CHICAGO, Illinois — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday he has no plans to implement a statewide guaranteed income program, distancing himself from Cook County’s decision to continue funding monthly cash payments for residents. The county’s fiscal year 2026 budget includes $7.5 million for guaranteed income, following a pilot that distributed $500 monthly to 3,250 families using federal pandemic relief dollars.
Pritzker said counties and cities are free to test such policies, but they are not under consideration at the state level. “It’s not a policy that we’re looking at doing for the state of Illinois,” he said, though he added that “sometimes things that you don’t imagine would work do.” The governor emphasized job creation and “the dignity of work” as his preferred strategies for helping families meet basic needs.
The debate has also reached the Illinois General Assembly. State Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) has revived legislation prohibiting government entities from using taxpayer dollars to fund guaranteed income programs. Under his proposal, House Bill 60, local governments could still run such programs but only with private or philanthropic funding.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski criticized Cook County’s plan as “recklessly misguided welfare,” arguing it promotes dependency and lacks work or citizenship requirements.
Affordability concerns continue to drive the discussion, with lawmakers and local leaders divided over whether cash-assistance programs help stabilize families or increase financial burdens on taxpayers.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
