Republicans Attack Ahead of Pritzker Budget Speech
Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) testifies at a Senate committee hearing in 2024.
Governor JB Pritzker proposed a Fiscal Year 2027 budget in Springfield Wednesday, and Republicans spent much of Tuesday criticizing supermajority Democrats.
Pritzker is expected to unveil an “Affordability Agenda” which will focus on rising costs of health care, housing, education, and energy.
The governor, who is seeking to become the first Governor in 40 years to win a third full term later this year, is widely expected to continue his war of words with the Trump administration. He is expected to accuse Trump of creating uncertainty in the national economy, stripping away health care and food assistance from seniors and children, and for his attacks on Americans’ “fundamental rights and freedoms.”
Many Democrats expect Pritzker will introduce a “maintenance” budget, that keeps spending mostly in check with the current year and isn’t likely to include an massive new spending programs or any major cuts.
Republicans spent Tuesday criticizing the speech in advance.
“You have and will continue to hear a lot of blaming the federal administration for Illinois’ financial problems,” said Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove). “Despite all the warnings, the Governor still increased state spending by about 40 percent since taking office, a double-digit increase, beyond inflationary pressures.”
“Governor Pritzker will blame President Trump, congressional Republicans, and anyone else but his Democratic friends in the House and Senate four our budget woes. The blame is squarely on him and Illinois Democrats,” said Rep. Amy Elik (R-Godfrey), one of the House GOP budget negotiators. “The path forward is to grow our way to prosperity, but the Democrat solution has always been more taxes and more spending. I expect this year to be the ‘same old, same old’ from Governor Pritzker and House Democrats.”
Curran says Pritzker needs to keep his focus inside of the state’s borders.
“We need a better business climate, one that attracts more capital investment to Illinois, promoting job and wage growth,” Curran said. “I hope I hear a speech about our state. Our people. Our issues. I hope I hear a promise not to raise taxes, as Illinois citizens are struggling to catch up with the cost of living. I hope I hear about Illinois, not Donald Trump.”
But many Republicans, like Elik, don’t believe Democrats will be able to keep their foot off the gas increasing state spending.
“Let’s face it: the House Democrats and Governor Pritzker are in denial about the true reality of our financial situation. In this year’s budget, we should be going department by department, line by line, to identify areas where we can reduce spending,” Elik said. “Raising taxes should never be the default solution to a tough budget year.”
