Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) released the following statement in reaction to Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address, delivered to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield Wednesday:
I am extremely disappointed in the rhetoric and blatantly political overtones of the Governor’s speech today. He seemed more interested in launching another attack on President Trump than in discussing his plan to balance the budget, reduce costs for our families, and clean up the culture of corruption that was once again on display during former Speaker Madigan’s trial.
If the Governor would take the time to get to know the good people downstate, he would stop using supercharged rhetoric like calling Republicans “Nazis.” He should spend a little less time preaching to the liberal choir and more time listening to normal people.
The Governor’s proposal is the largest budget in Illinois state history. It would spend $55.2 billion, which is nearly $2 billion more than last year. Since Governor Pritzker took office, state spending has increased by more than $15 billion, a 38% increase in spending.
As the sponsor of House Bill 1456 to end taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants, I was surprised to see that the Governor seems to support my bill. Unfortunately, Governor Pritzker only proposed eliminating this program for adults aged 42-64, while keeping the program intact for illegal immigrant seniors.
There’s no way the Democrat supermajorities in the House and Senate will agree to eliminate this massively expensive program that they created during the COVID special session five years ago. To me, this proposed cut is likely just a pressure point to get the Democrats to once again raise taxes on hardworking families.