Pritzker's Opaque Migrant Plan Calls for More Transparency
Governor JB Pritzker announces the state will spend $160 million from the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget to address Chicago’s ongoing migrant crisis. (Photo: Capitol News Illinois)
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OPINION
Governor JB Pritzker announced his plan Thursday to move $160 million from the Department of Human Services budget to address the migrant crisis in Chicago, but the announcement comes with few details on where the money is coming from and exactly how it is being spent.
Pritzker announced the intention to spend $30 million on “intake centers,” $65 million on a tent encampment, which the state conveniently calls a “soft shelter site” to house 2,000 migrants for six months, and another $65 million t expand case management, legal services, and resettlement services.
The announcement came with a few not-so-veiled shots at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of the crisis and few details on where the money is coming from.
“This is where we are right now. They’re cold, so we will keep them warm. They are hungry, so we will feed them. They need our help, so we must do what we can,” Pritzker said with lofty, yet opaque language that would sound darn good in a Democratic primary TV ad.
Last time I checked, we knew in July and August and September that it would be cold by November and December. Why did it take so long to put together a scattered, vague proposal?
The Governor didn’t say what line items are being shifted from, his Office of Management and Budget did not return our requests for comment, and Pritzker’s spokesperson didn’t even answer a Democrat-friendly blog when asked the same question.
Not helpful.
The current DHS budget contains about $243 million for refugee or migrant services, but, again, it isn’t clear where these dollars are coming from.
Watching the whole news conference felt more like a haphazard “we’re going to make it look like we’re doing something” politician trope, which is something Pritzker hasn’t fallen into the trap of that often.
Few Republicans (save a nearly incoherent tweet from Congresswoman Mary Miller) made public statements regarding the announcement, though Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), the lead House Republican budgeteer, criticized Pritzker’s priorities.
“Governor Pritzker’s plan to shift around money within DHS’ budget to provide an additional $160 million to address Chicago’s migrant crisis puts the needs of migrants ahead of the needs of our own citizens,” Hammond said in a statement. “DHS provides essential services to the developmentally disabled, senior citizens, and children in need. Serving the citizens of Illinois is our responsibility, first and foremost. The Governor and his Democratic friends need to get their priorities straight.”
We’ll be submitting FOIA requests to the Governor’s office and DHS to get more details on how the money is being spent.
That isn’t to say the state shouldn’t do anything to help migrants. The city is failing them and the federal government is nowhere to be found.
“Now that we’re very close to winter, it is clear that the city needs more help,” Pritzker said. “And so the state is now stepping in to provide some of that help.”
It’s not a bad sentiment, but we sure as heck deserve more details about how the Governor is spending our money.