Metro East Republicans push back on $56.9 billion budget – The Edwardsville Intelligencer

State Sen. Erika Harriss

“Across our district, families are working hard to keep up with rising costs. Every month brings new challenges as people make careful decisions about how to stretch their paychecks. They deserve a state government that approaches their tax dollars with the same level of responsibility.

“I had hoped this budget would reflect that discipline and care. Unfortunately, it does not.

“This is the largest budget in state history, continuing a pattern of spending growth that has outpaced what many Illinois families have seen in their own household budgets. At a time when people are already feeling the strain of inflation, rising energy costs, and property taxes that climb year-after-year, this plan fails to provide meaningful relief.

“A budget that truly puts affordability first would have started with the everyday pressures facing families, seniors, and small businesses. Instead, this plan asks taxpayers to shoulder the burden of even more government spending.

“I voted no because I’m standing with the people I serve. They deserve a government that respects their hard work, lives within its means, and puts their family’s stability at the center of every decision.”

State Rep. Amy Elik

“The spring legislative session has ended, and the FY27 budget ignores Illinois’ most pressing problems: out-of-control government spending and the rising cost of living. Instead of providing relief for families in my district, this budget adds $800 million in new taxes on various industries. The revenue bill even includes new digital ad taxes that Illinois will likely be sued over. Our priorities to lower property taxes and other taxes were not met, in fact this budget just adds to their burden.”

State Sen. Jason Plummer

“Eight years under Governor Pritzker have given Illinois families a bigger government, higher costs, and fewer reasons to stay.

“This is Pritzker’s eighth budget, and to the shock of no one, his record has not changed. Spending is up more than 40 percent, which is more than $16 billion in new spending. Illinois families are buried under the highest tax burden in the nation, and taxpayers are once again being asked to pay more for the same failed results.

“Meanwhile, Illinois continues to fall behind. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, our economic growth is significantly lagging behind our neighbors, and census numbers prove families and businesses are fleeing the state in droves because they cannot afford the cost of doing business or raising a family in Illinois.

“Yet, here we are again. This budget was negotiated behind closed doors and dropped in the final hours of session, leaving legislators and the public no time to review it. That is not transparency. That is not good government. That is Springfield Democrats, led by J.B. Pritzker, hiding the details until the last possible moment and hoping taxpayers do not notice the cost.

“After eight years of bleeding taxpayers, Governor Pritzker wants to call this progress. It is not. But Illinois families know better. They are cutting back, making sacrifices, and wondering why state government never seems to do the same.

“This budget is not relief. It is Pritzker’s bill for eight years of continued failure.”

State Rep. Charlie Meier

“I voted no on this record-breaking, tax-hiking budget because it puts the Democratic political agenda ahead of the people of Illinois. Democrats once again broke their promises and abandoned our local workshops, did nothing to provide meaningful tax relief, and created a slew of new taxes to fuel their spending spree while sending Illinois consumers to our neighboring states to spend their hard-earned money.
 
“At the same time, this budget pours hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into programs for immigrants, gives politicians another pay raise, and is packed with Democratic pet projects while hardworking taxpayers are left footing the bill. As I have done in years past, I will donate this pay raise back to local organizations.  
 
“Illinoisans are tired of being asked to pay more and get less. What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander, but in Illinois, taxpayers are expected to tighten their belts while politicians continue spending without restraint. That double standard is exactly why I voted no.”

State Reps. Katie Stuart had not issued a statement as of 11:30 a.m. June 1.

June 1, 2026