Bob Fioretti

There is one reason for the fiasco surrounding the Chicago Bears: the stumbling, bumbling and fumbling of Illinois' failed Governor-JB Pritzker.

As the Democratic apologists in the media and the clueless state Democrats cowardly point fingers at each other, common sense compels me to lay the blame where it belongs-at the feet of the Governor. It has been decades since Illinois had a Governor who knows how to lead on big issues. Is there any doubt what Jim Edgar or Jim Thompson would have done? They would have gathered the “leaders” of the legislature-of both parties-as well as the other major stakeholders in one room and they would have kept them there until there was an agreement that benefitted Illinois.

When a Governor cedes leadership, it permits back-benchers like Stacey Davis-Gates to high-jack the governing process. Pritzker being AWOL allowed the debate to lurch from “not one dime for the Bears” to “maybe $800 million for infrastructure which is already ear-marked (but it wasn’t),” to “let’s set up a PILOT payment program for property taxes to protect data centers” to “let’s let each city set up their own Stadium Authority (imagine Brandon Johnson with that authority)” back to “not one dime for the Bears.” With this dizzying array of head-spinning dysfunction, is it any wonder why the McCaskey family would say “a pox on all your houses, we are going to Indiana.” The bigger question may be why they waited so long.

The Bears simply want what is best for their fans and investors. Namely to play in a stadium they own, where they control the revenue, and the fan experience, including ease in getting to and from the stadium. Since almost every team from every professional sports league has this luxury, it doesn’t seem an unreasonable goal.

Sadly, for Bears fans, the Mount Rushmore of Illinois' incompetence (JB Pritzker as the face, flanked by Brandon Johnson, Senate President Don Harmon and Speaker Chris Welch) is in charge. They couldn't even bring a Bears package to a vote.

The punting of the Bears stadium issue is symbolic of these leaders' (including Attorney General Kwame Raoul) epic failures on the larger issues of taxing, spending, corruption and public safety that affect the everyday lives of all Illinoisans.

When and if the Bears finally move to Indiana, they may as well put the pictures of JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson on the moving vans.

This is no way to run a state government. It doesn't have to be this way. Elect me as Illinois' Attorney General and I will fight for you, not the special interests.

Now that the smoke and mirrors have cleared from yet another disastrous legislative session, Illinoisans deserve a clear-eyed assessment of how deeply broken state government has become.

Leaving aside the fumble on the Bears stadium situation, we should take one train wreck at a time.

Illinois Democrats will describe this budget as “fiscally responsible.” The facts tell a very different story.

This year’s budget passed at $56 billion. When JB Pritzker and Kwame Raoul assumed power, the state budget was just over $36 billion. In eight years, that is a 55.6% increase. That is not fiscal responsibility. It is runaway government growth.

Illinois Democrats also claim this budget helps working families. That is a cruel joke. Since taking office, Pritzker and Raoul have supported or presided over dozens of tax and fee increases, every single one of them targeted at working families.

In 2019, they raised the gas tax by more than 20 cents per gallon and built in automatic annual increases without requiring a new vote. Now, they are bragging about pausing a mere 1.6 cents of that increase, as though they are doing us a favor.

This budget also reflects a troubling set of priorities. It spends $146 million more for services connected to illegal immigrants, adding to the billions already spent.

This state government continues to prioritize criminals over victims, teachers unions over parents, and greedy utility companies over consumers (surely the millions of dollars of campaign contributions from utility companies and teachers unions are simply a coincidence).

It does not have to be this way.

Illinois needs an Attorney General who will stand with working families, protect victims, challenge corruption, confront special interests, and fight for you.

For a change.

Attorney General for Illinois | Bob For Illinois – United States Bob For Illinois: Advocate for justice and integrity. Discover Bob's vision as the next attorney general for Illinois.

All gave some. Some gave all.

It is always an honor to participate in the Memorial Day ceremony in Grant Park, led by my friend Major General John L. Borling USAF (Ret.). Each year, we remember the sacrifice of those who gave their life so that we can enjoy life in the greatest country in the history of planet earth. Our campaign also proudly participated in great parades in Orland Park, Naperville, and Maine Township.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/05/26/memorial-day-ceremony-grant-park

What does the Illinois Attorney General actually do? From protecting consumers to enforcing state laws and representing Illinois in court, the office plays a big role in defending the public interest. Read more and watch the explainer by attorney David Shestokas: https://wix.to/gKQ6Kp1

What Does the Illinois Attorney General Actually Do? The Illinois Attorney General is often described as the state’s “top lawyer,” but the job is much bigger than that. The Attorney General is the state’s chief legal officer and is responsible for protecting the public interest of Illinois and its people. The office advocates for residents, wo...