(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is ignoring the major problems facing children and developmentally disabled people in the state’s care who are being abused or dying, according to House Republicans.
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, said Democrats are ignoring the stagnant problems plaguing the state when they focus on things like banning plastic bags, or decriminalizing prostitution, or spending more money. He said the governor is also culpable by not focusing on the issue as he dabbles in national politics.
“He doesn’t put attention on the most vulnerable members of our society and that’s regardless of what’s happening in [Washington] D.C.,” Keicher said during a news conference.
At an unrelated event in Springfield Tuesday, Pritzker said he does take action on those issues.
“By making changes and adjusting to make sure that we’re keeping people safe and indeed, that is working,” Pritzker said.
Republicans say since 2018, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services failed to produce incident reports for over 1,200 child deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries.
After laying out the years of continued problems plaguing agencies overseeing the health and safety of children and developmentally disabled in the state’s care, state Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, said the governor needs to get to work in Illinois.
“Instead of campaigning in swing states, funding supreme court races in Wisconsin or chasing after CNN and MSNBC for a crumb of national political attention,” Fritts said.
Pritzker said that is “insane.” He said he’s working to protect federal funding from the Trump administration.
“I don’t think in this circumstance can anybody who holds state office can not talk about what’s going on at the federal level and the impact that it will have on state government and our budget,” Pritzker said.
Republicans say the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the state’s treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities.
“The Federal Department of Justice recently announced an investigation into the treatment of patients in developmental centers operated by IDHS,” Fritts’ office told The Center Square. “They are specifically focusing on Choate, Jack Mabley and Samuel Shapiro developmental centers.”
