EXCLUSIVE: GOP Sens Take On Schools Transitioning Kids Behind Parents’ Backs

'Parents should never be kept in the dark about their own kids'

Democratic governor hands tax dollars to illegal aliens for college tuition while state drowns in debt



A Democratic governor signed new legislation on Friday that will require American taxpayers to cover student financial aid for illegal aliens.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker backed Democratic legislators' House Bill 460, which supports "equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits."

'It's absolutely shameful.'

The bill reads, "A student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for State financial aid and benefits."

Illinois House Republicans accused Pritzker of "roll[ing] out the welcome mat," noting that he has also previously supported health care benefits and driver's licenses for illegal aliens.

"Why would we prioritize the needs of non-citizens over legal Illinois residents?" the legislators questioned.

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US Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.). Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) called Pritzker's move a "slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students."

"Our state is drowning in debt, yet JB Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals. It's absolutely shameful," she said.

Miller noted that the state is "on track to spend $2.5 BILLION on illegals this year and faces a $3.2 BILLION deficit."

State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D), one of the bill's sponsors, celebrated its signing.

"If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers," Villanueva said. "This law is about making sure no student is left behind because of where they were born."

"Too many students have faced closed doors and confusing guidance simply because of their background," she continued. "Illinois invests in all of our students, and we're committed to helping them succeed."

The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2026.

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Pritzker also recently stirred up controversy when he signed a bill late last month requiring yearly mental health screenings for public school students from third through 12th grade beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. Illinois is the first state to pass such a law.

The governor called it "a national first worth celebrating."

Pritzker stated, "Access to mental health care — especially for children — is too often overlooked or ignored."

Last week, Miller reintroduced the Parents Opt-In Protection Act, a bill aimed at countering the mental health legislation. Miller's bill would protect parental rights by requiring written consent before any school survey concerning sensitive personal information.

"J.B. Pritzker's plan to impose invasive 'mental health screenings' on kids, forcing parents to jump through hoops to opt out, is ridiculous and unacceptable," Miller said. "My bill will put parents back in charge by requiring written consent before these screenings happen."

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Republicans rage over Senate's ‘watered-down’ version of Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'



Republican lawmakers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the Senate as the parliamentarian continues to hack away at key provisions in President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill."

The latest ruling from the Senate parliamentarian has sent Republicans into a tailspin. It struck several Medicaid-related reforms that many conservatives fought for. Some of these provisions include limiting federal funds to states that allow illegal aliens to receive Medicaid benefits, prohibiting federal funds for "gender-affirming care," and preventing non-expansion states from increasing their current provider tax rates.

'The Senate should know better than to send a bill with this waste of taxpayer money back to the House.'

RELATED: Republican support wanes as Senate overhauls key provisions in 'big, beautiful bill'

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

"How is it that an unelected swamp bureaucrat, who was appointed by Harry Reid over a decade ago, gets to decide what can and cannot go in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill? The Senate Parliamentarian is not elected," Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida said in a post on X. "She is not accountable to the American people. Yet she holds veto power over legislation supported by millions of voters."

"We are trying to undo the America LAST insanity from the Democrats by kicking illegals off of Medicare and Medicaid and stopping taxpayer subsidies from being used for genital mutilation of children!!" Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said in a post on X.

Although the parliamentarian is able to issue advisory rulings over which provisions are in violation of the Byrd Rule, they can be overruled, which is what Republican Rep. Keith Self of Texas is calling for.

"The rogue Senate Parliamentarian should be overruled, just like activist judges."

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Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

It's not just the Medicaid provisions that have sparked outrage amongs Republican lawmakers. The Senate has hardly rolled back Biden-era green-energy subsidies that were implemented through the Inflation Reduction Act. Many Republicans in the House made it clear that aggressive cuts were nonnegotiable, yet the Senate is extending certain solar and wind subsidies through at least 2030 and in some cases through 2040.

