Pritzker-backed group helping to export Illinois' abortion extremism to other states
A dark money group funded entirely by our state's billionaire governor is helping fuel pro-abortion ballot initiatives nationwide.
When Ohio passed its voter initiative enshrining abortion access in its constitution in last week’s election, Ohioans could count among supporters our own Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Pritzker’s newly-minted non-profit Think Big America gave a whopping quarter of a million dollars to Ohioans for Reproductive Rights in an effort to boost the pro-abortion ballot initiative in the Buckeye State. Members of the group also served as strategists for the Ohio initiative.
Pritzker also reportedly gave $750,000 of his own money to the effort in Ohio.
TBA has also given $1 million to efforts to pass a similar pro-abortion initiative in Nevada. The group’s newly hired communications director Christina Amestoy also suggested TBA would wade into Arizona’s pro-abortion ballot measure.
As a 501(c)4 organization, TBA is not legally required to disclose its donors. However, according to the group, Pritzker is the only donor so far.
In Illinois, Pritzker has racked up quite a pro-abortion record.
He signed the “Reproductive Health Care Act”, which made abortion a “fundamental right.” He repealed the Parental Notification Act. He invested $11.2 million of federal and state funding into family planning services, which include abortion referrals.
Pritzker also signed a bill requiring funding for training doctors to perform abortions, and preventing doctors from being sued for wrongful death when performing abortions.
Pritzker also joined fellow governors in the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a group that seeks to draft and support pro-abortion legislation nationwide.
The governor signed legislation that curtailed the rights of pro-life pregnancy resource centers. The legislation was put on hold pending free speech concerns. The judge who stayed the legislation issued a ruling calling it “very likely unconstitutional.”
Working class people around the country have faced serious issues with inflation. Unions, from auto and rail workers to actors and writers, have engaged in historic strikes. Income inequality has reached epic proportions. And the globe faces an ecologically-imposed drop deadline for decisive climate action.
Instead of focusing on any of these critical issues, our billionaire governor has poured millions of his own money into a venture aimed at expanding abortion in an effort to turn the rest of the country toward the abortion extremism that has become the hallmark of Illinois in the Pritzker era.
Illinois deserves better, and America should think bigger than the country envisioned by Pritzker’s Think Big America.
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The Round Up
Here are the stories that caught our eyes this week and what they mean for the weeks ahead.
This Is the deadliest year for Chicago Fire Department since 1998. Here’s why
Firefighter Andrew “Drew” Price’s death while battling a Lincoln Park blaze Monday marked the fourth death among Chicago firefighters this year — the deadliest year for the Chicago Fire Department since 1998.
The most recent firefighter death was last month, when Lt. Kevin Ward died of injuries from an Aug. 11 fire near O’Hare. Firefighters Jan Tchoryk and Jermaine Pelt also died on the job within days of each other in April.
Although new technologies have made firefighting safer and more efficient, changes in how buildings and furniture are made have allowed for blazes to spread much faster.
Poll: Chicago Mayor Johnson's approval rating among lowest ever
Six months into his term, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faces low approval according to a new poll.
Johnson defeated Paul Vallas in an April runoff election for the Chicago mayor's office. Since then, Johnson has dealt with migrant issues, crime, and budgetary problems.
The new poll shows Johnson's approval rating is just 28 percent, while 50 percent of Chicago voters disapprove of his actions.
Brandon Johnson wasn’t supposed to take campaign money from city contractors, but he did
Mayor Brandon Johnson isn’t allowed to take campaign contributions from city contractors under a City Hall ethics rule but has accepted them anyway.
Asked about that, Christian Perry, Johnson’s political director, says taking the money was an “oversight” and that it’s being returned — about $46,500 in all.
In some instances, it appears that city contractors were solicited for campaign cash by Johnson’s political fundraisers.
Newsclips
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Lawsuits against L’Oréal, Chicago-based companies over hair relaxers move forward
More Palestinians live in Cook County than any other county in the nation
Governor JB Pritzker outlines plans for migrant intake center, funds for shelter
One year before Chicago’s first school board election, key details remain unresolved
Migrant work permits still scarce in Chicago since protections expanded
Instructive, as always. We need this kind of reporting in LA.
Great article Mike. Thanks for following Prizker who has Oval Office ambitions.