Pritzker, Democratic candidate for governor, picks up support in Peoria

May 27--PEORIA -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker dismissed Chicago media reports about a property tax break and castigated Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for the state's almost 2-year-old budget standoff during a visit to Peoria on Friday.

The billionaire businessman from Chicago also picked up an endorsement from Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, which represents 15,000 firefighters.

But Pritzker learned some problems facing Illinois' most vulnerable families go beyond the budget impasse.

"There's a big hole in the Medicaid budget," he said after meeting with officials of Easter Seals and other local agencies about issues related to early childhood development.

Unlike many states, Illinois' Medicaid does not cover services specifically designed to treat autism.

Only about 30 percent of children in central Illinois have health insurance that covers autism-specific treatment, according to Jim Runyon, executive vice president of Easter Seals. The bulk, 45 percent, don't have autism coverage, though the state does cover other services children with autism may need.

Federal officials have already told the state it must pay for autism services. Runyon predicts a federal judge will eventually order the state to pay for the services.

Runyon and representatives from Center for Youth and Family Solutions and Crittenton Center discussed the state of Illinois' early childhood programs with Pritzker for about 45 minutes at Easter Seals headquarters.

The group focused on young children, Runyon said, because of Pritzker's history of involvement with early childhood education and because they know they'll have more chances to talk to Pritzker and other gubernatorial candidates. "They're all going to be coming regularly until the March primary," Runyon said.

Pritzker, who is self-funding much of his campaign, said he would be a "completely independent Democrat" if elected, in response to a question about how beholden he would be to House Speaker Mike Madigan. He reiterated his support for a progressive income tax system instead of the state's current flat rate.

"It's absolutely necessary to ask people who can pay more to step up to the plate."

He blamed Rauner's "right-wing agenda" for the lack of a budget.

"The crisis that Rauner has created is why we're not creating jobs in the state, why people are getting laid off."

He said Republicans are blowing media reports about his property tax bills out of proportion because they have nothing to run on.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported this week that Pritzer has won nearly $230,000 in tax breaks so far on a mansion he bought and allowed to deteriorate. Pritzker's attorneys asked for, then won, a property tax appeal that lowered the house's tax substantially. The house is located next door to the Pritzker family home.

Pritzker said 50,000 property tax appeals are filed in Cook County each year, and 64 percent are granted reassessment.

"I applied once and I received it," he said.

Pam Adams can be reached at 686-3245 or padams@pjstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @padamspam.

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