State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) has issued a statement following today’s FY 2026 Budget Address by Governor Pritzker:
“The Governor gave his seventh budget address today, and once again we have been presented with the largest budget in state history,” stated Rep. Ugaste. “It just continues to grow each and every year. The Governor’s budget once again is relying on tricks and gimmicks, somehow trimming what was a projected $3.2 billion deficit just a few months ago with sudden newly found revenue streams.”
“Even the cuts the Governor has proposed are not truly cuts, and those programs are not going to be allowed to go away or be stripped down,” Rep. Ugaste continued. “The harsh reality is that Democrats are going to have to raise taxes to balance this budget. We need to stop using a short-term outlook and look at things long-term. Our economic indicators are showing decline, including corporate tax and sales tax receipts. Even the Civic Federation has issued a report for a new way of doing things, and we need to stop increasing our revenue demand at a time when our business base is shrinking. Republicans have been talking about these priorities for years, and it’s time for the Democrats to listen to what we are bringing to the table. We need to create an economy focused on growth.”