Chambana Sun

State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) believes Gov. J.B. Pritzker's (D) latest proposed budget that includes increased spending and tax relief in the form of a one-time payment is "completely disconnected from reality."

Rose's comments came after Pritzker introduced his budget plans during his Feb. 2 State of the State address.

"Here you have a Governor who is creating permanent spending dollars while only providing temporary relief," Rose said. "He has done nothing about crime but throw more money at it. He refuses to lock up violent offenders walking our streets."

Under Pritzker's proposal, the state would increase funding for education, public safety, and small businesses. According to a release from the governor's office, the budget would also allow for "unprecedented payments" to both state pensions and the rainy day fund.

"Pritzker is using federal Biden bucks to make everything appear that all is well, but people are going to wake up next year with a heck of a hangover when that money dries up and they're left with reckless spending," Rose said. 

During his address, Pritzker also talked bout freezing grocery taxes and temporarily halting the impending rise in gas taxes while discussing a one-time property tax rebate payment for eligible taxpayers.

"$2.5 billion in new spendings and he thinks the people of Illinois who are suffering from inflation ... should only get one-time help. That is so disconnected from the reality of the people I represent every day," Rose said. 

According to a report published on Patch, Pritzker's budget proposal comes in at $112.5 billion. 

Of the $112.5 billion, less than half, or $45.5 billion, would be from the state's general revenue fund while the rest would come from federal dollars the state received, the report noted. 

The article also highlighted that a big portion of the budget would be put toward public employee pensions.