Pritzker's SAFE-T Act Position Still Clear as Mud
Gov. JB Pritzker continued to tap dance around his preferred amendments to the controversial SAFE-T Act at a news conference Tuesday.
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OPINION
Governor JB Pritzker continually tap danced around the need to amend the cash bail provisions in the so-called SAFE-T Act during the fall campaign, and many thought he would be more clear on his position once the campaign ended and he secured a second term.
Not so much.
When asked Tuesday what “needs” to be in an amendment to the SAFE-T Act, Pritzker said he had been clear (while he continued to be quite unclear), while at the same time being dismissive of WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky:
“I could take you back to 17 different moments in which I answered your question. I will do it one more time. That it is very important that we address the misunderstandings, the misinformation that exists about the SAFE-T Act. Changes to the SAFE-T Act certainly would, should include making clear what the purpose of no cash bail is, making sure that people are not, in counties across Illinois, led to believe that they should be flinging the jail doors open on January 1. That’s not what the legislation says. But, I do think that Republicans and Democrats are talking about what items should be in the changes in the trailer bill that is being considered.”
Many of the Republicans are actually state’s attorneys, and sheriffs, and others that are at the table as well as, perhaps, a few of the members of the General Assembly.”
(Fact check: no Republican lawmakers have been in any of the negotiations and haven’t been brought to the table at all. DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin has been involved in some House discussions, we’re told.)
Back to Pritzker:
“But there is a bill that’s in the works, I couldn’t tell you this moment exactly where that bill is (should have read the newsletter yesterday!), but that is the real purpose of getting a bill done that is there are tweaks and changes and clarifications that need to be made and I think we all agree on that and, so, they’re hard at work doing that.”
Clear as mud. He already won the election, so what reason does he have not to show sone leadership on the topic?
I’ve been told one of Pritzker’s deputy governors has been involved in discussions over the past couple of weeks, but it doesn’t sound like Pritzker has directly weighed in as a final bill was negotiated.