Gov. JB Pritzker reacts to the Senate turning down one of his appointees to the Prisoner Review Board

Posted on March 23, 2022
Gov. Pritzker. (Photo courtesy: Gov. Pritzker)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – While Republicans try to make hay from Gov Pritzker’s record on crime … there’s also the record of the Prisoner Review Board to examine.

The superminority party here wants you to know that the board releases felons who were sentenced to up to one thousand years in prison. Pritzker, on the other hand, says, “It’s the stories that they are telling are false about the people who are being brought up before the Prisoner Review Board. It’s easy to say, this person did something wrong, we ought to keep them in prison. But the reality is that’s exactly the function – every person that gets brought up before the Prisoner Review Board has done something wrong in their lives.”

The governor is having trouble getting his appointees to the board through the Senate, which – despite Democrats’ domination – turned down one of his nominees. More are expected to be voted on by the Senate Monday.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…