Will County Gazette

Will County Board member Steve Balich offered harsh criticism recently of the Senate's advancement of legislation that would make Illinois the country’s fifth so-called sanctuary state.

“Illinois wants to make illegals legal by a vote of cowardly elected officials who are afraid to go against the liberal narrative,” Balich said in an email. “So bankrupt Illinois will temp the Federal Government to cut off all federal funding in the name of more votes for the Democrat Party. Illinois will pay for the health and welfare of those who need it at taxpayer expense.”

Senate Bill 031 narrowly advanced early in May, opposed by all Senate Republicans except Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont). It bars state and local police from arresting people based on their immigration status in state-funded schools, health care centers and secretary of state facilities.

Steve Balich

“So now we invite more crime, more welfare, less jobs, dropping wages, and more cost to the taxpayer with the Sanctuary State,” Balich wrote. “I guess Illinois politicians that voted for this think money can be just harvested from continual flowering money trees they believe each tax payer owns. Vote out of office any elected official that voted for this stupidity."

The measure passed both houses on the last day of the spring session.