* Gov. Pritzker was asked today about how health care for undocumented immigrants was blowing a huge hole in the state’s budget. How would he propose filling that hole?…

Well, let’s be clear. We are going to pass a balanced budget. That is what I’m focused on. The legislature is working out the details of what it wants, its priorities. For me, I’ve put forward my priorities. And I think that generally speaking, the budget that I put forward is the one that we will pass, with, obviously some changes here and there by the legislature. That’s an issue that’s gonna have to be worked out by committees, by working groups. But what I know is that we are going to end up with a balanced budget, no matter what.

Asked about proposals to increase or eliminate the estate tax, Pritzker said…

Again, my priority is balancing the budget, making sure that we are continuing our march to credit upgrades and making sure we’ve set the real foundation for fiscal stability in our state.

* And what about that new bill to tax Chicago Bears tickets in order to help pay back the City of Chicago for some of the money it’s spent on the Soldier Field rehab, and does he have any other ideas?…

I have not given that bill any review. Som start with that. And obviously, you know, again, my number one consideration is keeping us on a firm fiscal footing. So that means that the state really shouldn’t be in the business of providing handouts to private industry and that’s what the Bears are in their endeavors. I’m rooting for the Bears. I’m also a Chicagoan and I would love it if they stayed in Chicago, but it is their choice as a private business about where they’re gonna go.

* Pritzker was also asked about a bill that would penalize “crisis pregnancy centers” if they provide false information to women…

Well, this is obviously something being considered in legislature. They’re going to send it to my desk, if they pass it. What I can tell you is that we need to prevent the kind of fraud that we’ve seen by folks who are taking out retail establishment locations next to Planned Parenthood, next to clinics where people seek their reproductive rights, and then trying to convince them to go in a different door where they won’t be offered reproductive rights, where actually they’ll be dissuaded from exercising those, and won’t be allowed to get them. And so that’s deception. That’s improper. We want to protect women in this state. And that’s why I think the bill probably has a good chance of getting passed and sent to me for signing it, and I will sign it.

* Will there be a constitutional amendment in Illinois to protect abortion rights?…

Well, obviously, that’s something the legislature’s gonna have to determine. I do think it’s important for people to be able to weigh in on this subject. And of course, we’ve guaranteed it in the Reproductive Health Act in Illinois, a woman’s right to choose and reproductive rights. So we’ll have to see what the legislature decides to do on it.

* And Pritzker was queried about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ upcoming visit to Illinois…

He doesn’t seem to be much for freedom, Ron DeSantis. He wants to take away people’s right to read the books that they want to read, wants to take away Black history in our schools, somebody who does not believe in a woman’s right to make decisions for her own self, about her own body. So you know, maybe he could learn something when he’s in Illinois, what freedom looks like.