Over the weekend, the Democrats in Springfield passed the largest budget in Illinois History.
Once again, the budget has missed the mark, and hardworking Illinoisans will pay the price. This budget relies on a huge tax increase and one-time borrowing from special dedicated funds to prop up long-term spending. This budget continues to spend on illegal immigrants, includes a pay raise for state legislators, and supports policies that will cause your energy and tax bills to skyrocket.
The Democrats have made sure that their Senators and Representatives get to use tax dollars paid by Illinoisans across the state for pork projects in their districts, while Republican districts don’t even get the wastewater.
Governor Pritzker has said he would veto any budget that negatively impacts working families. I look forward to him vetoing this budget, considering the working families are the ones who will be hit the hardest.
Attacking Illinois businesses and stopping future businesses from coming here affects every working family. Pork projects that only benefit Democratic districts hurt thousands of working families in districts like the one I represent. Progressive policies that will keep raising the cost of our basic needs, like electricity, will affect every working family. Recklessly spending Illinois into a fiscal hole that we may never be able to crawl out of negatively impacts every working family in Illinois. Make no mistake about it, your taxes will go up because of this budget.
The only jobs that will be coming to Illinois because of this budget will be the moving companies, who will no doubt get an influx of business as families flee the state in numbers we have never seen.
ASSISTED SUICIDE
The Illinois House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1950, which allows for physician assisted suicide. All Republicans and some Democrats voted against the measure, but it still received enough votes to pass the House and moves to the Senate for consideration.
Here’s an excerpt from my floor debate: “If this bill passes, who is there to protect our most vulnerable? This bill terrifies the families of our most vulnerable. They are happy to see their loved ones riding bikes and swimming in pools now, even though they were on hospice and would have qualified for this. They were never given the opportunity in the setting the state had them. They would be dead now. Thank God they’re not.”
SB1950 was not called for a vote in the Senate.
Watch my floor debate here.
CALEB’S LEGACY
I am proud to announce the passage of House Resolution 283, a measure that honors the life and passing of Caleb Thomas Elliott of Troy. Caleb was accidentally electrocuted while working on a house in Troy. At the time, Caleb was working toward a career in welding and heating, and cooling.
The Resolution names August 11, 2025, as Caleb’s Legacy: Electrical Awareness for a Safer Tomorrow Day.
I hope the Resolution will serve as a springboard to further education for those working with electrical wiring. I’m on organizations like FFA, 4-H, and junior college trades programs to spread the word and help prevent future tragedies.
I brought this forward to bring awareness to the need to be extremely cautious when working with electricity, and to hopefully ensure that a tragedy like the one endured by Caleb’s family never happens again. I want to extend my condolences and my gratitude to Caleb’s two sisters, three brothers, and his parents, Doug and Dawn, for their loss. I will work to continue to educate everyone on this issue so we can save lives in the future.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Rep. Meier has left Springfield… Farmer Charlie is back where I belong.
