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The Verdict Is In: SAFE-T Act Is Not Working Two Years Later. When Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act into law in February 2021, supporters claimed it would modernize Illinois’ criminal justice system and make incarceration practices more “fair.” The law was rushed through during a lame-duck session and made sweeping changes, putting criminals over victims, imposing unfunded mandates on police officers and counties, and eliminating cash bail.
Two years after the no-cash bail system fully took effect in September 2023, Illinoisans continue to suffer the consequences while criminals walk free. Courts are overwhelmed, police are operating with fewer tools and more unreasonable mandates, all while repeat offenders are cycling in and out of custody. Families are left questioning whether the system is still on their side. Instead of fairness, the law has produced confusion and risk.
The warnings from law enforcement and House Republicans are now reflected In the news:
• “Accused killer walks free under Illinois SAFE-T Act” – WIFR
• “Police chiefs warn criminals are emboldened after bail reform” – Daily Herald
• “Counties face mounting costs, confusion with SAFE-T Act mandates” – Capitol News Illinois
• “Repeat offender charged with burglary days after release” – Chicago Tribune
• “Victims’ families outraged after suspects released under new law” – ABC7 Chicago
These headlines, just a snapshot of the past two years, underscore what communities across the state already know: the SAFE-T Act is not working.
House Republicans warned of this outcome from the start, and their concerns have been borne out. Representative Dennis Tipsword, who spent nearly three decades in law enforcement before coming to the General Assembly, has described the law as one that “sides with criminals rather than the people who are trying to protect us.” He has seen how offenders who would have been detained just a few years ago are now quickly released, emboldened by the knowledge that consequences are minimal. To help restore accountability, Tipsword filed House Bills 4000, 4001, and 4004 this spring, measures aimed at supporting law enforcement and closing dangerous loopholes created by the SAFE-T Act. He has also joined colleagues in backing stricter penalties for criminals who flee and elude police, a problem that has grown worse since the SAFE-T Act made it easier on criminals and harder on victims of crime.
The pressure Isn’t just on law enforcement. Judges and prosecutors now spend countless hours navigating complicated rules that limit their discretion. State Representative Patrick Windhorst, a former state’s attorney, notes that “the SAFE-T Act has harmed our law enforcement officers and our court system while increasing risks to public safety.” To fix this imbalance, Windhorst introduced HB 1479, HB 1482, and HB 1483, bills that would restore the ability of judges to revoke pretrial release, expand the list of detainable offenses, and issue warrants for defendants who refuse to comply with release conditions. These are targeted changes designed to close gaps that criminals are exploiting daily.
The most devastating consequence, however, has been for victims. Families already coping with tragedy now watch suspects walk free because the law classifies their crimes as non-detainable. Representative Tom Weber has been especially outspoken on this point, citing cases like that of Megan Bos, whose body was held for more than 50 days by a man released within a day of his arrest. Weber, who has sponsored legislation to repeal the SAFE-T Act, argues that “public safety is being compromised, and the system is failing the very people it was supposed to protect.” His words capture what families across Illinois now know firsthand: the SAFE-T Act was a promise of fairness that has turned into a failed experiment.
In response, Weber has filed HB 4104 in order to give courts broader discretion to deny pretrial release for felony defendants, even in cases where current law’s thresholds are not met, keeping more criminals off of the streets, easing the burden on law enforcement.
Representative Patrick Sheehan, who himself is a police officer, has also been warning of the consequences since the law’s earliest days, especially as it relates to law enforcement. “The SAFE-T Act has stripped law enforcement of critical tools, tied the hands of officers, and prioritized criminals over victims,” he stated.
Instead of restoring trust in the justice system, this law has drained local resources, flooded courts with bureaucracy, and left communities less safe. House Republicans are working to reverse the damage by advancing legislation like Tipsword’s HB 4004, Windhorst’s judicial authority package, and Weber’s bill giving courts broader discretion. Together, these efforts are aimed at doing what the SAFE-T Act failed to do: put victims first, hold criminals accountable, and give law enforcement the tools they need to protect Illinois families.
Two years later, the verdict is clear. The SAFE-T Act hasn’t made Illinois safer—it has made Illinois less safe. It is time to restore balance, responsibility, and accountability to our justice system.
Illinois House Republicans Talk Overdue SAFE-T Act Reform
Two years after the Pretrial Fairness Act eliminated cash bail, Illinois families are still paying the price. We’re demanding change as we present new legislation to fix the failures of the current law and prioritize public safety.
Watch the House Republicans’ press conference on SAFE-T Act reform.
‘Peacekeeper’ pictured at Pritzker event accused in deadly Mag Mile smash-and-grab
A man accused of his involvement in the deadly smash-and-grab last week on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile posed for a picture with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker just days earlier.
