North Cook News

Veteran Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) is in shock that not even a deadly pandemic is enough to slow the madness in Springfield.

“The end of this legislative year was unique given the circumstances with COVID-19,” Morrison told the North Cook News after Democrats joined to pass a new $42 billion state budget during a special session of the General Assembly.

“Yet, the budget agreement was the same old game that the Democrats have been running for years,” he added. "House Republicans were left out of the negotiating process and the final product is an out-of-balance budget that our state cannot afford.”

Easily passed by both chambers of the General Assembly, the bill that Gov. J.B. Pritzker is almost certain to sign heavily relies on federal funding to plug holes made even deeper by the virus that has effectively shut down the state economy. In addition, lawmakers also approved a measure that allows borrowing up to $5 billion from the federal government. Democrats hope that will ultimately be repaid with even more funds allocated from Washington.

“This year’s budget includes an increase in spending and an increase in borrowing, which will only put our state further in the hole and continues to overburden our taxpayers,” Morrison added. “In addition to that, Democrats added in another pay increase for lawmakers in their budget — especially infuriating as so many families, businesses, schools, non-profits and more have been affected so severely amidst economic crisis.”

Morrison said it’s just the latest instant where Democrats used their supermajority in Springfield to muscle through legislation with no regard for anyone but themselves.

“We owed it to Illinois to come together these last four days and accomplish things that would move our state forward,” he said. “Instead, this budget plan is a leap in the wrong direction.”