On Monday, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for the State of Illinois.
The budget passed by Democratic legislators and signed by Gov. Pritzker will spend $55.2 billion, which is nearly $2 billion more than the FY25 enacted budget. State spending has increased by more than $15 billion, a 38% increase, since Pritzker took office in 2019.
Deputy Republican Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), who serves as the chief budgeteer for the Illinois House Republican Caucus, criticized Democrats for their out-of-control spending.
“The tax-and-spend budget that Governor Pritzker just approved is completely irresponsible. It’s a $55 billion budget that relies on $1 billion in new taxes and fund sweeps and hundreds of millions of dollars in Road Fund diversions.
What’s in this budget? Pay raises for politicians. Nearly $250 million in pork projects for Democratic legislators aka the ‘Democratic Majority Slush Fund’ and an additional $100 million slush fund for the Governor.
This budget continues to provide taxpayer-funded Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors and other handouts to illegal immigrants, at a cost of more than $110 million to Illinois taxpayers.
This budget cuts funding for higher education. Our state universities are seeing a two percent reduction in funding from the Governor’s introduced budget.
No money will be deposited into the State’s Rainy-Day fund in the next fiscal year. There isn’t a backup plan when the Democrats’ fund sweeps and one-time revenues run out. That sets us up for yet another tax hike down the road.
Adding insult to injury, Democrats slashed property tax relief grants to help pay for their reckless spending. There’s no relief for hardworking families and seniors in this budget.
Rather than working with Republicans on a responsible budget plan, Democrats once again chose to go it alone. This tax-and-spend budget is a disservice to my constituents and to families across Illinois.”
***Courtesy of Representative Norine Hammond***
