Bailey Interrupted. Pritzker Stayed Cool

I had the chance to watch Tuesday’s WTTW-TV Illinois gubernatorial forum in its entirety. The original post with the full video is here: Will the Forum Move the Needle. At this time it has not caused me to move the needle on whether I am enthusiastic about a third term for Governor Pritzker or whether Darren Bailey should have his turn. I am guessing it has not moved the needle for anyone else either.

Credit: Chicago Sun-Times

It seemed like Bailey was doing a lot of interrupting. I may appreciate that he was attempting to show some fire, but it was particularly distracting. A few times the governor had to let Bailey know that he was interrupting. He was never flustered about it. He just stayed cool, like he got this.

Bailey got his points in about the situation in this state. This was an opportunity to show Illinois that there is an opposition party. The governor especially made sure to note the defection of former Illinois House GOP Leader Jim Durkin, who endorsed the incumbent.

They also went back and forth on energy. Bailey talked about utility bills climbing and said we are phasing out reliable energy too soon. Pritzker, while Bailey was cutting in, brought up the high cost of diesel and tied it to federal policy. Nuclear did not get a long run in the hour, but the broader argument was the same one Illinois has been having for years: what counts as reliable, what we are willing to build, and who pays when the bills keep rising.

On taxes and the economy, Bailey talked about high property taxes, utility costs, and spending on people who are here illegally. He called continued taxation of the rich a socialist mentality that has driven people out. Pritzker pointed to the credit upgrades and the budgets he has balanced.

Bailey talked a bit about the SAFE-T Act. Pritzker tried to illustrate what it was supposed to do.

“Darren Bailey’s answer to this is to go back to a system where the most violent criminals can buy their way out of jail. I don’t think they should be able to. I think judges and prosecutors ought to decide whether or not someone should be let out in the community or not.”

For what it is worth, the current Cook County State’s Attorney, Eileen O’Neill Burke, has said the electronic monitoring system is not working. See this recent piece: Cook County State's Attorney Eileen Burke says murder of CTA janitor proof that electronic monitoring system is broken.

On sanctuary status, Bailey said the rules stop local law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities on people here illegally who have committed serious crimes. Pritzker criticized the federal operation and said mistakes were made on both sides.

On data centers, Bailey said they came in with free rein and tax breaks and that energy prices have spiked. Pritzker said he has paused the incentives and that any new ones should bring their own energy and leave the decision to local people.

On the Chicago Bears, Bailey said he is glad he will not be known as the governor who lost them and that they are going to Indiana. Pritzker said he believes something can still be done in November without putting the cost on the taxpayers.

None of it moved the needle for me. Bailey showed there is still an opposition. The governor stayed composed and defended the record. There is another recap of the coverage over at The Capitol Fax blog: Gubernatorial forum coverage roundup. The video is still up if you want to watch it yourself.