Lake County Gazette

State Representative Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) has responded to Governor Pritzker's recent budget proposal with strong criticism. In a statement released following the Governor's joint State of the State and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Address, Weber expressed concerns about the significant increase in the proposed budget.

Weber highlighted the substantial growth in the state budget under Governor Pritzker's leadership, stating, "When the Governor took office a few years ago, the state budget was just over $39 billion. Today, he proposed a $52.7 billion budget, the largest in state history." He also pointed out that the proposed budget spends $2.29 billion more than the previous year.

The State Representative raised alarm about the Governor's reliance on federal COVID relief dollars to fund various projects, calling it unsustainable. Weber criticized the Governor's intention to increase taxes by a billion dollars on families and job creators to support his progressive initiatives, emphasizing the burden it would place on Illinois residents.

Weber further criticized Governor Pritzker's allocation of funds, particularly towards programs benefiting non-citizens and sanctuary state policies. He argued that prioritizing Illinois citizens' needs could alleviate the pressure to raise taxes, stating, "We wouldn’t need to raise taxes if he prioritized taking care of Illinois citizens first."

Expressing concern for communities in his district, Weber mentioned the challenges they face due to the influx of migrants and the associated financial strains. He highlighted the need for relief measures to retain families and businesses in the state, emphasizing the importance of addressing inflation and property tax burdens.

In conclusion, Weber accused the Governor of prioritizing progressive ideals over the state's economic well-being, accusing him of aiming to make Illinois the most progressive state in the country and further his political ambitions.