In All Night End of Session, Tensions Flare, Democrats Pass Budget
Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), the Senate GOP budget negotiator, rails against a spending plan early Saturday he says provides too many “gimmicks” and not enough tax relief. (Photo: State Journal-Register)
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, as Republicans railed against it, Democrats pushed through a Fiscal Year 2023 budget that spends more money than ever while sending direct tax refund checks to taxpayers and socking away a billion dollars into the state’s arid rainy day fund.
The budget, HB 900, brings in about $46.54 billion and spends about $46.46 billion. It was approved generally on a party line vote, though two of the most endangered Senate Democrats, Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) and Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs), voted against the spending plan in the Senate.
Interestingly enough, the final budget is a billion dollars more than Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed budget earlier this year.
Democrats are hanging their hats on a provision to send direct payments of up to $400 for families around the state, but Republicans slammed the proposal as an election year gimmick.
"There was a deliberate choice made not to give people their money back, but to take it and spend it," said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). He called the plan "a missed opportunity."
But House Majority Leader Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) said it delivers results for people.
“This is a balanced budget. It's a responsible budget. I know we're gonna hear a lot of speeches. I know we're gonna hear a lot of stunts,” he said. “But for the people of Illinois, Democrats are delivering, Democrats are balancing the budget. Credit rating agencies are noting it, the civic organizations are noting it.”
The budget also includes a six month freeze of the state’s motor fuel tax, preventing a two cent increase from going into effect in July. It also suspends a portion of the grocery tax for a year.
The provisions require retailers to place stickers on gas pumps and lines on grocery store receipts giving the legislature credit for the breaks.
“Let’s call this budget what it really is—an attempt to buy your vote,” said Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) in a statement. “For months, Republicans have proposed permanent tax relief. Instead, Democrats chose a permanent expansion to spending handing out one-time checks right before the election and then abandoning taxpayers right after the election. While some tax relief is better than none-at-all, Illinoisans deserve real relief instead of bigger government.”
Governor JB Pritzker praised the plan Saturday morning.
“We’ve achieved our state’s strongest fiscal position in generations, and we prioritized the education, public safety, health, and welfare of the residents of Illinois,” Pritzker said in prepared remarks shared just before his Saturday news conference. “Just a few years ago some people said what we’ve achieved was impossible. But it’s true. Our bill backlog is paid off. Our pension liabilities are reduced. Our rainy day fund is recovering. And we are delivering $1.8 billion of direct tax relief to the people we serve.”
The legislative session traditionally ends at the end of May, but because the primary election was pushed back to June, lawmakers moved up adjournment to get their members on the campaign trail.