New Audit Exposes Pritzker’s Major Failures in Undocumented Immigrant Healthcare
A new report from the Auditor General has revealed significant mismanagement in Governor JB Pritzker’s taxpayer-funded healthcare program for illegal immigrants, including thousands of ineligible enrollees and costs that ended up being nearly three times higher than what the Governor said they would be.
Auditors found more than 6,000 enrollees listed as “undocumented” who actually had Social Security Numbers, raising concerns about the state’s failure to properly verify eligibility. This lack of oversight undermines public trust and forces taxpayers to cover the costs of the Administration’s mismanagement.
The audit also uncovered massive cost overruns, with some age groups seeing expenditures nearly 300% higher than originally projected. The most extreme overrun occurred in the 42-54 age group, where costs nearly tripled the budgeted amount. These budget failures highlight a significant lapse in fiscal planning.
Republicans have long criticized Governor Pritzker’s decision to prioritize spending on illegal immigrants while Illinois families face rising property taxes, grocery bills, and healthcare costs. This program, marked by waste and mismanagement, has fueled further distrust in how taxpayer dollars are spent.
The audit’s findings have prompted renewed calls for legislative action to bring much-needed transparency so taxpayers can see where their money is going. Senate Bill 1699, for which I serve as a leading Co-Sponsor, would require detailed annual reports on all taxpayer-funded programs for migrants and illegal immigrants, including healthcare, housing, legal aid, and other services. These reports would provide transparency on expenditures, appropriations, recipients, and contracts, and would be made publicly available online.
Wilcox Urges Illinoisans to Beware of “Unpaid Toll Text Scam”
There are scammers out there who are using text messages to try and scare people into divulging personal information. The phishing messages may appear to come from various toll agencies, such as I-PASS or FasTrak. Regardless of the sender, officials confirm they are not legitimate.
Scammers include threats of additional fees if payments aren’t made within a certain timeframe, and they provide a link urging recipients to copy and paste it into a browser. Officials warn against clicking the link, responding to the message, or making any payments.
If you are concerned about unpaid tolls, check your Illinois Tollway account here or call customer service at 800-824-7277. Representatives are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. If you are a victim of this scam, you are also encouraged to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this link. To learn more about how to recognize phishing scam texts or emails, visit the Illinois Tollway website here.
Homeschool Families’ Annual Cherry Pie Day Set for Thursday in Springfield
I have always been a strong advocate for homeschool families in this state. This week, on Thursday, March 6, the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) will hold their 35th annual “Cherry Pie Day” at the Capitol. On this lobby day, hundreds of homeschool families from across the state travel to Springfield for a day of awareness to remind legislators that homeschooling continues to thrive in the State of Illinois. Those who attend are meeting at the State Capitol, 401 S. Second Street, Springfield, between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM to drop off pies that will be distributed to legislators later in the day.
If you plan to attend this year’s day of awareness, you can click here to register. You can also click here to learn more about 2025 Cherry Pie Day.
Illinois Senators Demand Action: Property Tax Relief for Struggling Homeowners
Despite it being a top concern for Illinoisans, during Governor Pritzker’s recent budget address there was no mention of property tax relief. Senate Republicans continue their push for immediate property tax relief for Illinois homeowners, especially seniors and low-income families, who are struggling with rising property taxes.
Members of the Senate Republican caucus held a press conference on February 27th, highlighting some of our legislative proposals. Policy proposals highlighted at the press conference include Senate Bill 2086, which seeks to raise the income eligibility for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption to $75,000 and ties future increases to inflation.
Additionally, Senate Republicans filed Senate Bill 2093, which would make the Illinois Property Tax Credit refundable, providing more financial relief to lower-income homeowners. Also introduced last week by our caucus was Senate Bill 2246, which limits how much the assessed value of a home can increase during reassessment years, capping it at the rate of inflation.
These legislative efforts aim to protect vulnerable homeowners and help families stay in their homes.
IDNR Announces Grants to Strengthen Rural Fire Departments
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants from NOW to April 14. These grants help rural fire departments organize, train, and equip their teams to better combat fires, particularly in areas at risk of wildfires.
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the VFA program provides matching funds, covering up to 50% of project costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $10,000. Fire departments must make initial payments before receiving reimbursement.
In 2024, the program awarded $212,811 to support 30 Illinois projects, funding equipment like radios, hoses, protective gear, and chainsaws.
IDNR encourages all eligible fire departments to apply to strengthen their fire protection capabilities. Additional information about grant requirements and opportunities can be found on the IDNR grants website and the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.