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 approved 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," McLaughlin stated. "Illinois Democrats passed another unbalanced budget in the middle of the night without input from the public or General Assembly Republicans."

McLaughlin 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 said. He 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," calling it "political redlining across Illinois."

The representative expressed concern over Illinois taxpayers feeling exploited by political leaders who he claims are disconnected from the state's fiscal reality. Quoting Bill Withers, McLaughlin remarked, "'You can’t keep using these people because you’re gonna use them up.'"

McLaughlin also criticized new funding programs planned for the coming fiscal year, arguing there is an excessive focus on social engineering rather than improving business conditions in Illinois. He attributed poor policies to creating a faltering business climate, unpredictable safety conditions, and underperforming education systems.

"The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging it. We have far too many politicians denying what our state’s current problems are," he said. "It’s no wonder why businesses are choosing not to consider Illinois as their primary place to locate."

According to McLaughlin, state expenditures have grown by more than $13 billion over the last four years under the Democrat-controlled General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker's administration. The annual spending plan has increased from just under $40 billion in 2020 to more than $53 billion for the upcoming 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?" McLaughlin questioned.

He concluded by accusing Illinois Democrats of demonstrating zero fiscal responsibility and criticized their continuous spending increases matched by tax hikes. "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."