Record Spending Budget Passes Out of the General Assembly

Governor J.B. Pritzker's record-breaking spending plan, which relies on nearly one billion dollars in tax increases and gimmicks, passed the General Assembly on May 31.

Once signed into law, it will become the largest budget in Illinois history, totaling more than fifty-five billion dollars. That figure represents a staggering increase of nearly fifteen billion dollars, or almost forty percent, since the Governor first took office.

Senate Republicans voted against the proposal, arguing it reflects misguided priorities that grow government at the expense of working families.

The spending plan includes nearly $1 billion in new taxes and financial gimmicks. Among them are higher taxes on vacation rentals such as Airbnb, new taxes on gaming, increased taxes on phone services and nicotine products, and hundreds of millions in new taxes on businesses-costs that will ultimately be passed along to consumers. Democrats also relied on nearly $400 million in one-time revenue grabs and accounting tricks to balance the books.

While Democrats continue to spend millions in funding on non-citizen programs, the new budget falls short for members of the developmentally disabled community, K-12 and college students, and taxpayers who are footing the bill.

As Washington moves in the opposite direction, cutting taxes and offering real relief to working people, seniors, and families, Illinois Democrats are choosing to dig deeper into the pockets of their residents.