Pritzker pitches policy playbook for Democrat-controlled Congress
(The Center Square) – Following the Democrats’ capture of a Congressional majority, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is calling on the new class and existing Democrats to take on a package of more than 200 policies he says will benefit Illinois residents and everyone across the country.
The package, which he’s calling the “Fighting for Illinois: The Day One Agenda,” was announced by the governor alongside the state’s next Senate delegation Wednesday morning. It’s a playbook somewhat similar to the Republicans’ Project 2025.
“This is not a list of abstract goals or lofty demands. It is a practical road map for governing. It is identifying what can be done now,” Pritzker said. “Repeal the provisions of HR-1, that’s the big ugly bill. In particular, the ones that stripped SNAP and Medicaid away from millions all across the United States.”
Pritzker identified some of the other policies he wants Democrats to take on as part of his proposal, including sending tariff refund checks directly to Americans, raising the federal minimum wage, ending conflict with Iran, immigration reform, federal AI guardrails and wider protections for abortion.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., emphasized economic policies she said are aimed at helping everyday American taxpayers, such as ending tax breaks for major tech companies, reinstating Affordable Care Act tax credits and more.
“We are going to use every seat we gained to fight back against Trump and fight for what American families really need,” Duckworth said.
Senator-elect Julianna Stratton reflected the others’ remarks, while also emphasizing her desire to roll back many Trump-backed policies.
“We know what it means to fight back. And today we’re making sure that Congress knows what it needs to do on day one. That means repealing SNAP eligibility restrictions and making sure everyone can put food on the table. Protecting head start programs for our kids. Rolling back the cruel and harmful cuts to Medicaid and ACA tax credits that have stripped millions of their coverage,” Stratton said.
Questioned by members of the media about how the Democrat-controlled Congress would get the president on board with bills they pass, Duckworth wasn’t worried.
“We’re going to call Donald Trump on it. And even in the next two years, while we have control of the Congress, he’s still in the White House. We can put things in front of him and dare him to veto them. Dare him to veto them. I think he’s too much of a chickensh-t to veto a lot of this stuff and we’re going to hold him accountable,” Duckworth said.
The 120th Congress takes control Jan. 3 with the newly-elected Democratic majority and two more years of Trump’s term left to play out.
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