SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he was “incredibly lucky” after reporting $1.4 million in gambling winnings from a single trip to Las Vegas, while Republican lawmakers say the episode shows how out of touch the billionaire governor is with working families. The Chicago Tribune reports the Pritzkers had more than $10 million in income during the most recent tax year, including the gambling winnings, and paid around $1.6 million in federal taxes and about $500,000 in state income taxes. The Pritzker trust paid an additional $4.5 million in state taxes and $30.2 million in federal taxes.
“It all happened over one trip, and again, it was just, I mean, incredibly lucky,” Pritzker said after an unrelated event in Chicago.
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, said the Tribune’s report highlights a “disconnect with reality” that makes it hard for taxpayers to relate to the governor.
“How can that be? How? Yes, I understand things go up over time, but the disconnect with reality, the disconnect for not knowing what a zero balance means in a checking account,” Keicher said.
