SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) voted no on $1 billion in tax increases, fund sweeps, and higher fees that were used to fund a near-record spending $55.2 billion FY 26 budget on the final day of the spring 2025 legislative session. Severin says Illinois Democrats just can’t help themselves when it comes to their tax-and-spend agenda.
“It’s another year, and another huge tax increase to pay for a ton of pork projects and pay raises for politicians,” Severin said. “Earlier this year, when Governor Pritzker gave his Budget Address, he told Democrats that they would need to bring cuts if they wanted to increase spending. But in true Illinois Democrat fashion, they ignored that advice, raised taxes, borrowed money from dedicated funds, and increased fees to pay for more spending. It’s the same old tax, spend, repeat Democrat playbook that has brought our state to the financial cliff.”
State spending under Governor Pritzker has grown exponentially since he took office in 2019. When Pritzker took over as Governor, state expenditures were $40.3 billion. Each year since, state spending has grown, and Illinois now has a budget $15 billion higher than when Pritzker took office. In addition to criticizing increased spending, pork projects for Democratic districts, and pay raises for politicians contained in the FY 26 budget, Severin expressed frustration with the process that led to the late-night passage of the spending plan.
“The process absolutely stinks to high heaven,” Severin said. “Democrats go behind closed doors to negotiate how they will spend your money, decide you don’t pay enough taxes as it is, and then drop a 3,000-plus page bill on the last day of session and pass it in the final hours when most people are asleep. I hope every Illinoisan will remember the way they were treated by Illinois Democrats, and hold them accountable for the unethical, non-transparent, and reckless budget practices that have put taxpayers on the hook for billions in spending on misguided policies and misplaced priorities.”
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