CHICAGO (WLS) — Governor JB Pritzker’s campaign office issued a statement on Friday calling for an $8.6 billion reimbursement for Illinois residents. This demand follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn President Donald Trump’s extensive global tariffs.
In response to the ruling, a visibly agitated Trump announced plans to introduce a new 10% global tariff. This measure would serve as a temporary fix, adhering to a law that limits such tariffs to a duration of 150 days.
Governor Pritzker, alongside other Illinois officials, voiced their views on Friday in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. A Chicago-based business, which was part of the litigation, also expressed satisfaction with the court ruling.
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Pritzker highlighted that the court’s verdict implies a financial obligation, estimating that American families are owed approximately $2,000 each. However, a Yale budget analysis suggests a slightly lower figure of $1,600. The issue is anticipated to face further legal scrutiny.
“Trump claims to have a secret strategy to reinstate or mimic tariffs, keeping them in place by some means,” Pritzker remarked. “This seems unlawful since the Supreme Court has deemed his tariff actions unconstitutional.”
In the letter from Pritzker’s campaign, there is a call for the return of the $8.6 billion, which the governor argues was unfairly taken from Illinois families by the president’s policies.
The Supreme Court did not speculate on how the president could move forward, only saying definitively in its verdict, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, that tariffs are a tax on the American people, and only Congress can impose taxes.
Last year’s huge tariffs on China put Learning Resources’ ability to operate in jeopardy. So, the local company decided to take the Trump administration to court, and a year later, they won.
Learning Resources is a family-owned business that has been selling educational toys for decades. Most come from China. When President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs last year, the Vernon Hills based company decided to fight back.
“Our company was threatened,” said Stephen Woldenberg, Learning Resources VP Sales. “Our 500 employees were threatened by this. And we’re not a company to stand by idly. So we wanted to take action.”
The company took action by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration. While many tariff cases were filed, Learning Resources became the plaintiff in the case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Because the Constitution gives Congress the right to impose tariffs, not the president, the Woldenberg family, who owns the company, knew the law was on their side and the high court would rule in their favor.
“We’d like our money back,” Woldenberg said. “They didn’t have any issue taking it. They shouldn’t have any issue giving it back. We know they didn’t comment on it today, but, we trust the process will play out.”
The SCOTUS ruling did not lay out plan for refunds. Constitutional law experts say the issue will likely be settled in lower courts and it may make a take a long time.
“There have been plenty of cases in the past where the Court has said that some action was unlawful or even unconstitutional, but for various reasons, for reasons of Reliance or settlement, people just don’t get back the money that they’ve paid in those cases,” University of Chicago Law School Professor Jonathon Masur said.
President Trump is looking at plan B, using a different statute, he says he will impose a flat 10% levy on all foreign goods. In an angry press conference following the SCOTUS decision, he also took aim at Learning Resources.
“I know the people that brought the lawsuit, and sleezebags, major sleezebags,” Trump said.
Woldenberg says his family does not know President Trump.
“We are really focused on how we can move forward after the ruling,” Woldenberg said.
Besides being called “sleezebags” by the president, ABC7 asked Stephen Woldenberg if he is worried about any retribution from Trump. Woldenberg says the cost of tariffs is much higher than any cost associated with the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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