(The Center Square) – Political rhetoric around the one big beautiful bill President Donald Trump signed July 4 continues to ramp up in Illinois.
During an open ended news conference Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said provisions in the law will impact food assistance and health care for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans. He even took aim at the federal school choice scholarships tax credit the bill enacts.
Johnson said Republicans gave a $1 trillion tax cut to the “ultra rich.”
“This is an abomination. It’s sinful. It’s unholy,” Johnson said.
Last week, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said “people will die” because of the bill. Monday, Pritzker released a statement that an estimated 360,000 Illinoisans could have food benefits “threatened.” Tuesday, Pritzker’s office released another statement that the law “strips” health care from 330,000 Illinoisans.
“In Illinois, we will never waver in our commitment to fighting for our people and doing everything in our power to mitigate the impact of this devastating bill,” Pritzker said in a statement Tuesday.
Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, said the narrative that House Republicans are cutting food subsidies for those who need them is “absolutely false.”
“For critical programs like [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] to continue for generations to come, we must prioritize addressing the spending crisis in our country and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending,” LaHood told The Center Square in an email. “While far-left Democrats ramp up fearmongering tactics, House Republicans are focused on preserving this program for those who need it most, increasing transparency, supporting rural and underserved communities, and prioritizing care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations.”
Christian Maxwell, who’s vying for the Republican nomination for Illinois’ 1st Congressional District, agreed that Democrats are fearmongering.
“Instead of trying to just fear his constituents into doing what he wants them to do, he needs to actually inform them and let them make an informed decision,” Maxwell said.
Johnson warned about cuts to social services and predicted cuts for community violence intervention, or CVI.
“There is an impact when CVI is cut. Right? Because it then places more of a burden, if you will, or responsibility on law enforcement to provide support,” Johnson said.
The Community Justice Action Fund said the bill “threatens” CVI programs across the country “by slashing optional Medicaid funding that states use to support hospital-based violence interruption, trauma recovery, and wraparound services.”
“These are proven public health strategies that save lives,” the group said in a social media post as the bill was advancing.
Maxwell said instead of focusing on violence interrupters, the city needs to focus on police recruitment.
“I am not opposed to the fact that some federal funds have been withheld from mayors like Mayor Johnson, because you can’t continue to have money funneled into programs that do not work,” Maxwell said.
Illinois’ budget includes $166 million in state tax funds for CVI and similar programs.
