BUDGET
Pritzker proposes the largest budget in state history. Last year after the budget address, we reported Governor Pritzker had proposed the largest budget in the state’s history. This year, he has outdone himself – breaking last year’s record.
During his speech to the Illinois General Assembly this week, Governor Pritzker unveiled his priorities and spending plan, setting his total FY26 expenditures at $55.235 billion. The new proposal reflects a nearly $2 billion increase in spending over last year, resulting in a 3.7% increase overall. Moreover, the Governor plans to pay for the new spending with yet-to-be-realized revenue, based in part on aggressive projections that have not been confirmed by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA), as well as increased taxes and other gimmicks that will require the legislature’s approval.
State spending under Governor Pritzker has grown exponentially since he took office in 2019. When he took over as Governor, state expenditures were $40.3 billion. Each year since we have seen state spending grow and we now have a budget that is $15 billion higher than when he took office.
At a Capitol press conference immediately following the Governor’s budget address, I declared that the Governor’s massive spending plan was “dead on arrival.” Here is my full react to the address:
“Illinois families deserve an honest and transparent government – not one that increases spending by $2 billion and masks a $3.2 billion deficit on paper, setting taxpayers up for a potential tax hike on May 31.
“I promised at the start of the year that House Republicans would expose and oppose poor public policy, and this budget proposal is just that. It won’t grow our tax base; it will continue to punish businesses and hardworking Illinoisans.”
CGFA TALKS IL UNDERPERFORMANCE
In the same week that Gov. Pritzker was suggesting an FY26 budget based on sunny economic projections of statewide economic activity and tax revenues for the coming year, the nonpartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) shared an economic forecast with lawmakers that on many facets painted a different picture.
CGFA prepared 20-year charts that showed the long-term underperformance of Illinois, relative to other U.S. states, in the fields of economic growth, job creation, and reduction of unemployment. In all of these variables, the data shows Illinois continuously underperforming the economic performance of the U.S. as a whole. This is important because trend lines like these can be used to generate a more realistic view of Illinois’ likely employment picture and payroll-tax-related cash flow in the near future, including FY26.
TRANSPORTATION
Still need a REAL ID? What to know about the upcoming requirements in Illinois. The wait for the long-delayed REAL ID plan may finally be coming to an end next year.
Next May, the federal Department of Homeland Security will require that people have a REAL ID in order to access federal facilities – think military bases – and fly on domestic commercial aircraft.
REAL ID has been in the works for more than 20 years, with numerous delays to the official implementation of the special identification put in place in 2005. […]
Now, REAL ID is set to go into effect fully on May 7, 2025, unless there is another delay.
For Illinois, REAL IDs look similar to that of a regular, standard Illinois driver’s license, but with one key difference – a gold star in the upper right denoting the special nature of the ID. Standard driver’s licenses have a phrase at the top that says “Federal Limits Apply.”
How do you get a REAL ID in Illinois?
People can go to their Illinois Secretary of State’s facility in order to receive a REAL ID.
The Secretary of State’s Office requires that anyone who wants a REAL ID must have proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or passport, proof of their Social Security number, two residency documents – such as a utility bill or rental statement – and proof of a signature.
Read more from the Peoria Journal Star.
PROTECT HOMESCHOOLING
House Democrats filed legislation that takes aim at homeschooling families. I am opposed to this legislation, HB2827.
Join me in sending a message to Springfield that intrusive mandates and punitive measures for families making the choice to homeschool must be stopped. To date, nearly 1,000 residents have signed the petition I recently launched.
Parents deserve the right to make their own decisions regarding their children’s education. This is just another attempt by big government to expand their power and influence over your parental rights.
You can make your voice heard by signing the petition below to end the attacks on Illinois families’ choices about how their children are raised and educated:
OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK
I am hosting office hours on Friday!
It is important to continue making my office accessible to residents across northwest Illinois. If you can’t make this round, there will be more to come!