SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — With a federal government shutdown approaching, Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans to negotiate with Democratic leaders to extend government funding, protect healthcare access, and cut costs.
Pritzker criticized Trump for avoiding talks, saying, “For a guy who claims to understand ‘The Art of the Deal,’ Donald Trump is awfully scared of negotiating one.” He stressed that Democrats are ready to find common ground to prevent a shutdown.
Pritzker backs a funding bill that would reverse Medicaid cuts and extend ACA tax credits to prevent a 93% spike in health insurance costs for 22 million Americans. After visiting Joliet Junior College, he released a video urging Trump to negotiate, keep the government open, and safeguard healthcare.
A shutdown could furlough 3 million federal workers, including 45,000 in Illinois, and leave 1.3 million active-duty service members without pay. It could also cost taxpayers hundreds of millions in back pay and administrative expenses and permanently remove $3 billion from the economy.
During his first term, Trump oversaw two shutdowns, including the longest in U.S. history. By contrast, Pritzker has passed seven consecutive balanced budgets in Illinois.
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