Kellen McMiller, a 35-year-old Chicago man, is one of seven people charged in connection with the Thursday, Sept. 11 incident at the Louis Vuitton store near the 100 block of E. Walton Street. McMillan faces felony counts of murder, burglary, theft, and three counts of fugitive from justice with an out-of-state warrant.
Less than a week before the incident, Pritzker praised McMiller for his work as a peacekeeper. Both were pictured together in an image taken on Friday, Sept. 5, as Pritzker met with the peacekeepers in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.
The governor’s team referred to the group as “trusted messengers” in the community, in a press release issued that same day. Cook County prosecutors would later charge McMiller for his alleged role in the crash-and-grab burglary.
Read more on this story from WGN.
EDUCATION
Empowering Parents and Families. This Spring, out-of-touch Democrats were fighting to strip educational freedom, hammer schools with unfunded mandates, and enact woke gender policies in our schools. House Republicans fought to empower parents and families - and stopped some of the nonsense.
Minority spokesperson on the House Education Policy Committee Amy Elik led the fight against the burdensome Homeschool Act. This act would have mandated an unnecessary annual registration scheme for homeschool families.
“Parents should have the ability to choose the learning environment that best fits their child’s learning,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “Bureaucrats in Springfield have bigger problems to solve than adding burdensome and unnecessary mandates on home and private school families.”
State Representative Brandun Schweizer, a vocal advocate for homeschool families, was a strong voice for the over 130,000 Illinoisans who filed witness slips against the Homeschool Act.
“House Republicans, with the help of 130,000 advocates across Illinois, were able to stand up for homeschool families and make their voices heard,” said Rep. Schweizer. “It’s a slippery slope from regulations to making homeschooling an impossible option in Illinois. I will continue to stand for homeschool freedom and ensure all students get the opportunity to succeed, no matter how they learn, and that parents are included in their child’s education.”
State Representative Regan Deering, who also serves on the Mt. Zion Community Unit School District’s school board and has volunteered as the Chair of the Decatur Public Schools Foundation, talked about some of the real issues affecting education in Illinois.
“If we are going to talk about fixing problems with education, let’s zoom out on education as a whole: from unprecedented teacher shortages, intense levels of bullying and violence, and not enough students learning at grade level,” said Rep. Regan Deering. “Public education is full of government mandates and plenty of dollars, yet our kids are still not always getting the education they deserve. Those are real issues that merit solutions.”
State Representative Travis Weaver said he was proud to stand up and protect Illinois children from woke gender policies.
“Times are changing,” stated Rep. Weaver. “Our children not only have to compete globally, but they also have to compete with increasingly efficient technology. Meanwhile, Illinois Democrats prioritizing the wrong things, like letting boys play in girls’ sports. House Republicans will continue to hold them accountable and focus on teaching kids the skills they need to be prosperous in this new world."
JOBS
Illinois Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.4%, Payroll Jobs Decrease in August. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Thursday that total nonfarm payrolls decreased over-the-month in August, down -13,300 (-0.2%) to 6,153,700. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -2,500 to -1,100.
The industry sectors with over-the-month jobs increases included: Information (+800), Manufacturing (+400), and Construction (+300). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,500), Private Education and Health Services (-4,000), and Professional and Business Services (-2,600).
The unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in August, down -0.2 percentage point from the previous month, the lowest unemployment rate since July 2023, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised July unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6 percent.
POLITICAL RHETORIC
Governor Pritzker Can’t Outrun the Tape. Governor Pritzker took to the podium this week to claim that accusations about his use of Nazi rhetoric were “completely false.” When pressed on whether he has ever compared Republicans to Nazis, the Governor snapped back, saying:
“No, I have not. That is completely false. I have never called Republicans Nazis.”
The backtracking is stunning, as if the Governor forgot that his interviews are on camera. His own past remarks tell a very different story:
February 2025 — Illinois State of the State and Budget Address
“If you think I’m overreacting and sounding the alarm too soon, consider this: It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic.”
Watch Here
February 2025 — Appearance on The View
“And everything that he has done has been tearing down constitutional democracy and that’s what happened in Nazi Germany.”
Watch Here
February 2025 — Appearance on CNN
“Well we’re talking about the death of a constitutional republic. That’s what happened in Germany in 1933 and 1934.”
Watch Here
August 2025 — Press Conference
“The Nazis in Germany in the 30’s tore down a constitutional republic in just 53 days. It does not take much frankly, and we have a President who seems hell bent on doing just that.”
Watch Here
Governor Pritzker can’t outrun the tape. Illinois deserves a leader who owns his words and lowers the temperature, not someone who rewrites history when it suits him.
