SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Governor JB Pritzker says he and Democrat leaders in the Legislature have come to an agreement on a budget proposal that will be voted on Friday — the last scheduled day of session.
“The most important thing to recognize is that we have seen prices increasing across the state, across the nation — indeed, across the world, there has been inflation,” said Pritzker. “We want to make sure and alleviate some of the pressure and burden (on taxpayers).”
That’s why the Democrats’ spending plan includes nearly $1.8 in various forms of tax relief, and more public safety investments.
Illinois Senate Republicans, meanwhile, say they have their own plan — though, it might be a non-starter, since Democrats say a vote will be called on their plan.
State Senator Chapin Rose of Champaign County says the GOP proposal makes permanent some of the tax relief ideas Pritzker is proposing as temporary.
“If the Democrats don’t want to do permanent tax relief to the tune of $2.2 billion on a plan that still provides a surplus, then what are they doing with that extra money? They’re spending it,” said Rose (R-Mahomet).
The GOP relief comes in the forms of capping the state gasoline tax at 18 cents per gallon, eliminating the sales tax on groceries and prescription drugs, and raising a property tax credit. Their surplus is only $14 million.
Democrat lawmakers have not yet assigned a bill number to their proposal. Pritzker made his announcement on the budget vote, reportedly, a half hour after informing Republicans of the plan.
