BENTON – Gov. JB Pritzker put pen to paper on Monday morning, signing the FY 26 Illinois state budget. The spending plan raises $1 billion in taxes, fees, and fund sweeps to pay for a record $55.2 billion budget. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) issued the following statement in response to the budget’s enactment.
“It’s another year, and yet another set of tax hikes and one-time gimmicks to fund another record-spending budget. Illinois Democrats just simply cannot help themselves when it comes to increasing the size of government and raising taxes to pay for more programs. This budget has serious flaws, including a pay raise for politicians, a $100 million slush fund for Governor Pritzker to spend how he sees fit, and tens of millions of dollars in funding for Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) as Democrats continue to double down on the failed and costly Sanctuary State policies they support. I voted NO. We must rein in our spending and get Illinois’ fiscal house back in order, or our citizens will continue to be taxed to the limit by Democrats who insist on growing the size and scope of government and raising taxes on our people to pay for it.”
