State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) issued the following statement after the Democrat-controlled legislature passed a $42.3 billion budget with a deficit of $1 billion:
“This is one of the most partisan budgets I have witnessed in the legislature. This budget includes $1 billion in capital projects for Democrat districts only, including a pay raise for lawmakers. I will donate this pay raise to local non-profits as I have done previously. Year after year the Democrat-controlled General Assembly adopts an unsustainable state budget. Illinois is fortunate to have revenue growth, however, the politicians in charge continue to spend every penny without paying past debt. As we continue to move forward and reopen following the start of the pandemic last year, the State of Illinois must restore fiscal responsibility to the state budget before it’s too late.”