Rep. Bunting’s Springfield news update for January 30

In this issue:

• Affordability must be a top priority in this session
• $481 million in current state budget placed on hold
• Stopping by Villas of Holly Brook
• Illinois headlines

Affordability must be a top priority in this session

As the spring session gets going, members are setting out their top priorities for legislation. Last week I told you about the importance of balancing our budget without raising taxes. This week I want to highlight another important issue that we should concentrate on: affordability.

House Republicans held a press conference on the second day of session to discuss plans to deliver affordability to Illinois families who have been hit hard by rising costs. This will involve providing tax relief and creating opportunities for economic growth.

Taking real action to make conditions more affordable for Illinoisans will involve changing the course the state has been on. For example, last fall's transit package lacks transparency and oversight, and is a good example of the kind of new taxing and spending we need to avoid this year.

Republicans put forward a series of proposals to put more money back in the pockets of taxpayers. For example, our program calls for eliminating state taxes on tips and overtime. It would provide relief on car loan interest and would expand education tax credits. We will also need to act this year to correct some of the mistakes that have been made in state energy policy - mistakes which have driven up our electric bills.

We will be back in Springfield in February to get to work on these priorities and to hear the Governor's budget address. I hope he will reverse course and embrace these good ideas for reducing taxes and providing Illinoisans with relief from the rising costs of living.

$481 million in current state budget placed on hold

The Governor's budget office ordered state agencies to place a freeze on $481 million in state spending and fund transfers which were authorized by the current state budget. The spending pause affects five areas of state spending: Healthcare and Human Services ($361.5 million), Government Services ($57.2 million), Higher Education ($30.5 million), Public Safety ($22.1 million), and Economic Development, Environment and Culture ($10.3 million).

These are not necessarily funding cuts, as the Governor's office could order the frozen funds to be released at any time. The action applies to the final five months of the state's current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

This move follows the Governor's executive order to state agencies back in the fall to hold back some of the funds appropriated to them by the state budget, a seeming admission that the state's revenue flow may not be able to keep up with the skyrocketing levels of spending. When the Governor delivers his budget address we could hear a commitment to fiscal responsibility, or we could hear the Governor attempt to shift the blame for Illinois' poor fiscal condition to Washington. Getting our own house in order seems like the more productive approach.

The move to freeze $481 million in state spending is about one quarter of the $2 billion which the state spent over the past few years on health care benefits, education and housing for those in the state illegally.

Stopping by Villas of Holly Brook

Thank you to the Villas of Holly Brook in Gibson City for giving me the opportunity to stop by and speak with the residents and staff at Cocktails and Conversations.

I appreciated the warm hospitality and the engaging conversation!

Our current bill backlog

When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state's checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,539,265,605. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $2.2 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state's pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.

Illinois headlines

Illinois State Police respond to 250+ accidents in Central Illinois from weekend snowstorm

Reading challenge to begin in February at Watseka Library

Illinois Department on Aging opens nominations for 2026 Senior Hall of Fame class

Grundy Sheriff Deputy Chief honored for 25 years of services, others recognized