(The Middle Sq.) – An investigation has revealed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s investments embrace firms that earned greater than $20 billion in state enterprise since he took workplace. 

In 2019, Pritzker promised to divest his private fortune of investments in state contractors and to switch his portfolio into what he calls a “blind belief.” 

The nonpartisan watchdog Higher Authorities Affiliation discovered in some circumstances, state {dollars} flowed to firms that had been registered to foyer Pritzker, who as governor may affect the end result of the contracts. 

“We discovered that three of the businesses had lobbyists registered to foyer Pritzker immediately,” BGA reporter David Jackson stated. 

One of many firms in query is insurance coverage large Centene Company. Since 2019, its subsidiary Meridian Well being Plan of Illinois has been paid over $20 billion from state Medicaid contracts and different packages, based on paperwork filed with the Illinois Division of Insurance coverage and the Nationwide Affiliation of Insurance coverage Commissioners.  

Pritzker was notified of his holdings in Centene final yr once they had been included on his annual financial disclosure submitting. The BGA first reported his belief’s funding in Centene in February. At the moment, the governor’s workplace stated he was not concerned with Centene. 

Days later, Pritzker informed a Chicago tv station that he realized of his funding in Centene when the BGA contacted him about it.

“I solely realized that actually as a result of a reporter referred to as me final week from BGA,” he stated at a information convention. 

Based on the BGA report, Pritzker retained inventory in 5 firms that already held state contracts when he positioned these shares into his belief. These included inventory in two rail firms that play roles within the multi-billion greenback growth of roads surrounding O’Hare Worldwide Airport, a part of Pritzker’s infrastructure agenda.

And after Pritzker took workplace, his belief invested in seven extra firms which have accomplished enterprise with Illinois state businesses.

The BGA consulted quite a few consultants in authorities ethics and belief regulation who had been skeptical of the so-called “blind belief.”

“Governor Pritzker is aware of what he put within the belief initially and since he will get and should signal yearly an ethics assertion displaying the names of the shares that the belief holds, that it did not actually represent a blind belief,” Jackson stated.  

A Pritzker marketing campaign spokesperson stated if the governor made any cash from an funding linked to a state contract, it might go to charity.