TAXES
House GOP Plan Aims to Cut Taxes on Tips and Overtime. Illinois House Republicans are advancing legislation to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime pay, two forms of compensation that thousands of workers across the state rely on to make ends meet, as part of the Relief for Working Families Bill Package. The initiative, which includes three bills introduced by Representatives Joe Sosnowski, Jennifer Sanalitro, and C.D. Davidsmeyer, reflects a growing effort to ease the financial burden on service industry employees, hourly workers, and anyone whose livelihood depends on long shifts and customer generosity.
House Bill 1750, filed by Rep. Joe Sosnowski of Rockford, proposes a straightforward change to the Illinois Income Tax Act: exempting both tip income and overtime compensation from state taxation. If enacted, HB 1750 would allow workers to deduct these earnings from their Illinois taxable income, effectively increasing take-home pay for thousands of residents. The bill is a commonsense measure to reward hard work and provide immediate relief to those who often work irregular hours or depend on tips to supplement low base wages.
“When someone stays late, picks up extra shifts, or relies on tips to make ends meet, they shouldn’t be penalized at tax time,” Rep. Sosnowski said. “HB 1750 helps ensure more of their hard-earned money stays in their pockets where it belongs.”
Joining Sosnowski in this effort are Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro and Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, both of whom have introduced their own bills to address this need. Sanalitro’s HB 1898 and Davidsmeyer’s HB 2735 both also seek to remove state income tax obligations on gratuities reported to the IRS.
The rationale behind these bills is rooted in economic fairness. In industries like hospitality, food service, and personal care, tips can make up a significant portion of a worker’s income. According to the Illinois Restaurant Association, the state is home to more than 77,000 restaurant servers alone, many of whom rely on gratuities to bridge the gap between base pay and a livable wage. For these workers, every dollar counts, and taxing tips can feel like a penalty for providing good service. Overtime pay, similarly, is often earned by those who take on extra shifts or work beyond standard hours to support their families. By removing state taxes on these earnings, lawmakers argue that Illinois can offer meaningful, immediate relief to those who need it most.
These bills are about dignity and respect for labor. In a time when inflation continues to squeeze household budgets and the cost of living rises across the board, allowing workers to keep more of what they earn is a direct way to support economic stability. The proposals also reflect a broader trend among Republican lawmakers to prioritize tax cuts that benefit everyday workers. By focusing on tips and overtime, the bills target income streams that are often overlooked in broader tax debates but are vital to the financial health of working-class families.
For now, the House GOP plan represents a clear and focused attempt to make Illinois a more worker-friendly state. Whether it’s a bartender pulling a double shift, a delivery driver hustling for extra tips, or a nurse clocking overtime to cover staffing shortages, these bills send a powerful message: your extra effort matters, and you deserve to keep more of what you earn.
GOVERNOR JIM EDGAR
Remembering Governor Edgar. It was sad news indeed on Sunday afternoon when the state of Illinois learned that former Governor Jim Edgar had passed away after a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer. He was 79.
Governor Edgar served two terms as the state’s chief executive, from 1991 until 1999. Prior to that he was the Secretary of State and had also been a state legislator.
“Governor Edgar was a dedicated public servant who led with independence, humility, and a genuine commitment to bringing people together,” said House Republican Leader Tony McCombie upon learning the news. “Throughout his distinguished career, he worked tirelessly to build bridges across party lines, strengthen Illinois’ fiscal foundation, and put the needs of our citizens ahead of politics. His steady leadership and principled example earned respect from Republicans and Democrats alike.”
The definitive guide to the biographies of Illinois’ chief executives, The Illinois Governors: Mostly Good and Competent, describes the state’s 38th Governor, Jim Edgar, as “the right governor at the right time.”
Edgar held the office between the flashy, big-spending days of his predecessor and the scandal-tarred administrations of his two successors. Edgar was, according to the book’s authors, Robert P. Howard, Taylor Pensoneau and Peggy Boyer Long, “comparatively dull, yet popular throughout his two terms.”
So popular in fact that in 1994 he won a 101-county landslide, collecting the second-largest margin of victory for any governor in Illinois’ history.
Thirty years after that landslide, Edgar retained both his popularity and his commitment to public service. So it was with great shock and concern that many around the Capitol and throughout the state learned of the former governor’s announcement in late February that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Edgar handled the announcement with the class and dignity that longtime statehouse observers have come to expect.
“Brenda and I remain hopeful, and we are grateful for the kindness of so many who have offered their prayers and support,” he said in a statement announcing the diagnosis. “We do not underestimate this challenge, but we have confidence in the medical team helping us address it.”