"The American people are sick and tired of their tax dollars funding Chinese solar panels and inefficient wind turbines that are destroying our land," Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois told Blaze News. "President Trump made it clear he wants no Green New Scam tax credits in the big, beautiful bill. The Senate must follow the House's lead and get it done — this is our opportunity to protect our farmland, our food supply, and our energy independence."

RELATED: SALT Republicans left seething after Senate makes major changes to the 'big, beautiful bill'

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

“Congress has a chance to end the left’s Green New Scam for good, but if Senate Republicans swap the House’s firm ‘placed in service’ deadline for the vague ‘construction begins’ standard, we will fail to deliver on President Trump’s promise," Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin told Blaze News. "This loophole would let wind and solar subsidies drag on for years — long after Trump’s second term — destroying American farmland and threatening our power grid."

"Americans didn’t elect Republicans to rubber-stamp Joe Biden’s radical Green New Deal scam," Self said in a post on X. "The Senate’s watered-down 'Big Beautiful Bill' wastes billions on climate schemes."

Republicans maintained that if the Senate punts this "watered-down" bill back to the House, they will likely not have the votes to pass the bill before the July 4 deadline.

"Biden's Green New Scam offers massive, unchecked subsidies to billion-dollar corporations and Chinese manufacturers, undermining American energy independence and economic freedom," Republican Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina told Blaze News. "Yet the Senate is reportedly gutting our hard-fought House measures to stop these tax giveaways. President Trump wants them gone, and so do I. The Senate should know better than to send a bill with this waste of taxpayer money back to the House.”

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House Republicans repeal burdensome Biden-era EV mandates: 'A major win for sanity'



House Republicans overwhelmingly voted to repeal one of former President Joe Biden's electric vehicle mandates, while Democrats continue to dig their heels in.

The resolution repealed California's electric vehicle mandate requiring the state to ban the sale of all gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The resolution ultimately passed the House in a 246-164 vote, with 35 Democrats joining 211 Republicans to repeal the EV mandate.

In total, 164 Democrats voted to maintain the mandate.

'Democrat[s'] EV mandates are a slap in the face to rural America.'

"The American people should have the freedom to choose their own cars and not be regulated by woke climate activists from the failed state of California," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) told Blaze News. "By repealing the Biden administration's radical EV mandates, House Republicans are continuing our efforts to roll back regulations that rob consumer choice from everyday Americans."

The mandate was ultimately struck down using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to reverse regulations with a simple majority and presidential approval, avoiding the Senate filibuster's 60-vote threshold.

The House also passed a similar resolution Wednesday night that overturned another California regulation mandating the sale of zero-emissions trucks in the state. The resolution similarly passed along party lines in a 216-195 vote, with 213 Republicans and just three Democrats voting to repeal the mandate.

Overall, one Republican and 194 Democrats voted to keep the regulation.

"The House of Representatives just passed the Resolution I sponsored to reverse California’s EV mandate for trucks," Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley of California said in a post on X. "In a major win for sanity, it passed with bipartisan support."

"Democrat[s'] EV mandates are a slap in the face to rural America — pushed by urban elites who’ve never set foot on a farm," Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois said in a post on X. "Let Americans drive what works. Keep woke climate activists away from our trucks!"

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Exclusive: Republicans relish Trump's 100-day winning streak: 'We have momentum building'



President Donald Trump is officially 100 days into his second term, and many of his allies have celebrated the milestone as a roaring success.

Despite criticism from his political and media adversaries, Trump takes pride in his 100-day sprint, and Republican lawmakers are riding the momentum.

'He took the bull by the horns.'

"Well, I think either we've done everything, or it's in the process of being done," Trump told reporters Tuesday.

House Republicans are messaging in lockstep with the administration, sharing the president's enthusiasm in exclusive interviews with Blaze News.

"The first 100 days of President Trump can be summed up in one slogan: promises made and promises kept," Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina told Blaze News. "It’s like a veil has been lifted from this country.”

