The following is a note from the office of Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin:

Governor Proposes $1 Billion in Tax Increases to Cover Expenses for His Migrant Crisis

Last Wednesday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker delivered his annual combined Budget Address and State of the State Address, proposing a billion dollars in tax increases to fund the growing price tag of the migrant crisis that he invited.

As grocery prices hit a 30-year high, the Governor’s tax increases would hit families yet again by cutting the standard deduction. His plan would also go after small and large jobs creators, leaving Illinoisans earning less, paying more for goods and services, or both.

Since taking office, Pritzker has increased spending on noncitizen programs from just a few million dollars per year to roughly a billion dollars, by offering services from free housing to free healthcare.

State Senator Sue Rezin argued that increasing taxes by a billion dollars to pay for a billion dollars in spending on noncitizens is a clear display of the Governor’s misplaced priorities.

Overall, the Governor’s budget would set a new record as the largest in state history. Pritzker called for an additional $2 billion in spending with a total price tag of nearly $53 billion. If he is able to pass his plan, he will have grown state spending by 30% in just six years in office.

Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus have long advocated for eliminating the one percent sales tax on groceries to help consumers, while at the same time providing fiscal resources for local governments and municipalities to compensate for their lost revenues. 

While Pritzker claimed to support the idea in the speech, he failed to include details in his budget document, so it’s hard to tell how serious he actually is about the concept, and what provisions, if any, would be made for local governments and municipalities in his plan.

Senator Rezin added that she is committed to fighting these proposed tax hikes and providing real relief to the citizens of the state. 

Senator Rezin is asking for your help to tell Pritzker “NO” to these new tax hikes. If you agree, please sign her petition here.