Lake County Gazette

State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) issued a statement following the passage of a Democrats-only spending plan for Fiscal Year 2025. Lawmakers passed the annual budget well after midnight on Wednesday morning.

"Once again, the majority party in Springfield was busy splitting the proceeds of hard-earned taxpayer money on unnecessary spending initiatives, but taxpayers are starting to grow old of being used. Illinois Democrats passed another unbalanced budget in the middle of the night without input from the public or General Assembly Republicans," McLaughlin stated. He highlighted that the Fiscal Year 2025 budget is $2.6 billion more than last year’s enacted budget and includes pay raises for politicians and $1 billion allocated for non-citizens.

"I voted no on this budget, along with every fellow House Republican, due to the massive $1 billion in tax hikes that Democrats call ‘revenue enhancements.’ Revenue enhancements is actually Demsplaining for tax increases," he continued. McLaughlin also criticized what he described as "hundreds of millions of dollars of pork allocated for political distributions to Democrat legislative districts, but not for Republican districts, effectively initiating political redlining across Illinois."

McLaughlin expressed concern over taxpayers feeling "used by the political leaders who are tone-deaf to the fiscal reality of our state." Quoting Bill Withers, he said, "'You can’t keep using these people because you’re gonna use them up.'"

He further criticized new funding programs planned for the coming fiscal year, suggesting an extreme focus on social engineering rather than actual engineering. According to McLaughlin, too many progressive Democrats are interested in changing culture rather than improving Illinois' business climate. He cited poor policies creating a faltering business climate, an unpredictable safety climate, and an underperforming education climate as inhibitors to Illinois’ ability to rebound.

"The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging it. We have far too many politicians denying what our state’s current problems are," McLaughlin remarked. He noted that businesses are choosing not to consider Illinois as their primary location due to these issues.

Over the past four years, according to McLaughlin, state expenditures have grown by more than $13 billion under the Democrat-controlled General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker. The annual spending plan has increased from just under $40 billion in 2020 to more than $53 billion for the coming fiscal year.

"Is anyone’s life better? Are your taxes lower? Are our students performing better? Are your politicians being honest with you and transparent?" he questioned.

McLaughlin concluded by stating that Illinois Democrats have demonstrated zero fiscal responsibility and criticized their willingness to raise taxes to cover increased spending. "It is no wonder citizens and businesses are leaving our state. It is time to return to reasonable and bring real relief back to the people of Illinois."