Rockford Sun

Governor J.B. Pritzker's recent visit to Washington, D.C., has put Illinois' sanctuary state policies under scrutiny. While he defends his actions as compliance with existing laws, critics argue that his immigration agenda is costly for the state. In 2021, legislation was signed by Governor Pritzker requiring counties to terminate ICE detention contracts, which some say weakens the state's ability to manage dangerous individuals. Additionally, the establishment of the taxpayer-funded Welcoming Illinois office aims to provide benefits for undocumented immigrants.

State Senator Dave Syverson commented on the governor's priorities: "Residents deserve leadership rooted in accountability, not political ambition."

In another development, former House Speaker Michael Madigan has been sentenced to 7½ years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million for corruption charges including racketeering and bribery. This marks a significant downfall for a man once considered one of Illinois' most powerful politicians. Despite Madigan's conviction, there have been no new ethics reforms passed targeting the General Assembly since his indictment.

On a different front, Illinois Democrats have approved a new tax on online sports bets set to begin July 1st. Sportsbooks will face a per-wager tax that could affect consumers and potentially harm the legal sports betting industry within the state.