Lake County Gazette

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed his fifth budget - valued at $50.4 billion - according to a Chicago Sun-Times article published on June 7. The budget included a line-item correction lowering proposed pay raises to over $192,000.

“Here we are four years later and just look at what we’ve accomplished," Pritzker said following the bill's signing. "We eliminated overdue bills, paid down $10.5 billion in debt, including pension debt. Our once-empty Rainy Day Fund is now rising to $2 billion. Our GDP has surpassed $1 trillion, and we have more jobs available than ever before. And independently, and if you don’t love all of that,” Pritzker said to applause, “independently, each of the major credit rating agencies has given us multiple credit upgrades.”

According to Pritzker's office, the line-item reductions were made following a review finding that cost-of-living pay raises granted in the budget to constitutional officers, legislators, and appointed officers within the executive branch exceeded five percent, which the office said was unconstitutional.

The new spending plan includes $350 million for Illinois' K-12 evidence-based school funding formula, $100 million in additional MAP grant funding for higher education, and a $100 million increase for public universities. The additional MAP grant funding will allow anyone at or below the medical income to attend community college for free. Community college funding was also increased by $19.4 million.

“This budget, we have proven yet again that we can do both,” said Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D). “We can be fiscally responsible and compassionate.”

State Republicans, who attacked Democrats for prioritizing their own budget objectives, ultimately stood opposed to the plan for numerous reasons, including being left out during the negotiation process. Others said that they were opposed due to the budget including a $2.50-an-hour wage increase for providers for developmentally disabled people. However, the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities had originally asked for a $4-an-hour wage increase.

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran also criticized the plan for including health care for undocumented residents.

"The Governor's choice to pay for this entirely state-funded free health care program for undocumented people over any meaningful investment in our business community highlights the stark contrast between our priorities," Curran said in a statement.