Peoria Standard

State Rep. Mark Luft (R-Pekin) was also one of those who said he was disappointed with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s FY2022 budget proposal.

Luft noted previous state expenses which have contributed to Illinois’ current fiscal crisis.

He said that “after record-high spending in Gov. Pritzker’s recent budgets, holding spending flat at $42 billion this year simply isn't enough when this proposal is out of balance by nearly $1.7 billion when based on current law, and not the fantasy tax increases and borrowing forgiveness that Gov. Pritzker assumes will happen.”

Luft added that insisting to execute this budget plan would mean a “deficit on top of the $4.7 billion unpaid bill backlog, $4.3 billion in short-term debt and another $141 billion unfunded pension liabilities.”

Despite positively crafting a presentation which claimed that the budget “strategically deploys State and Federal Resources,” “strengthens safety net Services for Illinoisans in need,” including a “balanced approach that holds the line on spending, helping to bend the cost curve of government,” Republicans see this as a frustrating and unrealistic financial roadmap.

State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg), Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich), and Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) were among those who stated they too were disappointed and declared the governor’s budget out-of-balance.