(The Center Square)–Illinois taxpayers still don’t know how much of their money will be spent by the state of Illinois next fiscal year or whether they’ll be charged higher taxes to pay for it.
Saturday is the deadline for legislators to approve the annual spending plan that begins July 1. Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker explained what he would veto if it’s included.
“I’ve been opposed to any taxes. They’re broad based, or that would affect working families in this budget,” Pritzker told reporters.
Thursday, state Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, said the governor isn’t being genuine.
“Well, is that the same governor that said he was not going to support a gerrymandered map? I think that’s the same, governor,” Chesney said during a news conference. “So I think the governor has a political interest in trying to fight for the taxpayers because his interest is in presidential politics, not state politics.”
It’s been speculated for years Pritzker is aiming for higher office, including efforts to vie to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’ vice presidential candidate during the 2024 election cycle.
While Illinois could approve a $54 billion spending plan as the governor proposed in February, that’s just state taxpayer money. The state could get an additional $75.5 billion in federal tax funds.
But, that could change with the Trump administration possibly freezing funds for states, including spending for non-citizen health care. Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized that and other potential funding freezes.
“[President] Donald Trump, frankly, doesn’t give a darn about working people, about folks who are vulnerable in our society and only wants to give a massive tax cut to the wealthiest people in the country,” Pritzker said Wednesday.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said Trump is trying to reign in what he called bad policy of higher ed indoctrination, men in women’s sports and poor spending decisions by Illinois Democrats.
“You think Trump’s going to sit there and say, well, yeah, you guys keep, you know, invading girls safe spaces and running all these boys in these track meets and keep pushing this woke radical agenda, keep putting [diversity, equity and inclusion] in every, every bill that we see and also support illegal immigrants over the citizens of this great state of Illinois,” he said. “Of course, if I’m him, I’m going to cut that federal funding and he should cut that funding.”
Some speculate the state legislature could approve a budget before Saturday’s deadline, but will have to come back this summer to react to any moves from the Trump administration.
Legislators are set to adjourn May 31.
