Illinois Valley Times

Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) recently spoke out against the fiscal year 2022-23 state budget.

“What should have been a wake-up call to everyone about the continued need for ethics reforms in the state of Illinois, instead we saw Democrats taking a different approach and focusing on any other issue possible,” Spain said at a May 12 press conference at the capitol. “Again, using their majorities to deliver unique projects only for their districts instead of understanding that there is a cost that all of us as taxpayers and residents pay. (There's) a cost of corruption in the state of Illinois and it's high time we focus on making meaningful reforms.”

An April 19 press release from the Office of the Governor said the upcoming budget will have $1.8 billion in tax relief for Illinois families. The release goes on to add the budget will provide "historic funding" for education, human services, law enforcement and violence prevention.

“We are continuing our practice of responsible budgeting while helping those who need help the most,” Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said in the release. “Families are struggling, and I hope this budget provides them a bit of relief.”

Since its signing, Republicans have come out against the budget.

“Democrats passed a budget focused more on the upcoming election than the needs and responsibilities of the state,” Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville), assistant Republican leader, said, according to Fox Illinois. “They wrote a bill to delay their gas tax increase, conveniently until after the election. They included delayed tax increases on businesses and cuts in unemployment benefits, conveniently until after the election. These taxes will be increased; the Democrats just wanted to ensure that it didn’t happen before the election. This budget includes $1.6 billion in pork projects in Democrat-only legislative districts. These include all sorts of things like a ‘pilot program’ for a guaranteed minimum income for women in East St. Louis. This and all of the other projects amount to election-year bribes for their re-election, paid for by all Illinois taxpayers.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy also spoke against the budget, saying, “Instead of permanent solutions for working families like real tax cuts and reduced spending, Democrats passed temporary election-year gimmicks, a massive increase in spending, and pay raises for politicians. In the face of record inflation and a crushing tax burden, Democrats gave taxpayers a handful of candy and told them to suck it up. They failed to provide real relief to taxpayers and all but guaranteed tax increases when the federal bailout money goes away.”