Chicago Republican Party Chairman Chris Cleveland has never wavered in his stance on immigration.
“If someone is here illegally, they shouldn't get government money. It's that simple,” Cleveland told Chicago City Wire. "The law is the law.”
Cleveland is at a complete loss to understand how Democrats can justify having a provision in the state’s newly passed $42 billion spending plan that stands to make Illinois the first state in the country to provide Medicaid benefits to undocumented immigrants. As of July 1, 2021, undocumented immigrants over the age of 65 with incomes of $12,670 or less would be eligible to receive Medicaid benefits.
“Giving the money undermines the rule of law,” Cleveland added. “Democrats need to understand that if they don't like the immigration law they can work to change it, but ignoring it is not an option.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has already vowed to sign off on the legislation, which Democrats banded together to pass during a four-day special session of the General Assembly.
Cleveland seems to view it all as the latest example of the governor resorting to any means he feels he has to get whatever he wants. He recently blasted the governor for misleading people about the progressive income tax he has been pushing since his days as a candidate.
“The amendment removes restrictions on the tax rate,” he told Chicago City Wire. The proposition will appear on the general election ballot in November asking whether the state Constitution should be amended to allow lawmakers the power to enact a progressive tax as a replacement for the current flat tax system.
“Who trusts this legislature to not raise rates in the future?” he asked.
Cleveland pointed to a new Illinois Policy Institute report that concluded that if the tax were enacted, it would effectively wipe out all of the 45,000 jobs the state gained over the last year.
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