Rep. Will Guzzardi introduces a plan that would divest Illinois' pension funds from any companies that participate in building a wall along the Mexican border. | AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast Illinois lawmaker proposes divestment from firms that build Trump's wall

CHICAGO — A Democratic lawmaker is proposing legislation that would cut off state funding to companies that accept contracts to build a proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, is announcing legislation today that would require Illinois to divest pension funds from any company that takes federal contracts to build the wall that President-elect Donald Trump made central to his successful campaign for president.


Guzzardi said Illinois laws should be reflective of a state in which Hillary Clinton won the overall vote by 16.5 points. Illinois did go red outside of Chicago and its suburbs, especially in downstate counties. According to Illinoiselectiondata.com Trump won 90 counties outside Chicago, by a 57-37 margin.

“The Illinois Investment [Policy] Board currently has a restrictive list that has to comply with a few state statutes. The list already exists, the precedent is there,” Guzzardi said in an interview Monday. “I think the Legislature will reflect the majority of Illinois … we don’t believe in demonizing immigrants.”

Trump had promised to build a 2,000-mile wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and vowed that he'd make the Mexican government pick up the tab, estimated to cost $25 billion. In a recent "60 Minutes" interview, Trump said he would accept a fence in some areas of the border.

Guzzardi's bill lays out requirements for the Illinois Investment Policy Board “to make its best efforts to identify all companies that contract to build a border wall and include those companies in the list of restricted companies distributed to each retirement system and the Illinois State Board of Investment.” Guzzardi plans a news conference in Chicago Tuesday.

Last week, Chicago officials announced that it would remain a so-called Sanctuary City for immigrants even though Trump has promised to cut off federal funding to such cities.

Guzzardi went further, pressing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to denounce Trump’s appointment of Breitbart News exec Steve Bannon as White House chief strategist.

Rauner has moved cautiously on the topic of Trump, knowing it’s a politically volatile topic in a state where he needs Democratic support to win in 2018. Rauner didn't mention Trump by name during or even after the election.

Last week, Rauner said he had spoken by phone with Trump and that he expected Illinois would “have a voice and a good relationship” with the White House.

“We all are going to have to work in the confines of a Trump administration, but the concept of having to set aside what’s right and wrong for the sake of party allegiance, that’s a really important question and the governor has to make up his mind about that,” Guzzardi said.

Rauner’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Guzzardi’s proposed legislation.

