Rep. Sosnowski statement on Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order on State Spending

State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) issued the following statement in response to the results of Governor Pritzker's Executive Order 2025-05 released this week that has identified $481.6 million in FY26 General Funds reserves:

"For the first time in years, the Governor of the State of Illinois is asking his departments to try to save money. Is this a new era of taking a responsible, common-sense step to control spending? By directing state agencies to identify funds to hold in reserve in the event of changes at the federal level, we are poised to rein in the out-of-control spending growth that has defined the first seven years of Governor Pritzker's Administration. Further action is needed to get our spending priorities in the right place.

Specifically, the Governor should stop forcing taxpayers to fund a vast majority of health care costs for non-citizens in the HBIS program, which as of 2025 covers about 8,900 individuals who enjoy no deductible and limited copays (No one else in the United States has a benefit this generous). The Governor should also fix the SNAP error rate to stop giving benefits away to individuals who do not qualify for them, jeopardizing the most vulnerable families in our community and throughout the state.

Finally, the Governor should stop driving up the cost of living by raising taxes, tolls, pay raises for politicians, pork projects like the $40 million sports complex for a high school in Speaker Welch's district, and the automatic annual increase in the gas tax. Illinois families deserve an end to these reckless, irresponsible policies."

Representative Sosnowski serves the 69^th District which includes portions of Winnebago, Boone, and McHenry Counties.