J.B. Pritzker in 2024 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Health Care:
The only bottom line that matters is keeping people healthy
I am introducing a bill to curb predatory insurance practices--putting power back into the hands of patients and their doctors. It's called the Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act.
We should never, ever, ever, ever cede decisions to the whims of insurance executives whose focus is always on the bottom line. When it comes to patient care, the only bottom line that really matters is what needs to be done to keep people healthy.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 21, 2024
On Health Care:
Expand who is recognized as Medicaid healthcare providers
In Illinois, a serious effort to reduce maternal mortality rates is long overdue. And Black women in our state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Beginning this year, doulas, midwives,
and lactation consultants can now be recognized as Medicaid healthcare providers, ensuring that they can be fairly compensated. That will make more services more readily available to communities with the highest mortality rates.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 21, 2024
On Immigration:
Won't shut the immigration door once open to our ancestors
I've spoken many times about my own family's refugee history. I will not join the chorus of people in this country or in this chamber who eagerly look to slam shut an immigration door that was once open to our ancestors.
Listen, maybe some of you think we should just say, "this is not our problem," and that we should let the migrant families starve or freeze to death. But that's not what decent Midwesterners do. That's not what leaders do.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 21, 2024
Page last updated: Sep 29, 2024