Tracy says audit exposes Pritzker’s failures in undocumented immigrant healthcare

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is claiming a report from the Auditor General has revealed significant mismanagement in Gov. JB Pritzker’s taxpayer-funded healthcare program for illegal immigrants, including thousands of potentially ineligible enrollees and costs exceeding the governor’s projections.

Tracy claims auditors found more than 6,000 enrollees listed as “undocumented” who actually had Social Security Numbers, raising concerns about the state’s failure to properly verify eligibility. She said the audit also uncovered cost overruns, with some age groups seeing expenditures nearly 300 percent higher than originally projected. The most extreme overrun occurred in the 42-54 age group, where costs nearly tripled the budgeted amount.

“Republicans have long criticized Gov. Pritzker’s decision to prioritize spending on illegal immigrants while Illinois families face rising property taxes, grocery bills and healthcare costs,” Tracy’s press release said. “This program, marked by waste and mismanagement, has fueled further distrust in how taxpayer dollars are spent.”

Tracy said the audit’s findings have prompted renewed calls for legislative action to bring transparency so taxpayers can see where their money is going. Senate Bill 1699 would require detailed annual reports on all taxpayer-funded programs for migrants, including healthcare, housing, legal aid and other services. These reports would provide transparency on expenditures, appropriations, recipients and contracts, and they would be made publicly available online.

Tracy joined State Senators Erica Harriss (Glen Carbon) and Chapin Rose (Mahomet) for a Feb. 27 press conference at the Capitol to talk about a top concern voiced by residents in their respective legislative districts — the need to provide relief from skyrocketing property taxes.

The senators noted that during his Feb. 19 budget address, Pritzker proposed a record $55.4 billion spending plan — the largest in state history — but failed to mention property taxes. Tracy and her colleagues discussed legislative solutions they have on the table that will provide property tax relief.

Senate Bill 2086 raises income eligibility for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption to $75,000 and ties future increases to inflation. Senate Bill 2093 makes the Illinois Property Tax Credit refundable, providing more financial relief to lower-income homeowners. Senate Bill 2246 limits how much the assessed value of a home can increases during reassessment years, capping it at the rate of inflation.