The Illinois Freedom Caucus announced on April 16 that it is seeking the complete elimination of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion, saying the agency has failed to achieve its goals and is working against its own mission.
Members of the caucus said their call follows recent testimony which, according to them, demonstrates that the commission has not expanded opportunities in state contracting as intended. Instead, they argue that it has become a costly failure for taxpayers by creating additional barriers and bureaucracy.
The caucus claims that rather than improving access, the commission has overseen a decline in participation from businesses wishing to work with the state. They also pointed out that commissioners are being paid $150,000 each while these issues persist.
“After recent testimony, it is clear this Commission is doing the exact opposite of what it was created to do,” said Rep. Brad Halbrook and the Illinois Freedom Caucus. “The taxpayers have paid millions of dollars for failure, plain and simple. We don’t need to fund this commission once again, we need to abolish it and start over. JB Pritzker needs to take accountability for this commission under his watch, do the right thing, and deliver some accountability for Illinoisans.”
The Illinois Freedom Caucus includes State Representatives Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich), Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), Jed Davis (R-Newark), David Friess (R-Red Bud) and State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport). The group describes itself as advocating for limited government, lower taxes, accountability and integrity in government.
