Elected Governor, J.B. Pritzker, Appoints Committee to Address Budgetary Mistake

Governor-elect J. B. Pritzker announced Thursday the creation of a task force of politicians, businessmen and union leaders to advise him. He described it as a "guide" to help his administration orient itself in solving the State's budget problems.

Chicago Democrat's "Budget and Innovation Committee" has 17 members on both sides of the aisle.

The president is former state controller Dan Hynes, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for the governorship and the US Senate. Other members include Christine Radogno, former Republican Leader of the Illinois Senate, Michael Sacks, President and CEO of GCM Grosvenor, Chicago Treasurer, Kurt Summers and Dan Montgomery, President of the Federation of Teachers of the University of Illinois. 'Illinois.

Hynes called the committee the beginning of what will be a "collaborative and innovative process."

"The budget will not only be the top priority, it will also impact everything our new governor will try to accomplish," said Hynes.

With unpaid bills of $ 8 billion, pension commitments and other financial issues that impact services will require a collective effort and creative thinking, Hynes said. It will take an honest solution of the problems and a collaborative process to solve them, he said.

Pritzker named his biggest transition team Wednesday, a day after defeating Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Pritzker said his budget and innovation committee is the first in a series of working groups that he will train to deal with state-specific issues.

Reports produced by the committee dealing with tax issues will be made public, Pritzker said.

"I'm going to be very aware of what committees do, listening to them and following them as they address each issue," said Pritzker. "This will be a guide for what we intend to do in our administration, in each of the committees we form."

Pritzker has not clarified his plans for a progressive taxation system. He added that listening and including all parties would be important to meet the difficult challenge of passing the constitutional amendment needed to change the system.

"In order to change the state's tax system, we must make sure we listen," Pritzker said at the Springfield press conference. "I know you do not all want to accept it, but for something to be done, we have to listen to all parties."