Pritzker Downplays Additional State Funding for Migrant Crisis
Governor JB Pritzker speaks at a pro-Israel rally in Glencoe Tuesday.
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The Illinoize reported Tuesday morning that legislative discussions were ongoing to pass a supplemental budget appropriation during the fall veto session to help Chicago deal with the influx of legal, asylum-seeking migrants from the southern border.
But, Governor JB Pritzker appeared to downplay that idea. Speaking to reporters after a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Eli’s Cheesecake factory on Chicago’s northwest side, Pritzker said a supplemental was news to him (maybe they should re-up their subscription).
“I have not heard of a supplemental that will be introduced,” Pritzker said Tuesday. “That’s certainly something the legislature might think about doing. But, there are plenty of other things to consider.”
The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget has not responded to multiple requests for details on what the state has spent on the migrant crisis so far, but Pritzker has said publicly the state has spent over $300 million. He has stated a portion of the funding has come from a rental assistance program for the working poor.
Republicans have also questioned if the state can afford a supplemental appropriation. One caucus has estimated the state ended the fiscal year with a $45 million surplus and, after a deposit in the state’s rainy day fund, the new budget had a cushion of around another $50 million.
But the crux of the issue may stand with the Medicaid-style health care program for undocumented immigrants. The legislature halved the appropriation requested to manage the program from $1.2 billion to around $600 million with the expectation Pritzker would work to cut costs.
But, the Pritzker administration has already pulled back its plan to institute co-pays for the services and questions persist if the administration can still shave more than half-a-billion from the balance sheet.
Earlier Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker spoke to a Jewish United Fund rally for Israel in north-suburban Glencoe.
Pritzker, who is Jewish, said Illinoisans stand with Israelis.
“Each step of the way, they should know and the people of Israel should all know that America and Illinois unequivocally stands with them in their battle to end the ongoing Hamas attacks,” Pritzker said. “We stand with Israel.”
But, divisions persist among Illinois Democrats.
