SPRINGFIELD, IL… State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) issued the following reaction after Governor Pritzker delivered his annual State of the State and Budget Address to a joint session of the General Assembly today.
In his speech, Gov. Pritzker laid out his budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2027 which included more taxes, attempts to take more local control, and chases away job creators without providing relief for Illinois families. The proposed budget will cost a whopping $56 billion and will spend nearly $1 billion more than the FY26 budget, which was the largest in state history, coming in at $55.2 billion and led to nearly $1 billion in new and raised taxes.
“The Governor’s State of the State and Budget Address featured the same tactics he always uses, deflection, blaming the federal government for his mistakes, and more insults hurled at the President and Republicans,” Deering said. “Instead of owning up to his own failures, the Governor chose to name-call and continue his divisive rhetoric. He won’t be able to balance a budget on insults, but Governor Pritzker will sure try.”
“The federal government is not to blame for the deliberate poor budgeting choices made by our state’s failed leadership,” continued Deering. “The Democratic Supermajority has made intentional moves to continue the tax-and-spend cycle, squeezing hard-working families at every turn. We have sufficient revenue and have had ample opportunities to address federal funding shortfalls, but instead Democrats have prioritized pork projects, illegal immigrants, and pay raises for legislators.”
“Our residents must budget down to the last penny to keep up with the tax burden here in Illinois while their government continues to add billions to the state budget and then raise taxes on those same cash-strapped citizens to pay for it. As I said last year in an op-ed I penned to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois doesn’t need a bigger government—it needs a better one, one focused on promoting growth and stability, not making Illinoisans reliant on their government.”
Deering remains hopeful that Illinois Democrats will consider the financial strain that increased taxes will have on hardworking families as they work through another budget season.
The budget process will span the next few months. To follow along with the process through Session and committee hearings, tune in to ilga.gov. To contact Rep. Deering, call (217) 876-1968 or visit RepDeering.com.
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