SE Illinois News

The Illinois General Assembly has concluded its 2024 spring legislative session. Early Wednesday morning, House Democrats approved a $1 billion tax increase on citizens and businesses to fund new spending initiatives, including healthcare for non-citizens and projects in Democrat districts.

House Republican Floor Leader Patrick Windhorst was actively involved in the budget debate and voted against the $53.1 billion spending package. Windhorst cited House Rule 72, which permits only two votes on a motion to concur, accusing Democrats of breaking this rule to pass the tax hikes.

Windhorst expressed his concerns following the vote: "I am concerned with the way that the Democrats’ spending plan prioritizes appropriations for non-citizens to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars and at the same time increases taxes on individuals, working families, and businesses," he said. "While I understand the state of Illinois faces budgetary pressures, I would have preferred a budget that prioritized tax cuts and spending cuts during this incredibly difficult financial time for taxpayers."

The FY 2025 budget is detailed in amendments to SB 251 (budget) and HB 4959 (budget implementation). Windhorst criticized the exclusion of Republicans from budget negotiations: “Our caucus represents more than four million Illinoisans, and their best interests are not represented in this budget,” he stated. “Republicans have in the past brought forward ideas for property tax relief, ethics reforms, permanent reductions in spending for illegal immigrant spending, and incentives for job creators to come to and stay in Illinois. This budget raises taxes and spending and was put together behind closed doors with no input from the Republicans in either the House or Senate. I voted NO.”

News outlets covered reactions from various officials regarding the finalized budget:

WSIL-TV 3 reported on responses from Governor Pritzker and other government officials.

WTTW highlighted that Illinois lawmakers worked through the night to finalize the $53.1 billion budget.

The State Journal-Register noted that it took three attempts before sending the $53.1 billion budget to Governor Pritzker.