Galesburg Reporter

Republican lawmakers are giving Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) their reaction to the state budget proposal he unveiled during his State of the State address.

Pritzker’s state budget totals $112.5 billion, according to Patch. Of that, $45.5 billion would be from the state’s general revenue fund and the rest would be from the federal fund.

"The governor had a lot of new and expanded programs," Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) said. "We’ve talked a lot about the need, if we’re going to get our fiscal house in order, to make sure we don't have new and expanded programs right now. I like some of the things he said about getting our fiscal house in order. It’s time to pass some of that on to taxpayers."

Public employee pensions are a big part of the budget, according to Patch. 

"I hope that you’re going to give a seat at the 'grown-up table' for those of us that have good ideas," Bryant said. "I think Republicans have some excellent ideas on how to make permanent changes and permanent tax relief to the taxpayers ... rather than election-year gimmicks. If we want to make changes we need to make those changes in a permanent way."

Patch also reports that a proposal from officials suggested using a portion of the tax revenue from legal cannabis for the rainy day fund. Part of that revenue is meant for paying off unpaid bills so the change requires action by the legislature.

Other Republican lawmakers also weighed in on the budget. proposal.

"Money from COVID, that's what he's going to be using to quote-unquote kind of patch the budget instead of doing the real fundamental reforms that need to take place in this state," Sen. Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) said, according to Patch.

"This behavior is what got us in this situation in the first place," Sen. Win Stoller (R-Peoria) said. "If spending increases are permanent why are the tax reductions temporary? Clearly, the governor is using election-year gimmicks. What we need (are) true budget reform and permanent tax relief."