Sangamon Sun

Illinois Republican lawmakers have been critical of the budget process during the legislative session, as a deadline for May 19 has come and gone without a vote on the proposed budget.

State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) took to social media to share his concerns in a video press conference, stating that Republicans offered to be at the table in discussions to get the budget passed by a deadline set by Democrats. But he said there is not even a bill to put the budget into.

“The super-majority democrats set a budget deadline of today, May 19,” Davidsmeyer said in a May 19 Facebook post. “Guess what… Even with a super-majority, they couldn’t get a budget done. We have been ready to be a part of this budget since inauguration in January. We are still ready for the open, honest process that Illinoisans deserve. We have to put an end to the closed door, dark-of-night process of the past and work together.”

Davidsmeyer said in the press conference that there are issues with Medicaid and ethics, as well as looking at projects that have been put out on revenue estimates. By not meeting the deadline, the legislators will need to work in crunch mode to get it done without enough time to review and vote properly.

“Once again, we’re at a point where we are no longer having an open discussion on major issues,” he said. “We don’t have an open discussion on any of the issues I’ve mentioned. We have not had an open discussion on the budget.“

Gov. JB Pritzker announced a budget proposal at a State of the State and Budget Address on Feb. 15, an Illinois.gov press release said. He said it seemed like a lifetime ago when he was announcing a proposal. Pritzker noted that progress has been made but there are many fiscal challenges before them. He pointed out that what was once a state with $17 billion in overdue bills is now a state that pays its bills on time. He added that Illinois has passed four consecutive balanced budgets and that the state has a $2.3 billion Rainy Day Fund when it previously had none.

“Our fiscal progress is remarkable,” the governor said. “Remember the $230 million in College Illinois debt? Paid. Remember the $900 million in group health insurance debt? Paid. How about the $800 million Thompson center liability? Paid. $4.5 billion Unemployment Trust Fund debt? Paid. The $1.3 billion debt owed to Illinois' treasury funds swept by previous governors? Paid. $8 billion of overdue bills? Paid. As of Fiscal Year 2023, all our state's short-term and medium-term liabilities will have been eliminated. All of it. Our budgets are built on a solid foundation of normalized state revenue and more efficient management of state resources.

“We have used our surpluses to chip away at our long term liabilities too, including $500 million more into our pension stabilization fund over the last two years and my proposal this year to increase that by another $200 million. The percent of the budget needed to meet our statutory obligations has declined as our revenues have grown and our fiscal fortunes have improved.”

Interested individuals can review the governor's budget documents at budget.illinois.gov.

Davidsmeyer joined the Illinois House of Representatives in December 2012 to represent the people of the 100th District, his website biography said. He was sworn in for a full term in the 98th General Assembly in January 2013. Before that he was on the Jacksonville City Council. Davidsmeyer served as the chairman of the Public Protection Committee and most recently served as the chair of the Finance Committee. He also served as an officer in the local Chamber of Commerce and on the Rotary and Library boards.