Gov. J.B. Pritzker | Facebook
Gov. J.B. Pritzker | Facebook
Republican candidate for governor state Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) said though Gov. J.B. Pritzker pledged to remove state contractors from his investment portfolio when campaigning for office in 2019, after getting elected he benefitted from stock ownership in a top Illinois contractor.
"The system of corruption in Springfield is fueled by elites like Pritzker, who buy elections only to sell out working families and taxpayers to benefit themselves. JB broke another campaign promise and should be ashamed of himself, and the Illinoisans suffering under his extreme, and liberal administration deserve answers through a thorough and independent investigation,” Bailey said in a statement.
“In the meantime, JB's ‘blind trust’ should immediately sell every conflicted, self-enriching stock he has and donate the money to relieve the families his poor policies and lack of leadership have impacted,” Bailey said.
The investment in question is in Centene Corp, which services the state’s Medicaid program.
In the first six months of 2021 Centene made over $2.6 billion from state Medicaid contracts.
The Better Government Association reports Pritzker's employees and his trust's management did not say how much Centene's stake is worth or when the shares were bought.
A spokesman said Pritzker has also not removed himself from active involvement in the blind trust, the Better Government Association reports.
Throughout Pritzker’s administration and his ownership of stocks in the company, Centene’s footprint has continued to grow with acquisitions of key competitors which the state has allowed.
Prtizker has refused to comment publicly on the matter.
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