As governor, Edgar sought to cut spending, and pay down a sizable bill backlog, while reforming Illinois’ social welfare agencies and putting in place caps on increases in local property taxes. Yet he also boosted spending for education, both in early childhood and in K-12. He enacted guaranteed funding levels for students, and then gradually increased that funding level for each of the next three years. Governor Edgar also signed the Illinois Charter School Law in 1996 to enable the creation of a network of charter schools in Chicago and throughout the state.
Edgar saw the value of improved early childhood care to promote better lives for Illinoisans. He invested in both better pre-natal care and in pre-school programs for low-income families with an eye toward future savings in health care, education, welfare and even prison programs. During his tenure the state created the Department of Human Services to more efficiently deliver social services, and also created KidCare, a health insurance program for low-income Illinois children. He further acted to protect children and the public at large in 1995 when he signed the Sex Offender Registration Act.
The result of Edgar’s tenure was a balanced budget and an improved credit rating.
“Edgar faced a $1 billion debt on his first day as governor,” Howard, Pensoneau and Long wrote. “On his last day, he left a $1 billion cash balance for his successor.”
“Governor Edgar dedicated much of his life to public service. May God Bless and comfort his family at this difficult time,” said Rep. Patrick Windhorst.
Edgar was born in Oklahoma, but his family moved to east-central Illinois while he was a young child. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in history. It was at EIU that Edgar met his wife, Brenda. Not long after graduating he entered politics as an intern with the General Assembly. His first bid for elected office was unsuccessful – his only election loss – but he was not deterred and later served in the House during the 80th and 81st General Assemblies, before taking a position on Governor Jim Thompson’s staff.
When Secretary of State Alan Dixon was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, Thompson appointed Edgar to fill the vacancy in that office.
“Throughout his public career,” Thompson said, “his actions and his work have been in the best tradition of public service.”
Edgar used the office to launch an aggressive campaign against drunk driving and to call for a requirement that Illinois motorists have auto insurance. Edgar was a devoted friend of libraries throughout the state.
Edgar was later elected to two terms in his own right, before winning the governorship in 1990.
After leaving the governor’s office in 1999 Edgar did not forget how he got started in state government and he was a regular guest speaker at events for legislative interns. He took his commitment to education and public service to another level when he created the Edgar Fellows program at the University of Illinois. This program became a bipartisan launching ground for the careers of numerous Illinois public servants in the 21st century, both in and out of elected office.
“So many of us here in this chamber are proud to be part of the strong alumni group of the Edgar Fellows Program. I participated in the Edgar Fellows program in 2014, meeting great colleagues that I am proud to serve with together,” said Deputy House Republican Leader Ryan Spain during a floor speech honoring Edgar just after hearing the news of his diagnosis. “All of us have these same stories and experiences of great relationships that we have made in the state of Illinois that were brought together by one very special person: Governor Jim Edgar.”
Rep. Jason R. Bunting and Rep. Nicole La Ha are members of the current class of Edgar Fellows. Bunting recalled meeting the governor as a youngster visiting the Capitol.
“Governor Edgar was the first governor I personally met. I was in Springfield with my dad who was presenting on behalf of Soil and Water Conservations Districts,” Bunting said. “As we were walking out of the room we happened to catch the governor in the hallway. There started my passion for politics and community service. It is a true honor to be selected for this year’s class of Edgar Fellows.”
La Ha spoke of the mission of carrying forward the virtues of public service which are at the heart of the Edgar Fellows program.
"His dedication to Illinois didn’t end with his two terms as governor. Through his leadership program, The Edgar Fellows, he continued to invest in future leaders, and I’m grateful to have been chosen as one of them,” La Ha said. “My sincere condolences to his family, friends and to all who loved him.”
Another Edgar Fellow serving in the General Assembly, Rep. David Friess, shared similar thoughts.
“His leadership and lifelong commitment to public service have left a lasting impact on Illinois,” Friess said. “As a member of the Edgar Fellows Program, I am honored to be part of the legacy he built in mentoring and inspiring future leaders to put good governance and civility first. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who knew and admired him.”
Rep. Dennis Tipsword was a member of the Edgar Fellows class in 2023. He remembered engaging in a tense debate, after which Edgar came to speak with him. Expecting to be reproached, he was pleasantly surprised by the former governor’s reaction.
“Instead, he smiled at me with his remarkable smile and said, ‘Well done Dennis.’ I was speechless,” Tipsword said. “He went on to thank me for my professional debate on the topic and staying on point. He went on to ask about my wife, my kids and grandkids.”
Tipsword’s recollection is echoed by the tributes to Edgar which have been coming in since his death was announced on Sunday. Nearly all speak of Edgar’s decency and compassion, and his genuine determination to make the state a better place for all its residents.
Governor Edgar is survived by his wife, Brenda, and two children, Brad and Elizabeth.