Sangamon Sun

Republican members of the House Revenue and Finance Committee have urged the Illinois General Assembly to focus on state policies that benefit local families and small businesses. State Representatives Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford), and Travis Weaver (R-Edwards) expressed concern over the tendency to blame federal actions for the state's economic difficulties.

During recent hearings, Democratic committee members highlighted federal tariff policy as a major economic pressure. However, the Republicans argue that the state's economic issues have been longstanding, caused by policies introduced under Democratic leadership. They call for bipartisan cooperation to address these challenges.

Representatives Keicher, Weaver, and Sosnowski stated, “Rather than using federal politics as a scapegoat, Illinois lawmakers should take ownership of the policies within our control. Illinois’ economic struggles predate current federal policy by decades, the result of burdensome regulations, tax hikes, and anti-business legislation championed by Democrats in Springfield.”

They also noted Illinois' lag in home construction compared to the national average, with only a 3.4 percent change in housing units built between 2013 and 2023, surpassing only West Virginia and Michigan. Additionally, Illinois faces the second-highest property tax rate, a significant unfunded pension liability, high outmigration, and a high unemployment rate.

The Republicans concluded with a call to cooperation, stating, “State lawmakers in Illinois can take this as a moment of unity to focus on cooperating with the federal government and enacting policies to lower taxes and strengthen our economy at home. It’s time to enact real pro-growth policy, and no amount of finger-pointing can undo decades of stagnation.”