On Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker officially signed into law his nearly 56 billion dollar budget, the largest in the state’s history.
Republican lawmakers have not been shy about reiterating their thoughts on the spending plan, echoing much of what was said when the bill was first introduced. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savannah) said by signing this budget the governor chose more spending and more pressure on Illinois families instead of pursuing property tax relief, energy affordability, and economic growth. “Illinois families deserve real solutions to the rising cost of living,” McCombie said,” The Governor is fully accountable for a budget that puts government growth ahead of affordability and leaves Illinois families paying the price.”
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) says that this budget ensures the majority party the ability to use tax payer dollars on projects in their own districts while ignoring more important issues like funding service providers for the mentally disabled. “Its the largest budget in state history and they still can’t find the dollars to fund real priorities like those caring for those who can’t care for themselves.”
Davidsmeyer added that the budget shows the governor’s list of priorities and that small businesses and the customers that keep their doors open are not on that list. “When they raise taxes and fees on businesses, who ends up paying that? The customer. Each and everyone of us.” the Murrayville Republican said. “Its ridiculous that they can keep going on this way, and keep throwing the people of the state of Illinois under the tax bus”
A 76-39 House vote during the spring session in Springfield on June 1st sent the more than 3,700-page spending plan to the governor’s desk and included 800 million dollars in new tax hikes and fees.