Dupage Policy Journal

Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, listened to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address that was released on Feb. 19 to legislators of the state. Despite the optimism and encouraging words regarding the financial situation in Illinois, he does not not believe that the higher taxes and an unbalanced budget is going to fix the fiscal crisis of Illinois.

“The governor put the best face possible on Illinois’ fiscal situation; unfortunately, his glowing assessment does not square with the facts, and his spending plan relies on a huge income tax increase to implement,” Oberweis said in a statement.

Oberweis also believes that Pritzker is not addressing the most important problems and concerns within the state. The population has been steadily decreasing over the last 6 years and it is one of the most highly taxed states in the United States. He also noted that the state is one of the "most corrupt" in the country.

The senator said in his statement that the governor did not address these issues. 

“We have to change the way things are done in Springfield,” continued Oberweis, “We have all these advantages but the politicians keep screwing it up. We have to get rid of the corruption. We have to reduce property taxes.”

Oberweis also says that fundamental pension problem is out of control and affects the future of children.

"We must address our fundamental pension problem that is stealing the future from our grandchildren. We have to get control of the run-away spending," Oberweis said in the statement. "Unfortunately, the governor’s tax that is central to his spending plan is the final nail in the coffin to driving even more of our tax-paying citizens out of the state, and that is wrong.”

Pritzker proposed a $42 billion state spending plan for the next fiscal year, which begins in July. Part of that includes $1.4 billion that's dependent on voters approving a constitutional amendment in November for a new set of income tax rates for the state.