Dupage Policy Journal

Republican House candidate Dr. Michael Camerer feels Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed himself for all to see with his role in the passage of the state’s new $42 billion budget.

“Our governor is out of touch with the everyday struggles of middle-income families,” Camerer, who is running against state Rep. Dianne Pappas (D-Itasca) in the 45th District, told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Perhaps our governor doesn’t concern himself with living within a balanced budget, especially since money isn’t a problem for him, but for the rest of us, we understand that it leads to problems when you spend more than you make.”

The plan that Democrats passed in lockstep also banks on major funding from the federal government in hopes of plugging the many holes made even deeper by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, lawmakers added a provision that also clears the way for a $5 billion loan from the federal government.

“Our state will never become financially healthy if we keep digging while in the deep hole that we find ourselves,” Camerer, a Bartlett resident, added.

Camerer further lamented he can’t fathom how lawmakers can justify borrowing even more to balance the budget at a time when the overall economy is on such shaky ground.

“Illinois currently has the lowest credit rating among all U.S. states, so the interest rate charged to borrow money will be significantly higher than a state with a Triple-A rating,” he said. “Borrowing more money to finance a budget only adds more to the debt load, which is something that our state cannot afford. We simply do not know what the future holds and the financial impact that will be realized from COVID-19.”

Camerer said the governor’s one-size-fits-all approach to handling everything has only made the situation worse.

“The coronavirus has been one of the most devastating crises to occur in our lifetime and a governor is elected to lead the people of our state during the crisis,” he said. “However, when a governor has the attitude ‘It’s my way or the highway’ in his approach to leading, problems begin to occur. Many of the governors in the surrounding states have shown a flexibility and willingness to work with local elected officials and business to navigate this crisis. We need a more inclusive approach that recognizes the differences between the Chicago Loop and Bartlett and allows for local solutions and local leadership.”