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 chief 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.
Senator DeWitte to Host ICASH Unclaimed Property Event in Carpentersville
Later this month I am partnering with State Representative Dan Ugaste to help connect residents of the 33rd Senate District with more than $5 billion in unclaimed property and cash. From 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, March 26 at our shared St. Charles office, attendees can meet with a counselor from the Illinois Treasurer’s Office to learn if some of the unclaimed items are theirs. In addition to helping people search for property and cash, counselors can help them file claims.
We have had tremendous success in helping people find cash and property they didn’t even know they were owed, and about one in four searches are successful.
ICASH Unclaimed Property Day
Wednesday, March 26
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
DeWitte-Ugaste Legislative Office
406 Surrey Woods Drive
St. Charles
For additional information about this Unclaimed Property Day event, please contact our district office at (847) 214-8245, or email Abby at amccarthy@sgop.ilga.gov.
DeWitte Legislation Addressing Fire Fighter Shortage Clears Committee
Last week in Springfield, West Dundee Fire Chief Mike Spiro helped tremendously as I presented my Senate Bill 1249 to the Transportation Committee. This bill allows for out-of-state firefighters who possess appropriate driver’s licenses in their residing state to operate an emergency vehicle in Illinois. The bill received a unanimous positive vote.
According to Chief Spiro, fire service is currently facing challenges with recruitment efforts, prompting departments to adjust to attract high-quality talent. One significant obstacle they encounter is the requirement for driving the fire apparatus. As you may know, these vehicles are large and heavy, necessitating a Class B license, as required by the Illinois Secretary of State. The challenge is that obtaining a Wisconsin CDL License is costly, and the department often must bear these expenses to retain skilled employees. To address this issue, Illinois laws would be amended to allow drivers from other states to operate fire service vehicles in Illinois without needing a CDL license. This proposal would also preserve the Illinois Class B Non-CDL license for Illinois residents.
The Village of West Dundee is fortunate to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable public servant leading their Fire Department.
Senate Republicans Demand 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 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 their legislative proposals. This year we are championing 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 recently 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.
Have Your Voice Heard: File a Witness Slip
Thousands of bills have been filed at the Capitol this year, so we are spending a lot of time in committees right now. Witness slips are a very useful tool that allows you to have your support or opposition added to any bill that is scheduled for a hearing. The witness slip portal opens when a bill is scheduled for a hearing and closes after the committee hearing.
Click here to view a simple tutorial for how it’s done, and my staff is happy to help you if you need assistance navigating the process.
If there is a bill for which you have strong feeling, please add your opinion to the official record!
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.
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.