State Sen. John Curran (R-Lemont) speaks at a news conference Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (WTTW News)
President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last week should have a resounding message for Illinois politicians, according to the Republican leader of the state Senate, John Curran: “They want elected officials to focus on making life more affordable.”
Curran said Illinois Democrats, who control state government and therefore its purse strings, should bear that in mind as they contend with a deficit projected to top $3 billion.
At a press conference Tuesday, Curran called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to include the minority party in budget negotiations and to pledge not to raise taxes, either on individuals or businesses.
Instead, Curran said, Pritzker has shown no willingness to “course correct.”
“Unlike other Democratic governors in other states like Pennsylvania, that have approached the election results with calls for collaboration and working in a more bipartisan manner, Gov. Pritzker recently, with his press conference, has doubled down on his anti-Republican rhetoric, bashing Donald Trump,” Curran said.
Pritzker last Thursday told journalists he accepts Trump’s win, but that he will use his office to protect Illinois’ vulnerable groups should a Trump administration go after immigrants, LGBTQ+ Illinoisians or individuals seeking abortions.
On Tuesday, his office issued a statement turning the tables on the GOP.
“If Republicans in the General Assembly want to come to the table and work on a practical, balanced budget, they are always welcome to do so—but past experience shows that this sort of showy political theater is the extent of their actionable concern for our state’s economy,” Pritzker’s press office said.
The statement did not directly address Curran’s call for a promise there will be no tax increase.
A Pritzker spokesperson said the governor “remains committed to taking steps to further improve Illinois’ fiscal position and address any potential budgetary shortfalls that may arise.”
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said Illinois will be in the hole after ignoring years of warnings from his party that state spending is on a crescendo.
This year’s $53.1 billion budget is the largest in state history.
“It was all papered over by the COVID bucks, right from federal taxpayers,” Rose said. “So now here we are. COVID bucks are gone, and the truth comes out.”
The deficit estimate for next year comes from Pritzker’s budget management office and assumes no new programs, nor any cuts — it’s based on current spending patterns and law, coupled with a forecast of state revenues based on tax and economic trends.
But the requests to increase state spending are already mounting.
The Chicago region’s public transportation network is staring down a $730 million cliff and looking to the state for a pathway to bring in an infusion of cash.
Advocates for providing early intervention services to at-risk children under age 3 are requesting $60 million more from the state.
Other advocates say if the state is to meet its obligation under various consent decrees, Illinois must invest more in services for individuals with disabilities and on children under the state’s care.
And the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson are pressuring the state to send an extra $1 billion to Chicago Public Schools, a figure that doesn’t take into account the additional spending that the rest of school districts statewide would feel entitled to should CPS receive such a hefty hike.
“That is a absolute no-go,” Rose said of Johnson’s request. “Absolutely insane.”
Exit polls from the presidential contest show voters are frustrated with an influx of migrants.
Republicans, who have long criticized Illinois Democrats for programs that give benefits like health care to non-citizens, said those are a prime target for spending cuts.
“Now not only do our citizens have to pay for their own health care, they also have to pay taxes to give free health care to people who are here illegally, people that have been invited to come here with his (Pritzker’s) sanctuary policies,” said state Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason). “The spending, especially on new arrivals, is not sustainable for Illinois, and it’s not fair. Our families are struggling.”
Still, even eliminating the state-backed insurance programs for undocumented immigrants would not be enough to knock out the entire expected deficit.
Pritzker last week downplayed the deficit projection, noting that it’s based on zero changes to law and no revenue increases or “changes in efficiencies.”
“It’s been wrong every year,” Pritzker said.
It’s early in the budget season. Lawmakers have through May to pass a spending plan for the fiscal year that begins in July.
Pritzker gets the first whack at what the plan should look like and is set to unveil his proposal in early 2025.
Pritzker on Thursday gave assurances that the next budget will be balanced, though he didn’t share hints as to how.
“The General Assembly and I have balanced the budget every year (I’ve been in office),” Pritzker said. “So, we’re going to balance the budget again.”
Contact Amanda Vinicky: @AmandaVinicky | [email protected]
