Sangamon Sun

State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) issued a statement following the passage of a budget by Democratic lawmakers that allocates over $53 billion for Fiscal Year 2025.

"Today, Governor Pritzker kept his promise to raise taxes on Illinois citizens by a billion dollars so that he can spend a billion per year on programs for non-citizens," Turner stated.

She further criticized the allocation of funds, particularly in comparison to the funding for veterans' services. "On Memorial Day weekend, Illinois Democrats chose to allocate more than three times as much funding for non-citizens than to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs for vital services for our nation’s veterans. This is wrong – plain and simple."

Turner also expressed concern about the potential impact on employees at the Logan Correctional Center. "Meanwhile, hundreds of residents who work at the Logan Correctional Center are currently waiting to find out if they will lose their jobs or be forced to pick up their lives and move their families to another part of the state. These Illinois citizens are rightfully wondering: would this be happening to them if the billions of dollars we will have spent on non-citizen programs had been used to address the deferred maintenance at the Logan Correctional Center? A question they may never see answered."

In conclusion, Turner described the budget as indicative of an administration that fails to prioritize state citizens. "This budget is just another example of this Administration failing to make the citizens of our state their priority."