North Cook News

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s FY2022 budget will give the state a BBB credit rating.

“The governor believes the government has answered all the problems. He listed program after program that he deems are necessary to liberalize,” McLaughlin said. “I believe, the government, in many instances, is the problem. Solutions should come from families, businesses, and local neighborhoods, not from Springfield bureaucrats.”

McLaughlin said Pritzker is cutting bipartisan-created tax breaks that have helped and incentivize businesses which the governor labeled “corporate loopholes.”

“The people of Illinois did not start businesses to ask for state grants, federal handouts, or any bureaucratic program,” McLaughlin continued. “They started businesses to be free and independent, and to provide for their families, not to provide money for more government.”

He further said that he was hoping to see a budget proposal that would address Illinois’ $4.7 billion shortfalls.

“Where are the big proposals for the big problems: pensions, property taxes, school reopening, and business relief?” McLaughlin said. “Based on this budget and the lack of fiscal responsibility we will continue to have the worst credit rating in the nation.”

McLaughlin said that the “one step above junk” poor rating will cost millions of dollars in unnecessary interest costs that will pull funding away from the producers, taxpayers, and businesses.

Telling the governor that “we can do better,” McLaughlin asked, “what are we waiting for?”