House Minority Leader: “Gov. Pritzker, you sold out”

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Friday’s signing of legislative maps gives superminority Republicans the perfect opportunity to put Gov Pritzker on blast.

“Gov. Pritzker, you sold out,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) at an online news conference a couple of hours after the signing was made known.

“You sold out independents. You sold out Republicans. You sold out Democrats to the partisan Democrat machine which has destroyed Illinois.

“And, governor, not only did you sell out, but you lied.”

Durkin’s Senate counterpart, Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), said he would not rule out a court challenge to make Pritzker pay “a political price” to return “power to the people.”

Republicans say the data Democrats used was flawed – and even advocacy groups not always in line with GOP ideas had asked for non political mapmaking.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…