Macon Reporter

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) recently released a statement in response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal.

“Unfortunately, the governor continued the budget gimmicks of his predecessors and ignored his constitutional responsibility to present a budget within current revenues,” McConchie said in his statement. “By skipping out on the hard work of reform, he is continuing to punt on those fundamental changes so necessary to put Illinois on a stable financial path."

At his annual state of the state and budget address, Pritzker proposed a budget plan to combat Illinois' looming debt issues.

Late in 2020, Pritzker announced more than $700 million in spending reductions for fiscal year 2021 as the state’s finances was battered by COVID-19 leading to approximately $4 billion in lost revenue, reported Chicago 5 News. At the time, Pritzker’s reductions included a hiring freeze, reductions or freezes in grant money allocations, and operational savings.

“Instead, the governor proposes to balance the budget by taking money away from roads and bridges, levying tax increases on employers during the pandemic, removing incentives designed to create blue collar jobs, and seeking to repeal recent efforts to revitalize the manufacturing industry in Illinois," McConchie said in his statement.

The plan also depends on getting $932 million extra by ending tax breaks for corporations including  $30 million from reinstating the corporate franchise tax.

Republicans have criticized the governor’s budget for relying on federal funds when Congress has still not yet passed a stimulus package for state governments.

“This continues to show just how out of touch he is with how Illinois families live and operate. It is my sincere hope that the governor will rethink this proposal and work with the legislature to come up with a plan that will actually move our state forward," McConchie said in his statement.