SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — After an all-nighter of legislative work in Springfield, Governor J.B. Pritzker is celebrating the accomplishments the Illinois General Assembly will fund in the latest budget.
The $53.1 billion budget passed the Senate Sunday night and the House of Representatives early Wednesday morning. Later Wednesday morning, Pritzker held a news conference, where he said the budget "continues our track record of fiscal responsibility."
He added that "Our state is in its strongest fiscal position in decades."
The governor thanked his office for help creating a budget that will expand the pension funding ratio and Rainy Day fund while minimizing the Illinois’ overdue bill backlog.
He also cited the fact that Illinois has received nine credit upgrades from the three major credit agencies. Those come from six years of balanced budgets.
Among the investments Pritzker highlighted include spending allocated to support for the developmentally disabled, investments for early childhood services and ending billions in medical debt.
Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton said helping families out was one of the key concepts of the budget.
"Our collective aim has always been to uplift working families in every corner of the state, from combatting homelessness, to stopping predatory insurance practices to expanding access to holistic birth and care," Stratton said. "This budget was steered by a shared moral compass."
No Republicans from either chamber voted in favor of the budget, with many criticizing the state’s proposal to fund various programs for migrants in the state. Chicago officials estimate 41,576 migrants have come to the city in the past year.
“House Republicans support a balanced budget without gimmicks and tax hikes," Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), the House of Representative’s chief budgeteer said in a statement. "We support a budget that prioritizes the needs of Illinois working families and seniors over migrants and undocumented immigrants. We will continue to work to pass a balanced budget that protects Illinois taxpayers, properly funds shared priorities, and makes real reforms to improve our economy.”
Pritzker fired back at the Republicans who decried the budget, adding that he’s "pleased" with how the budget ultimately came out.
"Every year, particularly Republicans, say things like "Oh, we’re careening towards a brick wall,"" the governor said. "It hasn’t happened. Six years in a row, we have balanced this budget, and we have made sure that we are thinking about and lowering costs for working families every time we put a budget together."
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May 29, 2024 at 02:26PM
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