Prairie State Wire

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) and Gov. J.B. Pritzker are having a war of words over who is being more honest when it comes to how energy legislation will affect Illinoisans.

The back-and-forth has resulted in each of them saying the other is lying about a climate bill.

“J.B. walked in and blatantly lied to working families,” Bailey tweeted on Aug. 25. “He can wear all the flannel he wants, but his record is clear. He has abandoned working people across Illinois and he owes them an apology. It’s simple: don’t sign legislation you don’t read and stop lying to people.” 

That came after a Twitter message conveying similar accusations about Bailey.

Capitol News Illinois, in a tweet Bailey cited, said: "At an ag forum Wednesday, Gov. Pritzker accused challenger Darren Bailey of lying for criticizing a portion of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act regarding eminent domain. But CEJA did contain language giving a private transmission line that authority:” 

The Capitol News Illinois article focused on the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable and described the difference between the two candidates. 

"Pritzker highlighted his administration’s wide-ranging infrastructure bill, defended his signature on a massive decarbonization bill and highlighted the progress toward fiscal stability the state has seen in his time in office,” the article said. “Bailey, meanwhile, sought to discredit the state’s fiscal progress, dismissed the energy bill as a collection of ‘virtue signals’ and said Illinois was starting to look like Baghdad." 

While Bailey pointed the finger at Pritzker for high energy prices, Pritzker blamed the MISO regional transmission organization.

Bailey received 57.7% of the vote in the June primary. His closest challenger, Jesse Sullivan received 15.7% Bailey will face Pritzer in the November election.