(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker expresses deep concern over federal legislation cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, warning it will severely impact vulnerable Illinois residents.
At an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Pritzker warned the so-called “big, beautiful bill” working through the U.S. Congress will severely impact vulnerable Illinois residents. The U.S. Senate moved the bill back over to the U.S. House. President Donald Trump is aiming to sign the measure on Independence Day.
Pritzker said more than half a million people in the state could lose essential services necessary for survival, including food assistance and healthcare.
“I also want to say people will die because this bill is going to be signed into law by the president,” said Pritzker. “We have critical access hospitals. There are hospitals across central and southern Illinois that I would be surprised if we don’t see closures of hospitals. We don’t have enough healthcare as it is.”
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, said Pritzker’s priorities to give benefits to illegal immigrants has taken away from folks who really need help.
“He can spare me his hypocrisy,” Niemerg told The Center Square.
The House version proposes cutting approximately $300 billion from SNAP over the next decade, amounting to nearly a 30% reduction through 2034.
Republicans argue that the SNAP changes are not “cuts” in the traditional sense, but reforms aimed at reducing dependency and promoting work.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill is one of the most pro-worker pieces of legislation in history,” said a social media post by Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria. “Congressional Republicans’ bill boosts take-home pay for millions while eliminating taxes on overtime for those working hourly jobs, including our law enforcement and first responders.”
Pritzker called the bill the “big, ugly bill.”
“I am prayerful, I guess, that something will intervene. I have to admit I’m pessimistic about Washington D.C. and their ability to do the right thing,” said Pritzker.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, parroted Pritzker in a social media post saying, “Taking health insurance away from 17 million families and closing rural hospitals is a helluva way to make America great.”
Pritzker warned that Trump signing the measure also threatens energy production and jobs, saying the measure is harmful to both the climate and clean energy efforts.
“I’m concerned about our ability to meet the goals that I think many of us have for the country, let alone for the state of Illinois. But I am also hopeful that there will be change that comes about sooner rather than later. I think about the 2026 elections. I think about the 2028 elections and the need to restore sanity to our energy policies,” said Pritzker.
Niemerg said Pritzker’s energy policies to rely on wind and solar have driven up energy costs four fold and his “outrageous taxes have killed jobs.”
