Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham | Photo Courtesy of Blaine Wilhour
Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham | Photo Courtesy of Blaine Wilhour
State Rep. Blaine Wilhour opposes Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s "Smart Start Illinois" budget plan, which includes an additional $250 million in educational spending.
Wilhour believes that the governor continues to shortchange the state’s taxpayers when it comes to education spending.
“We’re spending record money, we’re just not seeing the results,” Wilhour said. “We’ve got too much bureaucracy for one, just sucking away dollars from the classrooms.”
According to The Center Square, Pritzker’s plan is to create 5,000 new preschool sites across the state. The Governor highlighted a University of Chicago study which displays it would be a good investment. However, Wilhour and his GOP colleagues are opposed.
Illinois has 852 school districts, the 5th most nationwide, and currently spends $16,000 per student, more than neighboring states. Public school districts in the state account for nearly 66% of the local property taxes levied by local entities statewide each year.
Since the release of Pritzker's spending plan, Republicans have been urging lawmakers in Springfield to extend the state’s Invest in Kids school choice program, which the governor said he endorses.
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