Interview: Governor J. B. Pritzker (D-IL)

COVID-19 is resurgent across the state. On October 27, 2020, the statewide coronavirus caseload stood at 382,985 including 9,568 deaths since the pandemic began. On the same day, Illinois Dept. of Public Health reported 4,000 new cases, double the daily amount of the month prior. 

Meanwhile, Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature policy proposal — changing Illinois’ constitution to allow for a graduated income tax is on the November 3 ballot. Click here to check out more on the graduated income tax.

The 21st spoke to the governor about both issues.

Guest:

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL)

Text The 21st

We asked listeners in our text club for questions they would like to ask Gov. Pritzker. Here are some we recieved:

Gretchen in Coulterville: “All guidelines and adherence to mitigation actions are mostly ignored in southern Illinois. How can we best encourage our communities and local officials to get on board with even the most basic of infection prevention actions?”

Katie in Springfield: I'd like to know what if any plans are in place to provide all K-12 schools rapid testing kits?

Kyle in Champaign: “My big question is what is stopping him from going back to sheltering the whole state? Cases are rising everywhere and they're worse than when we first sheltered. Is it the election? Or is it something else?”

Amy in Ottawa: “Why should Illinois voters support a graduated income tax proposal in the midst of economic uncertainty?”

Jan in Savoy: “How will the tax impact family farms?”

Michael in Charleston: "What are Gov. Pritzker's plans and outlook for universities and colleges through the remainder of the pandemic and afterwards? What is he willing to do to support students and the burden of costs to their education?"

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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