SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) issued the following statement following the passage of the State of Illinois Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, which Meier voted against:
“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.”
State Representative Charlie Meier represents the 109th District which includes portions of Bond, Clinton, Madison, St. Clair, and Washington counties. For more information, please visit CharlieMeier.net or contact Rep. Meier’s district office at 618-651-0405.