SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) says Gov. JB Pritzker must refocus his budget priorities back to Illinois and pass a spending plan that will not be balanced on the backs of hard-working families.
In his annual Budget Address to a joint session of legislators Feb. 19, the Governor announced a $55.4 billion spending plan – the state’s largest budget ever, representing a 37 percent increase since the current Administration took office in 2019.
“We cannot sustain this level of spending for an irresponsible agenda built on the backs of Illinoisans who are struggling to make ends meet,” Fowler said. “We need to shift the Governor’s focus to our working families who deserve a budget that reflects their values and needs. I remain hopeful that all lawmakers will work together this year to produce a responsible budget that prioritizes Illinoisans.”
As the legislative budget process gets under way, Sen. Fowler says he stands ready to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to make the tough decisions necessary to pass a balanced budget with structural reforms that will boost the economy and jobs.
Fiscal Year 2026 runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.