ENERGY
A report released earlier this week outlines how Illinois will be facing energy capacity shortfalls over the next decade, which means electricity prices will only continue to rise. Failed Democratic policies related to green energy have led to capacity issues, which will only worsen going forward without pivoting from the current course. The details are striking, and an energy crisis could be upon us soon.
Learn more here: Electricity shortages, higher bills loom in Illinois, report says
IEPA/IPA/ICC report: 2025 Resource Adequacy Study
MASS TRANSIT
Earlier this week, Governor Pritzker signed the Chicago transit bailout and stuck Illinoisans with the tab. This law will raise tolls, hike the RTA sales tax, and take money from downstate road and bridge projects to fund Chicago’s mismanaged transit system. The people of Illinois deserve better.
Learn more here: Pritzker signs $1.5B plan to overhaul public transportation, avoid service cuts | Capitol News Illinois
And here: Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs $1.5 billion transit plan | Illinois Politics | wandtv.com
MEDICAL LEGISLATION
Gov. Pritzker signs bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Illinois
Last Friday, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation allowing assisted suicide to become law. The legislation, SB 1950, faced significant objections from coroners, medical experts, religious communities, and disability-rights advocates. Throughout debate, concerns were raised about the bill’s lack of guardrails, the exclusion of key stakeholders, and the potential risks it creates for vulnerable families.
IMMIGRATION
Despite opposition from law enforcement, Pritzker approves expansion of Illinois’ failed sanctuary state policies
During the fall Veto Session, the Democrat supermajority acted against the federal government’s effort to crack down on illegal immigration in Illinois. Democrats passed, and this week Gov. Pritzker signed into law, House Bill 1312 which further expands Illinois’ failed sanctuary state policies.
Due to the Biden Administration’s disastrous open-border policy, there are now 550,000 illegal immigrants living in Illinois. At President Trump’s direction, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, recently conducted an immigration enforcement action know as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
Illinois Democrats responded to the DHS/ICE operation with the passage of HB 1312, which expands Illinois’ failed sanctuary state policies by creating Immigration Enforcement-Free Zones in and around courthouses, daycare facilities, hospitals, and college campuses. It allows illegal immigrants to sue police and immigration agents, including allowing immigrants to recover punitive damages from law enforcement and immigration officials.
The legislation will also place new requirements on hospitals, childcare facilities, and higher education institutions on how they work with law enforcement on their premises and restrictions on what information they can share with law enforcement, with potential penalties for those institutions that fail to comply.
Read more about the recently signed law here: Gov. JB Pritzker signs bill protecting immigrants from federal enforcement in Illinois.
Governor Pritzker’s Sanctuary Illinois Released More than 1,700 Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Murderers, Pedophiles, and Kidnappers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul calling on him to put the safety of Americans first and honor ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in the state’s custody including murderers, sexual predators, and those convicted of or charged with weapons offenses.
Illinois’ failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens since January 20. The crimes of these aliens include 5 homicides, 141 assaults, 23 burglaries, 4 robberies, 24 dangerous drugs offenses, 15 weapons offenses, and 10 sexual predatory offenses.
There are currently 4,015 aliens in the custody of an Illinois jurisdiction with an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 51 homicides, 1,134 assaults, 107 burglaries, 36 robberies, 275 dangerous drugs offenses, 120 weapons offenses, and 813 sexual predatory offenses.
In September, ICE sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul asking for cooperation in honoring ICE detainers on criminal illegal aliens. His office did not respond.
“Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We are calling on Governor Pritzker and his administration to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in Illinois’ custody. It is common sense. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.”
GRANTS
Applications are open for Volunteer Fire Assistance grants through February 16. Learn more here: Applications now open for IDNR Volunteer Fire Assistance grants
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
As 2025 winds to a close, I want to wish everyone a safe and joyful holiday season. With the holiday break coming, this will be my final e-newsletter for the year. I appreciate the opportunity to connect with you every week. After a couple of weeks off, the newsletter will return on January 9, 2026.
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
