapon registry system as well. Anyone who owns assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, and .50 caliber cartridges is required to register them through their FOID card account by January 1.

"I'm someone who has always been supportive and open to reasonable, safe constitutional proposals on this topic," Curran said. "But this one went a little further and I think we're ultimately going to see that play out in the court cases."

The Illinois Supreme Court found the law constitutional, but the legislation still faces a legal challenge before a federal court of appeals in Chicago. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved a motion last month to require Illinois State Police to hold three public hearings in order to answer questions about the assault weapon registry. Concerned assault weapon owners can watch the first public hearing Thursday morning in D-1 Stratton located in the Capitol Complex. You can also watch a live stream of the hearing by clicking here.

Although, the Pritzker administration said the only leaders in Springfield with a proven record of accomplishing big things for working families are the governor and the Democratic supermajority in the General Assembly. While the Republican lawmakers said it's time to "Think Illinois," Press Secretary Alex Gough said Pritzker has been thinking big for Illinois since day one.

"Senate Republicans have been given countless opportunities to put their constituents first and restore social services people rely on, and at every turn they have voted against this," Gough stated. "Without any of their support, the state just passed our fifth straight balanced budget, eliminated the bill backlog, and spent years rebuilding the social service infrastructure that was hollowed out by the previous administration."

Gough noted that Senate Republicans could choose to join Democrats in governing, but said "they're too busy chasing headlines with their cheap political stunts and tired talking points."