SPRINGFIELD—Today Governor JB Pritzker gave his annual budget address to the General Assembly. State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) released the following statement in response:
“With the massive debt that our state carries, and the increasing burden that places on our residents, I am looking to support a budget that is realistic about spending, relies on more efficiencies in government services and addresses our most pressing financial concerns. Unfortunately, this budget doesn’t do that.
In Illinois, our financial burdens are urgent. The unfunded pension liability should have been addressed in this budget proposal. It is not something that can be fixed in a day, but will take time to reach bipartisan viable solutions.
One way to improve budget outcomes is to not wait until the last day of legislative session in May to start work on the budget. Last year the Republican caucus was presented with the budget proposal in the final hours of spring legislative session. With only mere hours to review last year, I am hopeful this year’s process will not only be bipartisan but timely. We should get to work immediately on this.
Our residents carry a heavy burden that has already caused too many families and businesses to leave our state. Any form of new or increased taxes will simply add to this pattern of outmigration, and that is something we simply cannot afford.”
###