Illinois Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s proposed budget from his budget address:
“Time and time again, the Governor has proposed budgets that rely on overly optimistic revenue projections and gimmicks to appear balanced, only for taxpayers to be left with the consequences when reality sets in. This year is no different, as he has put forward a budget proposal that exceeds $55 billion, making it the largest spending plan in Illinois history.
“At a time when hardworking families are making tough financial decisions to keep up with the rising cost of living, the Governor is doing the opposite. His budget represents a nearly 40% increase since he took office, far outpacing the growth of Illinois families’ incomes. Instead of prioritizing fiscal responsibility, he continues to place the burden on taxpayers to fund his ever-expanding government, ignoring the financial realities that everyday Illinoisans face.
“While I am encouraged to see that the Governor is finally listening to the concerns of Illinoisans by claiming he will scale back the costly non-citizen healthcare program, I remain skeptical about the long-term sustainability of his overall budget proposal. This budget will not be real until we see the final numbers later this spring and a true commitment to fiscal responsibility.”