SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. J-B Pritzker is asking the state’s five pension systems about divesting from any Russian companies.
Across the state employee, university and teacher pension systems, Illinois holds nearly $100 billion in assets.
Pritzker wants to make sure none of the pension systems are tied to Russia, in light of the country’s attack on Ukraine. He’s awaiting a response.
“I have not heard yet back from the five pension systems. That’s why I asked them, as I did, to look into how they might accomplish that, it’s not an easy task, but it’s an important task,” Pritzker said.
The governor said he isn’t sure if the pension systems have any Russian investments, but if so, Illinois must take action if possible.
“At this moment, when Russia is a terrible aggressor, killing people, seemingly endlessly across Ukraine, we need to take action, all of us, in any way that we can…and certainly the state of Illinois, if we have any investments, and I don’t know if we do, but if we do, we should take that action,” Pritzker said.
