Peoria Standard

State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is sold on the $45 billion spending plan now being proposed by Gov. J.B. Ptitzker.

“This is the time for the government to step up and do what is right by the people we represent,” Koehler posted on Facebook. “By putting the people of our state at the forefront of our growth and progress, we ensure that we are able to move forward together, and I look forward to continuing to strive for that goal.”

Pritzker’s calls for up to $300 in property tax rebates, suspending the grocery sales tax for a year and setting aside $500 million for the state’s long-troubled pension system while adding spending for education and health care.

“During this time of unprecedented challenges, the proposed budget gives a well-deserved and much-needed helping hand to Illinoisans hardest hit by the pandemic,” Koehler said in a post to his website. “This budget addresses the needs of some of the most vulnerable individuals across our state through additional resources for the Department of Children and Family Services, increased funding for public health preparedness, and expanded home care and food delivery programs for older Illinoisans.

Not everyone in Springfield views the governor’s plan the same way, with state Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) ripping the plan to the Chamana Sun as one that has trouble written all over it.

"It looks like the governor is proposing temporary tax relief coupled with permanent spending increases and while that might sound good today, we know that will cause problems for Illinois in the future," he said. "Illinois has long been plagued by overspending and political leaders who are unwilling to make the reforms necessary to the government, and what we're seeing is more of the same."

Pritzker’s state budget totals $112.5 billion, with less than half of it ($45.5 billion) being accounted for through the state’s general revenue fund.

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) told the Carbondale Reporter she shares many of Barickman’s concerns.

"We've talked a lot about the need, if we're going to get our fiscal house in order, to make sure we don't have new and expanded programs right now," she said. "I like some of the things he said about getting our fiscal house in order. It's time to pass some of that on to taxpayers."