Kankakee Times

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to know actions speak louder than words.

“J.B. Pritzker told us that he was going to be different,” Barickman said in a video posted to You Tube. “He said that he would fight the machine and he would represent people over politics. Today, he broke his promise and abandoned the people of Illinois.”

Barickman’s outrage stems from the governor signing off on new legislative maps critics charge are designed to keep Democrats in power.

“By this action, he joins a long list of politicians who say one thing and do another,” Barickman said. “The governor had an opportunity to be different, to keep his word and to begin restoring Illinoisans' faith in their government, but Gov. Pritzker by all accounts, has failed in that.”

Republican lawmakers are pointing out that as a gubernatorial candidate Pritzker vowed to veto any map drawn along partisan lines, and just hours before signing off on the maps he told reporters he had not yet reviewed them.

“People are tired of politicians picking the voters,” Barickman said. “The people of the state deserve an independent process that allows them to choose their representatives.”

Barickman is far from being the only voice now blasting Pritzker for his change of heart, with Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski recently appearing on an episode of Chicago's Morning Answer to blast Pritzker for reneging on his word.

"He made that promise a while back but I think he's missing in action on that," Dabrowski said. "I wouldn't expect any change there.