{
    "title": "ICYMI: Gov. Pritzker Doubles Down on Affordability Initiatives for Illinois Working Families",
    "modified_at": "2026-10-16 21:31:17",
    "published_at": "2026-10-16 21:30:00",
    "url": "https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/icymi-gov-pritzker-doubles-down-on-affordability-initiatives-for-illinois-working-families",
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    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>CHICAGO &ndash; </strong>This week, Governor JB Pritzker joined community leaders and legislators to highlight two key initiatives focused on putting money back into the pockets of working families. While the federal government causes prices to rise and strips people of critical services, the State of Illinois is helping Illinoisans afford essentials<strong> </strong>by expanding tax credits and providing medical debt relief. \u200b </p><h4 id=\"cutting-taxes-for-illinois-families\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Cutting Taxes for Illinois Families</strong></h4><p style=\"text-align: left\">On Tuesday, Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) announced that the <a href=\"https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/governor-pritzker-provides-600-million-in-tax-cuts-to-950000-illinois-working-families\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) cut taxes for approximately 950,000 families</u></a>, saving hardworking Illinoisians more than $600 million on their taxes last year. On average, families benefitting from both credits were able to keep an average of $1,460, according to preliminary data.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Governor Pritzker signed Illinois&rsquo; first-ever child tax credit into law in 2024 and subsequently doubled the benefits for families. Refundable earned income and child tax credits are a powerful tool to help Illinois households meet essential needs such as housing, childcare, and transportation, while also supporting local economies through increased consumer spending. \u200b </p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Read More:</strong></em> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>WAND:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.wandtv.com/2026/10/13/illinois-tax-credits-saved-working-families-more-than-600-million-state-says/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Illinois tax credits saved working families more than $600 million, state says</u></a> </span></li><li><span><strong>WICS/WRSP: </strong><a href=\"https://www.newschannel20.com/news/local/illinois-tax-credits-saved-families-over-600m-state-reports/article_ef035aad-11b8-4406-898d-4a99ab55365f.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Illinois tax credits saved families over $600M, state reports</u></a> </span></li></ul><h4 id=\"erasing-medical-debt\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Erasing Medical Debt</strong></h4><p style=\"text-align: left\">Two years after the launch of the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program, Gov. Pritzker <a href=\"https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-announces-14-billion-in-medical-debt-erased-for-nearly-700000-illinoisans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>announced</u></a> Thursday that more than $1.4 billion in total medical debt has been eliminated for nearly 700,000 Illinoisans across all 102 counties &ndash; surpassing Illinois&rsquo; original goal of erasing $1 billion in medical debt by more than $400 million. \u200b </p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program&rsquo;s two-year milestone represents significant relief for Illinoisans as the federal government continues to cut healthcare and other critical services that Illinoisans rely on.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https://x.com/GovPritzker/status/2110873856600576139?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><em>Hear directly from Kayleigh</em></u></a><em>, who benefitted from Illinois Medical Debt Relief program.</em></p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                    srcset=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/ 1x, https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6/-/resize/2400x/-/format/auto/ 2x\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"Governor Pritzker gives remarks at Thursday&amp;rsquo;s press conference celebrating the huge milestone for the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program.\"\n                id=\"image-cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6\"\n                data-id=\"cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6/-/inline/no/Untitled\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/cb1b81ad-efc7-474f-b9f5-2d1f4af05ac6/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Governor Pritzker gives remarks at Thursday\u2019s press conference celebrating the huge milestone for the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program.\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">Governor Pritzker gives remarks at Thursday&rsquo;s press conference celebrating the huge milestone for the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program.</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Read More:</strong></em> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Capitol News Illinois</strong>:<a href=\"https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinois-medical-debt-relief-program-surpasses-1b-goal-in-two-years/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Illinois medical debt relief program surpasses $1B goal in two years | Capitol News Illinois</u></a> </span></li><li><span><strong>Chicago Sun-Times: </strong> <a href=\"https://www.wglt.org/health-and-safety/2026-10-15/illinois-erases-1-4-billion-in-medical-debt-for-thousands-of-residents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Illinois erases $1.4 billion in medical debt for thousands of residents</u></a> \u200b \u200b </span></li><li><span><strong>Springfield State Journal-Register:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2026/10/15/illinois-medical-debt-relief-program-erases-1-4-billion-for-nearly-700000-residents/92261870007/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Illinois wipes out $1.4 billion in medical debt for residents</u></a> </span></li><li><span><strong>WAND: </strong><a href=\"https://www.wandtv.com/2026/10/15/state-has-erased-14-billion-medical-debt-nearly-700000-illinoisans/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>State has erased $1.4 billion in medical debt for nearly 700,000 Illinoisans</u></a> </span></li></ul><p style=\"text-align: center\">### </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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