McLean County Times

Senate Republicans lambasted the Democrats’ fiscal year 2022 budget which includes tax hikes, elimination of job-creation incentives, and cutting scholarship programs.

There is no budget deficit, the GOP senators said. They pointed out that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) estimated revenues for the current fiscal year and the upcoming year as $8 billion higher than anticipated. Illinois would have $16 billion more in revenue than expected if COGFA’s projection is added to the $8 billion expected from new federal COVID-19 relief funds.

“These guys have plenty of money,” Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said. “The question that should be asked of Gov. Pritzker and the Democrats is: Where does it end? Who are they coming for to get more money, because $16 billion isn’t enough? They come for school kids, getting rid of the scholarship credits. They’re coming for farmers and truckers, and the environment, in biodiesel. They’re coming for men and women with dirt under their fingernails. You think J.B. Pritzker’s got dirt under his fingernails?”

Scholarship programs which gave opportunities to low-income youth to attend schools of their choice are also intended to be removed.

“I get letters from all over the state from children and parents that say this was a game-changer in our family’s lives, we are finally learning, we’re achieving success, and the stories are incredible,” Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) said, urging the governor not to further burden Illinoisans.

Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) recounted how proud the governor was with the tax incentives and other negotiated matters that were planned and executed two years ago. Now, Pritzker calls these “loopholes.”

“I was part of the team that negotiated the bipartisan agreement on the Rebuild Illinois 2019 Capital Program. So, I remember vividly Gov. Pritzker hailing a series of job-creating, economy-boosting incentives that would help our families and their businesses located in our communities thrive."

Rose also questions Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission's request for a $28.8 million budget.

COFGA, according to the Republicans, estimated in March a $40.396 billion fiscal year base revenue, and a May revised estimate is at $41.188 billion.