Lake County Gazette

State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) blasted Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recently proposed spending plan as being “irresponsible” and “out-of-touch” with the state’s residents.

In a statement on his website after the governor unveiled his spending plan earlier this month, Wilcox said it proved he is out of touch with the typical residents in the state who are facing inflation, rising energy prices and taxes.

“My constituents are looking for relief, and rather than providing it, Gov. Pritzker has proposed a budget that spends $3 billion on new programs which is on top of all of the new spending that has occurred over the last two years.” Wilcox said in the statement. “What he has proposed will likely lead to a revenue/tax increase request in the future."

The Chicago Tribune reported that Pritzker’s budget plan, set to kick off with the start of the new budget year, comes in at $49.6 billion, a record for the state.

The budget, which includes additional spending for education, represents a nearly 8% increase over the previous year’s budget of $46 billion, according to the Tribune.

The governor urged legislators to support his early-education “Smart Start Illinois," initiative, according to the Tribune. The publication noted the governor said it represents a “long-term investment that has the greatest return for taxpayers with the most positive social and economic impact that I have ever come to you with."