Sangamon Sun

Last week, the Illinois General Assembly passed Governor JB Pritzker’s budget, which includes nearly a billion dollars in new taxes to address the migrant crisis. The budget sets a new record for government spending at just over $53 billion, marking an increase of nearly $13 billion since Pritzker took office.

The surge in government spending was primarily fueled by temporary emergency COVID funds and unexpectedly high state revenue. Critics argue that these resources were not used wisely, leading to the creation of new programs and increased permanent government spending. This includes approximately a billion dollars annually on programs for non-citizens, including healthcare. Senate Republicans have cautioned against using temporary funds for permanent expenditures.

Senator Bennett stated that the Governor needs to prioritize the people of Illinois and stop treating them as a source of funding for his political agenda.

In other legislative developments, amid ongoing controversy with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB), including a recent incident where a young boy was murdered by an offender shortly after release, the Senate passed House Bill 681 to reform the PRB. The bill enhances protections for victims by ensuring they are notified when prisoners are up for release and improves the process for filing impact statements. It also establishes new qualification standards for board members, increases transparency, and creates a task force to examine various issues related to the board.

Senator Bennett emphasized that reforms are urgently needed to improve public safety and protect victims' rights.

On May 22, a Springfield Circuit judge issued a temporary injunction blocking Senate Bill 2412, which had been signed into law by Governor Pritzker earlier this month. Critics claim this law is designed to protect vulnerable incumbents and reduce voter choice. The injunction followed allegations that the law violated constitutional voting rights.

Republican lawmakers opposed Senate Bill 2412, arguing it was a power grab by Democrats aiming to protect incumbents in elections and would erode public trust in the electoral process. Senator Bennett expressed hope that this ruling would ensure free and fair elections in Illinois.

As of now, Illinois owes $468 million to state vendors across 15,745 pending vouchers. This figure represents bills submitted but still awaiting payment from the Comptroller's office. It does not include debts such as unfunded pension liabilities estimated at over $139 billion.

The Senate’s annual Memorial Day Wall of Remembrance is currently on display in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda until June 7 during regular business hours. Presented by the Senate Republican Caucus, it features photos and stories of military personnel who have died in service. Visitors can share their own stories or express gratitude through notes posted on the wall.

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