Dupage Policy Journal

Sen. Tom Bennett (R-Morris) is blasting Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed $49.6 billion spending plan.

“The reckless spending and partisan pork projects of the last few years have to come to an end," Bennett posted on his website. "The people of Illinois deserve something better than another partisan plan drawn up behind closed doors during the late hours of the night."

Bennett said that state spending is now at historical levels, adding "yet we still keep hearing about crisis after crisis within state agencies, especially those that are charged with caring for our most vulnerable citizens, including a director repeatedly being found to be in contempt of court."

Slated to begin at the start of the new budget year on July 1, Pritzker's budget plan comes to a record-setting $49.6 billion. It calls for a nearly 8% increase over the $46 billion budget approved last spring.

In his budget address, Pritzker implored lawmakers to join him in supporting the early education portion of the budget, dubbed “Smart Start Illinois,” which he called a “long-term investment that has the greatest return for taxpayers with the most positive social and economic impact that I have ever come to you with.”