SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Reaction to a new Illinois fiscal year budget has pretty much held along party lines.
The $55.2 billion budget is supported by $55.3 billion of revenue, including just over $1 billion in new taxes and revenue changes. Those include new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products and businesses.
Democratic State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth Peoria, in a written statement, called the budget responsible and compassionate.
“The document puts people first, and reflects a balanced approach in a challenging time,” Gordon-Booth said. “We’re unable to count on the federal government to be an ally on critical issues that help families, and the economic uncertainly caused by reckless cuts and tariffs plans further compelled us to develop a forward-thinking budget that has flexibility with funding reserves.
Democratic State Senator Dave Koehler of Peoria said he is happy with the investments in community health care included in the budget. The budget allocates funding for federally qualified health centers, and safety net hospitals, which will help reinforce their ability to serve uninsured and underinsured residents of Illinois.
Additionally, free and charitable clinics will receive increased support.
“This year’s budget demonstrates our commitment to providing all Illinois residents with high-quality access to health care,” Koehler said in a statement. “”Our investment in community-based providers makes certain that essential healthcare services remain available and open for vulnerable residents in both the 46th district and across the state.”
Republican State Representative Ryan Spain of Peoria claims the budget “doubles down on years of failed economic strategy that has caused our state to fall behind all our neighbors”
“Our state has been in an uncertain financial position for decades, thanks to years of financial malfeasance at the hands of the Democratic majority, who have maintained their artificial majority thanks to some of the worst gerrymandering in the entire country,” Spain said in a statement. “So, it doesn’t surprise me that Democrats again violated their own House Rules to ram through the near-largest spending plan in state history that robs the road fund to pay for standard operating expenses, gives legislators another pay raise, diverts funds meant for property tax relief and slaps the people of the state of Illinois with $1 billion in tax hikes.”
Republican State Representative Travis Weaver of Peoria called the budget “outrageous and egregious spending” saying the budget is $2 billion more than last year and 38 percent higher that it was just six years ago.
“This year’s budget process once again involved zero transparency and bills introduced in the final moments of session with no time to actual debate or input,” Weaver said.
“Our priorities are so out of whack, and policies such as zero-based budgeting must be implemented for state agencies to help get out financial house in order,” Weaver continued in a statement. “This year’s budget assures Democrats will need to raise taxes once again next year to cover for their out-of-control spending and unsustainable expansion of programs.”
Republican State Representative Dennis Tispword of Metamora said there are things in the budget he does not like.
“We’re still going to fund illegals in our state. We’ve got welcoming centers,” Tipsword said. “We’re still going to fund illegal seniors.”
Tipsword also said legislative pay raises should have taken a back seat in this year’s budget.
“The cycle we’re in now would have been a great year to at least hold all of our salaries flat. It would have been much better to give quite a bit back. But, I wouldn’t expect that from my colleagues across the aisle,” Tipsword said.
“This was just not the time to kind of take a parade lap and give ourselves a pay raise.”
Republican State Representative Bill Hauter of Morton was critical of how Democrats handled this year’s budget process.
“The tax and spend Democrats, called tax and and spend by their speaker, are so unfamiliar with cost cutting, they call it chaos,” Hauter said.
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