Today Illinois Senate Republican Leader Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove), Deputy Leader Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and Chief Budgeteer Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) called on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to commit to transparent accounting of taxpayer spending and to deliver a budget that does not include tax increases on Illinois families and businesses in tomorrow’s address.
Last spring, the Democratic Majority passed the largest budget in state history totaling $53.3 billion with nearly $1 billion in spending on non-citizen programs, and $1.1 billion in tax increases.
“The budget is truly the blueprint for our state government operations and policy agenda,” said Curran. “Unfortunately, Gov. Pritzker’s budget blueprint has gone far beyond what Illinois taxpayers can afford, and the foundation is beginning to crack. Good leadership is a lot like good parenting – you can’t say YES all the time. Sometimes you have to say NO, be the adult in the room and live within your means.”
Spending has grown by nearly $13 billion, or 32 percent, since Gov. Pritzker took office. However, executive orders and 30 consecutive emergency declarations for Illinois’ migrant crisis, have allowed the Administration to skirt traditional procurement and transparency requirements while spending huge sums of taxpayer dollars. This spending is especially unclear as it relates to non-citizen programs.
“Last year, the governor increased taxes by a billion dollars to pay for a billion dollars in non-citizen spending with few details,” said Rezin. “He continues to use emergency powers to move money in the shadows, leaving taxpayers and the legislators they elected to represent them in the dark. The people of Illinois are taxed out. They cannot afford to continue to have their taxes raised to pay for the governor’s self-inflicted migrant crisis and mismanagement.”
Senate Republicans have repeatedly asked the Pritzker Administration to provide financial details on taxpayer spending on noncitizen programs with no response. Leader Curran filed Senate Bill 1699 that would require relevant state agencies to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on state spending for non-citizens to give a clear picture on budget priorities. A previous version of the legislation languished without a hearing. Without details, the caucus estimates that at least $3.2 billion General Revenue Fund dollars have gone to non-citizen programs since FY21.
“The governor hasn’t just grown the state budget – he’s blown it up,” said Rose. “His administration ignored our warnings and went on a reckless spending spree. Now, facing a completely avoidable deficit, they are once again threatening hardworking Illinois families with tax hikes. Today we are here to send a clear message: No new taxes on the working people of Illinois.”
Illinois Senate Republicans said they will be prioritizing funding for education, public safety, seniors, and the state’s most vulnerable residents, especially those with disabilities and children under the state’s care. They have also introduced many tax reforms including tax credits to reduce the cost of daycare for working families, eliminating the franchise tax to help small businesses, and ending the duplicative estate tax to protect family farms and small businesses.
Gov. Pritzker is expected to give his budget address Wednesday, February 19.
The full press conference can be viewed and downloaded here: SGOP Budget Priorities presser 2-18-25