Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Chicago, IL – On Monday, JB Pritzker traveled across central and northern Illinois, meeting with voters and sharing his vision for the state. Here’s what Illinoisans are reading and seeing in the news about JB’s latest stops across the state.

EAST PEORIA

JB began the day at a labor breakfast hosted by Carpenters’ Local 273:

PEORIA

JB then toured healthcare provider Advanced Medical Transport and discussed plans to expand healthcare and address the opioid crisis:

From WMBD:

WATCH:

From WEEK:

WATCH:

From Peoria Public Radio: JB Pritzker Visits AMT in Peoria, Touts Plan to Tackle Opioid Crisis:

On Mon., the employees at Advanced Medical Transport also had the ear of Democratic gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker, who was promoting his plan to combat the opioid crisis.

AMT Paramedic Brown told Pritzker that he’s seen the epidemic’s emotional toll on his co-workers and on the community. […]

“This is about saving lives, and it means investing in the safety net, investing in those services across the state that have been so vastly underfunded, particularly when you have no budget.”

Pritzker blamed Gov. Bruce Rauner for underfunding social services, like mental health and rehabilitation providers, during during the two-year budget impasse.

A-M-T reports that between January and November, the company has seen 474 more overdoses than that period last year. That’s a 74-percent increase.

From WMBD: Saving lives in the stacks — J.B. Pritzker visits Peoria:

During a visit to Advanced Medical Transport Monday Democratic Gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker learned that training is increasingly needed in Illinois. AMT has seen a 74% increase in the number of overdoses this year.

Pritzker believes reducing overdose deaths in Illinois begins with education and helping those dealing with drug addiction.

Pritzker said, “You’ve got to start at the beginning where people get addicted.” He adds, “By fully funding our safety net, making sure that we are providing those mental health services, that we are catching people who would otherwise self treat and instead get them into the mental health system.”

KEWANEE

Later, JB met with the Henry County Democrats at American Legion in Kewanee:

From Kewanee Star Courier: Pritzker makes Kewanee stop:

“I decided to run,” Pritzker said, “because I feel like everything we believe in is under siege.”

Pritzker, a venture capitalists and philanthropist, covered several issues in his discussion, including his support of universal health care, improved education and job creation. He said Rauner had made the state’s fiscal and political environment worse since he became governor, and his plans to gut social service programs would only add to the state’s downward spiral.

“I think it’s time to stand up and fight,” he said.

Pritzker said his experience in the private sector and with non-profits gives him the tools needed to bring Illinois back to stability. He said he would concentrate on helping small businesses, through reduced regulations and tapping into federal loan programs.

He said the most impactful way that government could help residents is to reinvest in the state’s failing infrastructure.

“That’s how we grow businesses in this state,” he said, noting that the state has not had a capital bill in the last decade.

From Regional Daily News: JB Pritzker visits Kewanee:

J.B. Pritzker came to the American Legion in Kewanee on Monday, December 11^th. Mr. Pritzker talked about what he would like to do as the Governor of Illinois. Some of his plans include Healthcare, School Breakfast for at risk children, start more small businesses, higher minimum wage, and statewide broadband internet. […]

Overall, J.B. Pritzker came off more as a person first than a politician. Currently, Mr. Pritzker is one of five candidates that are running for the democratic party in the state of Illinois.

MARSEILLES

JB then spoke with voters from LaSalle, Putman, and Bureau Counties at Laborers’ Local 393 in Marseilles:

DEKALB

Finally, JB wrapped up the day with a meet and greet at the DeKalb County Democrats Office:

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