From The Center square:
IL Democrats propose $55B budget with $7K legislator pay hike, tax increase
(The Center Square) – Illinois legislators will get another pay raise with the $55.2 billion 3,300 page budget that was filed late Friday, barely a day before the vote deadline.
Aside from spending on state government operations, various other line items the spending plan includes are tens of millions of dollars for chambers of commerce across the state, $5 million for NASCAR, and $6 million to an Indo-American Center for costs associated with building a Pan Asian American Community Center.
State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, late Friday took to the House floor to say the budget also includes a $7,000 pay raise for legislators.
“Since J.B. Pritzker took office, Democrats have voted themselves over $25,000 in pay raises. This would push it over to $30,000,” Halbrook said.
State Rep. Robyn Gable, D-Evanston, said the budget cuts nearly half a billion dollars from the governor’s proposed budget and is “fiscally and socially responsible.”
“These were not decisions made lightly or made hastily,” Gable said during a late night committee. “These are strategic efficiencies so we can invest in the needs of our working families and seniors on fixed income.”
As for tax increases, Republicans sought answers late Friday night. State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, said more will come with discussions around the revenue bill Saturday, the last day of spring session.
“Certain types of tobacco products, I believe vape products, are taxed 15%, while some products are taxed as high as maybe 44%, and we’re trying to uniformalize those rates,” he said.
The budget is the most expensive spending plan for taxpayers in state history and includes a $2.5 billion supplemental for the current fiscal year.
Legislators return Saturday, where they have a midnight deadline to approve the spending plan with simple majorities.
