(The Center Square) – Republicans say Gov. J.B. Pritzker has had more than enough time to address continued problems with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Earlier this week, Pritzker said the buck does stop with him, but change takes time.
“I have responsibility for the agencies under my executive authority,” Pritzker said during an unrelated event Monday. “I would remind you, and I know this gets lost often by opponents. They don’t want to talk about the fact that it takes some time to turn things around when things aren’t working.”
Pritzker was asked about continued problems after the case of an 18-year-old who died last year, despite having been on DCFS’s radar. Mackenzi Felmlee died in May 2024. Her foster mother and her foster mother’s mother have been charged in her death.
State Rep. Nicole La ha, R-Homer Glen, said Pritzker has had more than enough time.
“And this isn’t just failures. This is fatal mismanagement, right? So, Yeah, the buck does stop with him,” La Ha said. “He is overseeing these things, you know, and this isn’t, you know, an us versus them. This is something we can all be working together.”
Pritzker said his administration is working to get more information about the Felmlee case.
“This is an outside agency that’s been contracted by DCFS to monitor that particular child,” Pritzker said. “So obviously, questions about that outside agency have been pursued.”
State Rep. Tom Weber listed off a list of children on DCFS radar who have died. He said Republicans have tried to bring about oversight.
“The Auditor General’s report released this week showed that 29 of 34 failures are repeat findings. That’s 85% repeat failures. That is a problem that comes with failed leadership,” Weber said. “Gov. Pritzker, you’ve had six years, yet the failures continue and children are dying. It’s time to work across the aisle for new solutions.”
