Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans, said that Governor JB Pritzker's unrealistic revenue projections have exacerbated Illinois' financial crisis. According to Swidler, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability's (COGFA) more cautious estimates reveal a $737 million shortfall. Swidler made his statement to Lake County Gazette on March 12.

"Gov. JB Pritzker's unrealistic revenue projections expose his failure to address Illinois' financial instability, as COGFA's more conservative estimates highlight a $737 million shortfall in his budget plan," said Swidler. "Instead of making responsible spending cuts, he relies on inflated figures and risky adjustments to mask the state's economic struggles. His reckless financial decisions have pushed Illinois toward a dire situation where tax increases or drastic spending cuts seem inevitable. No amount of political spin can change the reality that Pritzker's approach is unsustainable and only deepens the state's fiscal crisis."

According to Capitol News Illinois, Illinois lawmakers projected lower revenues for fiscal year 2026 than Governor Pritzker. The bipartisan COGFA estimated $54.2 billion in revenue, which is $1.2 billion less than Pritzker's $55.5 billion plan. Even with adjustments to the governor's proposed budget, the gap remains at $737 million. Republicans criticized Pritzker’s overestimated projections and urged either spending cuts or tax increases. The commission remains cautious about economic risks and future tax revenues.

Capitol News Illinois also reported that Illinois faces a projected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2026 as federal pandemic aid ends and tax revenues remain flat. Pritzker presented his seventh budget on February 19 amid economic slowdowns and uncertainty over future federal funding. Republican lawmakers have proposed cutting aid for undocumented residents to reduce costs, which allegedly reached $558 million during this fiscal year alone. Additionally, President Trump's efforts to scale back federal funding to Illinois have added to the budget uncertainty, especially after his administration briefly halted disbursements.

The Washington Post reported in November that then-President-elect Trump’s administration was considering ways to cut federal funds to Chicago and other Democratic-led cities if they refused to assist with deportations of undocumented immigrants. Advisers suggested using federal pressure, such as withholding funds, to push municipalities to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump, who promised mass deportations during his campaign, faced resistance from Democratic mayors in sanctuary cities who vowed to protect immigrants. Legal and political battles over these measures could escalate as many sanctuary cities rely heavily on federal support for essential services.

Swidler is a resident of Buffalo Grove and was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."