Lake County Gazette

Vernon Township Republicans Chairman Jay Swidler has criticized Governor JB Pritzker's administration for its handling of Illinois' Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program. Swidler accused the administration of mismanagement, claiming it wasted $1.6 billion and misled the public. He shared his statement with the Lake County Gazette on March 3.

"Governor JB Pritzker's administration oversaw the reckless spending of $1.6 billion in taxpayer funds on a healthcare program for noncitizens," said Swidler. "The costs far exceeded initial estimates due to poor planning, fraudulent enrollments, and widespread errors. Even as the financial disaster became clear, Pritzker refused to take responsibility and misled Illinois residents about the program's impact. It's time for Illinois to demand leadership that respects and protects taxpayer money."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois' Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program has cost the state $1.6 billion since 2020, significantly exceeding Pritzker's initial estimates. A state audit revealed that the administration underestimated both enrollment and costs, with some expenses surpassing projections by 282%. The audit identified errors such as duplicate recipient IDs and undocumented enrollees possessing Social Security numbers. Despite these financial challenges, Pritzker recently decided to terminate the program by July 1, although Republican leaders are calling for an immediate shutdown.

Capitol News Illinois reported that Illinois is facing a projected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2026 due to the expiration of federal pandemic aid and stagnant tax revenues. Pritzker presented his seventh budget on February 19 amid economic slowdowns and uncertainty regarding future federal funding. According to Capitol News, Republican lawmakers have proposed reducing aid for undocumented residents as a cost-cutting measure, citing expenses allegedly reaching $558 million during this fiscal year alone. Additionally, former President Trump's efforts to reduce federal funding to Illinois have reportedly contributed to budget uncertainties, particularly after his administration temporarily halted disbursements.

Swidler, who resides in Buffalo Grove, was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. The organization's website states that he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."