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* The governor has been making the rounds with editorial boards and others. From his sit-down with Bloomberg…
“You need to be able to discern the difference between someone’s posturing and what they really need,” he said of his conversations with Republican legislators, who came to the governor’s mansion in Springfield for cocktails. Some privately told him that “they had talked to me more in the first couple months of my tenure in office than they did for four years under Bruce Rauner.” […]
Illinois last week became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, which could eventually bring in $300 million to $700 million annually, Pritzker said. The change isn’t going to encourage more use, because “marijuana is readily available now,'’ he said. More importantly, the bill allows some drug convictions to be expunged.
“Are we safer with it legalized? Are we safer with it illegal? … I believe we’re making a more just society,” he said. “This most importantly was about criminal justice reform, expunging records, and safety.”
Pritzker said the state has set aside $29 million — the largest per-capita investment in the country — to ensure a maximum census count. A move by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to include a citizenship question could hurt the accuracy of the population count, he said. “We have to get our numbers,” Pritzker said.
* Sun-Times…
At a meeting with the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’s inherited infrastructure repairs that have been kicked down the road for decades. He said the state has $15 billion in life safety infrastructure investments to make — and that’s just the start of it.
“Think about all the pent up demand and need — the potholes, the bridges they’re falling apart, the mass transit that we can all see everyday here in Chicago is crumbling — that needs to be done,” Pritzker said.
“So look, we have to pay for these things, and we tried to find ways to live up to our obligations to make it safe and then remember we also need to focus on economic development.”
That’ll mean building new roads in areas where there’s development that could go on and that there’s investment in communities that have “been left out frankly for far too long,” Pritzker said.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 12:34 pm
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Unlike some who have had the gig, the dude is comfortable in his own skin and can carry on an honest conversation, not just robotically repeat canned talking points, over and over and over…..
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 12:40 pm
The visual I am getting from the meeting with Bloomberg is the scene from “It’s A Wonderful Life” where the bank’s bust and Jimmy Stewart is trying to deal with the folks trying to get all of their money back. I suspect that isn’t too far from the truth…
Comment by Mr. Smith Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 12:52 pm
I agree with Word. This guy isn’t just another political hack. His conversations are straight forward and honest and not some contrived pre-arranged answer drawn up by his staff. Hope he can follow thru with some of his good intensions. A real breath of fresh air.
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 12:53 pm
Very impressed with this governor. He is professional and effective.
Comment by Barrington Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 1:07 pm
It’s like reading competent governors of the past; Thompson and Edgar…
but…
… the call to action now, and the wheeling and dealing or fiscal conservatism Pritzker is speaking of is governing with the boldness of Thompson, the Thoughtfulness of Edgar, butvthe stylings and seasonings of Pritzker.
Each governor brings something to the job, we’re lucky Pritzker has a good mix of Thompson and Edgar as his own styles are seemingly answering the bell to the needs of today.
Good stuff in his words.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 1:14 pm
His communication is good and that’s a pleasant change. Just wish his social positions were are good but one can’t have everything.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 1:20 pm
He obviously listens well, and then shows respect by providing a clear response. He also gives credit where it’s due. So far so good, on the interpersonal level.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 1:24 pm
J.B. is an example of why I refute the notion that a governor needs to have previously held elected office to be effective. Yes, it’s very early and he will surely have growing pains but I truly feel his interpersonal skills and ability to read people will serve him much better than any previous experience or institutional knowledge. The last two can be acquired via a Cabinet but relatability is innate.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 1:27 pm
===The last two can be acquired via a Cabinet===
We’ll see if he can overcome the hiring pains and shed the transition mentality. Now that he’s done lobbying, the governor has to prove he can manage a complex bureaucracy effectively. Talk is cheap if you can’t deliver.
Comment by OutOfState Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 2:28 pm
A range of $300 million to $700 million is straight forward?
Edgar’s retirement ramp removes him from the competent group.
Comment by Hickory Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 3:46 pm
Money can solve a lot of problems but I don’t know how we don’t end up being severely under counted if that citizenship question is added to the census.
Comment by tgk Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 3:53 pm
It’s amazing other states have roads and bridges but much lower taxes. I remember when Illinois didn’t even have a state income tax and they still had roads and bridges and schools. Go figure…
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 6:06 pm
===It’s like reading competent governors of the past; Thompson and Edgar…===
Lauded they are, but they bear a significant part of the responsibility for the states’ sorry financial state.
Pritzker is refreshing in both his understanding that the problem can be solved, people are willing to solve it, and progress can be made today.
Edgar kicked the can so bad that the children of my unborn children might be on the hook for it.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 9:10 pm
Steve - sources? Anecdotal accounts don’t really convince anyone of anything.
Comment by Southern Illinois Infrastructure Thursday, Jun 6, 19 @ 3:44 am
–I remember when Illinois didn’t even have a state income tax and they still had roads and bridges and schools. Go figure…–
Yeah, tell us how the War of Northern Aggression was about tariffs, too, since you’re into ridiculous historical revisionism.
Ogilvie campaigned and won on the disastrous conditions of state roads and schools. You’re nostalgic for a time that never existed.
https://www.lib.niu.edu/1982/ii821225.html
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 6, 19 @ 7:37 am