"I think it’s been the best presidency that I’ve seen in my lifetime," Republican Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri told Blaze News. "We’ve had four years to kind of plan and strategize what he would do when he returns, and we’re seeing the fruits of that."

One frequently referenced victory has been the southern border, which has seen record-low encounters with illegal aliens under the Trump administration. Between the inauguration and April 1, only nine illegal aliens were released back into the country, compared to the 184,000 illegal aliens released under former President Joe Biden during the same time frame last year, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

'President Trump is fulfilling his promises, but the accomplishment to me is the rate he’s doing it.'

“The border security is incredible," Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia told Blaze News. "It’s historic. And we have a lot of thanks that goes to President Trump, as well as Tom Homan."

“To do that in these first 100 days has been absolutely phenomenal," Republican Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina told Blaze News. “He took the bull by the horns."

The numbers paint a very clear, indisputable picture on immigration. However, other areas like the economy have been swirling with controversy in recent weeks with ongoing trade wars and market uncertainty. Many critics, particularly in the media, have rushed to call the economy a failure. Despite their doom and gloom, the Trump administration and his supporters on the Hill remain confident.

'We have a long way to go, but he’s only been in office 100 days.'

"We were losing billions and billions of dollars a day with trade, and now I have that down to a very low level, and soon we're going to be making a lot of money," Trump told reporters Tuesday.

The consensus among Republicans was that Trump's presidency was not only a success but also impressively efficient.

"President Trump is fulfilling his promises, but the accomplishment to me is the rate he’s doing it," Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois told Blaze News. "He was working on his transition team before he was even elected so he could hit the ground running, and that's what he’s done."

"He came in with the best Cabinet that I think we’ve ever seen," Burlison added. "He came in, and he got them appointed quickly, and he came in with a ton of executive orders."

While Republicans enjoy the successes of the first 100 days, lawmakers are tasked with maintaining the winning streak. The House and Senate are officially back in session after a two-week recess, and reconciliation talks are resuming.

“We have a long way to go, but he’s only been in office 100 days," Norman told Blaze News.

"I’m very excited about it," Miller said. "I think we have momentum building to pass this one big, beautiful bill."

While lawmakers in the House and Senate continue to iron out reconciliation talks, Republicans have maintained that Trump policies, such as no tax on tips, are a non-negotiable.

'Congress is not on page with President Trump, and I think that's a serious problem.'

“No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on social security," Greene told Blaze News. "These were President Trump’s campaign promises that he said over and over again, promising the American people, and these are the promises that Congress has to deliver.”

Spending cuts have also remained a top priority despite the negative press from the legacy media surrounding Elon Musk and DOGE's efforts.

"It’s not going to be easy, but it’s like the cancer patient who’s taking the medicine that’s bitter," Norman told Blaze News. "I’m sorry, but if it will help you and cure the cancer, then we do it. And the cancer in this country has been overspending, and we’re going to fix it.”

"We’re at $37 trillion in debt," Burlison added. "We have a $2-trillion-a-year annual deficit. If we grow that, I can’t live with myself."

'We’ve gotta make sure we do government differently.'

Although some Republicans say we are on track, others are not confident that Congress will stay on course.

"Congress is not on page with President Trump, and I think that's a serious problem," Greene told Blaze News.

“If Congress does not deliver on these important campaign promises of President Trump, we’re gonna lose the midterms," Greene added. “It would be such a failure of a Republican-controlled Congress not to deliver on the mandate, the historic mandate, that was given in November.”

Although there are some concerns that Congress will return to old spending habits, Trump remains optimistic about reconciliation.

"If we get that done, that's the biggest thing. ... And I think we're going to get it done," Trump told reporters Tuesday. "We have great Republican support."

"We’ve gotta make sure we do government differently," Harris said. “We’ve gotta stay the course that we’ve started.”

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Republicans Announce Legislative Plans To Punish The Performance Of Child-Mutilating Transgender Surgeries

The Safeguarding The Overall Protection of Minors (STOP) Act would reportedly put heavy fines on doctors who perform transgender procedures on minors.