SPRINGFIELD, IL….State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) issued the following reaction to Governor JB Pritzker’s annual combined Budget and State of the State Address delivered to a joint Session of the Illinois House and Senate. In the address, Gov. Pritzker laid out his spending priorities for Fiscal Year 2025 which is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2024.
“The Budget Address marks the beginning of negotiations for the budget, which is generally the biggest item taken up by the legislature. I have to say I am deeply concerned with the priorities that were expressed by Governor Pritzker today. The Governor wants to spend hundreds of millions more on illegal immigrants in the Sanctuary City of Chicago. His budget offers a lack of real tax relief for items like gas, groceries, medicine, and school supplies even though Illinoisans pay some of the highest combined taxes in the country. Prioritizing spending on failed policies that have brought thousands of people to our country and state illegally over the care of our citizens who are dealing with record inflation and confiscatory tax policies is wrong.
“I would urge my Democrat colleagues in the legislature to change their ways. Abandon the past practices of cutting out Republicans from negotiations. Bring the budget into the light so the public can know what’s in it. No more budgets dropped at the last minute on the last day of the Session! We have a real opportunity to provide tax relief to our citizens, shore up our finances, and make responsible choices that will help secure a brighter financial future for our state and our citizens.”
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