Peoria Standard

On Wednesday morning, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly voted to implement a $53.1 billion spending plan, marking the largest budget in state history without Republican support. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget is $2.6 billion more than last year’s and includes pay raises for politicians and $1 billion allocated for non-citizens. Additionally, Democrats approved $1 billion in tax hikes to fund the record-breaking spending.

Over the past four years, the Democrat-controlled General Assembly has collaborated with Governor Pritzker to increase government spending significantly. Since the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, Democratic lawmakers have increased state expenditures by over $13 billion, from nearly $40 billion in 2020 to more than $53 billion this year.

House Republican lawmakers expressed strong opposition to the FY 2025 budget:

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) stated, “This budget is a negligent political document that comes at a massive price to Illinois families. The partisan approach by Democratic leaders has pushed the state onto a failed path of taxes and overspending while ignoring necessary structural and ethical reforms.”

Deputy Republican Leader & Chief Budgeteer Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) commented, “In just six years under Governor Pritzker, State spending has increased by more than $13 billion, a 32 percent increase. Illinois working families and seniors cannot afford to pay for all this massive spending."

Assistant Republican Leader & Budgeteer Amy Elik (R-Alton) voiced concerns: “Hard-working Illinoisans are struggling to afford basic needs amidst high inflation and higher cost of living increases... I’m greatly concerned that the excessive spending this year and in the future can only be paid for by more and more tax hikes.”

Assistant Republican Leader Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) added, ”I am concerned with the way that the Democrats’ spending plan prioritizes appropriations for non-citizens... While I understand the state of Illinois faces budgetary pressures, I would have preferred a budget that prioritized tax cuts and spending cuts during this incredibly difficult financial time for taxpayers.”

Assistant Republican Leader Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) expressed frustration: “Republican lawmakers were once again shut out from budget discussions despite our ongoing offers to be a part of the process... Our state budget is for everyone.”

Assistant Republican Leader Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) warned about future deficits: "Since before the Governor’s budget proposal in 2023... Well, this budget lays bare that problem as Democrats are ramming more than a billion dollars in tax increases."

Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) criticized over-taxation: "One of the biggest problems we have in Illinois is over-taxation of businesses and residents... This budget does not address the needs of our residents."

Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) described it as “the largest partisan budget in state history” failing “to address the dire needs of Illinois residents and businesses.”

Rep. Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) concluded: "This outcome is the sad reality of an out-of-balance state legislature... We must bring balance back to our state's government."