Dems Top Challenge in 2023 May Be Throttling Spending Ideas
Will Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration keep spending in check?
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In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen legislative proposals introduced that would provide a new child tax credit, cash for diapers, expanded food assistance for foster families, ban restaurants from serving to-go orders in foam containers, delay penalties for back property taxes, give big tax breaks to the Chicago Bears for a new stadium, or would give people half-a-year of paid leave from their jobs. Those are just among dozens of bills introduced this spring for new tax credits or free programs in the state.
All that on top of proposals we expect from Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address next week laying out plans for free college, universal preschool, and free childcare.
With the state budget finally in improved shape following years of red ink and mismanagement, how do Democrats plan to keep spending in check?
The Governor had a softball interview at the National Governor’s Association meeting in Washington yesterday and was asked the free stuff he’s expected to propose in his budget.
“The most important investment that we can make in our future is in our youngest children,” Pritzker said. “I’m not suggesting we do it to the detriment of other investments, I’m just saying the investments that have the biggest impact on our future, on our economic success as a country, on our educational success for our children, on equity, all of it is beneficially affected by major investments in early childhood.”
He was not pressed on any details or cost projections of his proposals, other than to confirm it will be a state proposal and not an ask of the federal government.
“I hope there will be some sort of safety valve,” said one Democratic lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I don’t think the Governor wants to blow up the budget. He has his eyes somewhere east of here (referring to a potential run for President), so I imagine there will be pushback from the Governor’s office for some reasonable constraints on spending.”
“A lot of these are driven by freshmen,” the lawmaker said. “They want to come in, turn over tables, and save the world. What are they going to do in terms of reining in membership and providing a backstop? I don’t know.”
Another long time Democratic insider says much of the reining in will be done by committee chairs that have long been involved in the process, notably new House Democrat budgeteer Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) and new Revenue & Finance Chair Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park). Others have cited Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), the top Senate budgeteer, as a key figure in keeping spending in check.
“The leadership structure [Welch] chose will have a large say in that,” the source said. “Veteran members who aren’t afraid to say no are leading the key committees.”
The legislator said some Democrats will have to put the brakes on pushes from inside their own caucuses.
“The adults in the room understand that you have to work within the parameters of the budget,” the lawmaker said. “You can’t just blow up the budget. There are constraints, there are things that money is dedicated to. Even progressives [who understand] aren’t going to spend like a drunken sailor.”
The lawmaker cited former longtime House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, who would “bottle up” tax credit proposals in the House Rules Committee where they would go to die.
The Democratic insider we spoke to said many of the proposals, even if they aren’t enacted this year, may still get consideration down the road.
“It’s not [that] they’re bad ideas, but not every good idea has to get done right away.”
The question is, when will the money be there?