Freshman state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) bemoans the fact that nothing seems to have changed about the way Illinois legislators run the state government thus far in his first term.
“It’s just more irresponsible Illinois government,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News after analysis by Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) concluded that for the 19th straight year, the state’s new budget is actually out of whack. “I don’t understand why the Chicago voters continue to allow this because they are the ones that are creating the direction of Illinois. I cannot figure out why this is allowed.”
By IPI estimates, the $40 billion spending plan and 1,581-page document already signed off on by Gov. J.B. Pritzker is as much as $1.3 billion out of balance. The website points out that the shortfall comes despite lawmakers raising taxes and borrowing even more as part of the budget plan.
Illinois state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia)
“I’m disappointed in Republican leadership,” Bailey said. “I’m disappointed that they chose to vote for this without fully understanding it and by trusting [House Speaker] Mike Madigan. “The price is a debt that our children and grandchildren cannot pay and the ultimate price is we have people moving out of Illinois.”
Bailey said his warnings to colleagues during the legislative session largely went ignored.
“I was scoffed by the [Democratic] majority party,” he said. “They refuse to agree and acknowledge that people are moving out of our state because of our debt crisis. It’s embarrassing that elected officials refuse to acknowledge that people are moving out.”
Bailey said all the long-running dysfunction should serve as motivation for Republican lawmakers across the state.
“We have to work within our means, and as conservative groups we’ve got to get the message out in these areas that are electing these people that are bankrupting our state,” he said. “It’s morally wrong that we have unpaid debt we’re not paying.”
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