Springfield, IL – Governor JB Pritzker spent his time with the Economic Club of Chicago yesterday rewriting history and attacking Republicans for “inflammatory rhetoric” while ignoring his own record of divisive comments, broken promises, and fiscal mismanagement.
In what’s become a pattern for the Governor, his words simply don’t match his actions. Pritzker accused President Trump of fomenting “inflammatory rhetoric,” without taking responsibility for his own record.
During his 2025 State of the State and Budget Address, Pritzker compared Republicans to Nazis, declaring:
“If you think I’m overreacting and sounding the alarm too soon, consider this: It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic.”
In the months that followed, he went even further, urging supporters to take to the streets and disrupt his political opponents:
- March 2025: “What we really need is to become street fighters.”
- April 2025: “These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.”
- April 2025: “Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption — but I am now.”
The contradictions don’t stop there. On the issue of redistricting, Pritzker campaigned on creating fair maps, promising voters he would veto any partisan gerrymandering. But once in office, he signed the most gerrymandered maps in the nation, earning an “F” from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. And instead of showing remorse, he’s now boasting about making them even more partisan. Last week on The Bulwark Podcast, Pritzker said:
“Can we draw lines that look more like 15–2? We can.”
When it comes to fiscal responsibility, Pritzker’s spin is just as misleading. He touts “balanced budgets,” yet state spending has skyrocketed nearly 40% since he took office. Alongside Democrats in the General Assembly, he’s raised taxes on hardworking Illinois families and businesses.
And when Pritzker claims Republicans “no longer want to work with him,” the truth is simple: Democrats shut Republicans out entirely during budget negotiations earlier this year, ramming through the largest spending plan in Illinois history with zero bipartisan input.
While Governor Pritzker talks about unity but governs with division, House Republicans continue to lead by example, fighting for fair maps, an honest budget process, and lower taxes for working families.
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