Illinois Valley Times

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) criticized the recent partisan vote in the Illinois Senate to advance a budget that would increase revenue through higher taxes without the spending reform measures that Republicans have been demanding.

“The action taken by the majority in the Senate is simply more of the same from what we’ve seen over the past decade,” Rezin said in a statement. “Simply put, the Democrats passed yet again, an unbalanced budget.”

The state has not had a full budget for two years, and in the run up to the end of the current legislative session on May 31, Senate Democrats and Republicans had been working toward a compromise to balance the $5 billion gap between projected revenue and spending. Republicans sought to close the deficit through reforms to reduce spending, while Democrats sought to maintain spending and increase revenue with higher taxes.

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris)

Ultimately, the Senate passed a budget with tax increases and no reforms along party lines.

“Their actions also include a tax increase on working families with no other relief attached, such as property tax relief, and it failed to include necessary reforms that will boost our economy and create jobs,” Rezin said in the statement. “Their action is unfortunate and frustrating as good, bi-partisan progress was being made on a balanced budget that would end the status quo and turn our state around fiscally and economically.”