J.B. Pritzker on Budget & Economy

	J.B. Pritzker on Budget & Economy

Only an idiot would indiscriminately cut the budget

As always, I stand ready to work with members of the General Assembly to deliberate and negotiate the final budget. But let's be clear, I will only sign a balanced budget. If you come to the table looking to spend more-- I'm going to ask you where you want to cut. I have made difficult decisions--including to programs I have championed, which is hard for me, just as I know some of the difficult decisions you will have to make will be hard for you.

I know it's in fashion at the federal level now to just indiscriminately slash school funding, healthcare coverage, support for farmers, and veterans' services. They say they're doing it to eliminate inefficiencies. But only an idiot would think we should eliminate emergency response in a natural disaster, education and healthcare for disabled children, gang crime investigations, clean air and water programs, monitoring of nursing home abuse, nuclear reactor regulation, and cancer research.

Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 19, 2025

Illinois has passed four balanced budgets in a row

What was once an Illinois with $17 billion in overdue bills is now an Illinois that pays its bills on time. What was once an Illinois that went years without a budget is now an Illinois that has passed four balanced budgets in a row. What was once a state with no cushion to protect it in an economic downturn is now an Illinois on track to have a $2.3 billion Rainy Day Fund. What was once an Illinois with a credit rating on the verge of junk status is now an Illinois getting credit upgrades. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 15, 2023

Illinois Grocery Initiative to open/expand local grocers

It's time we return to a tried and true model -- one where those communities are served by independent, local grocery stores that sell food grown by Illinois farmers. This budget includes a first of its kind investment of $20 million to launch the Illinois Grocery Initiative, assisting municipalities and independent grocers to open or expand grocery stores in underserved rural towns and urban neighborhoods -- with an additional $2 million going towards purchasing food from Illinois farmers. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 15, 2023

Time to rebuild state's Rainy Day Fund

It's time to begin restoring our state's long neglected Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the Rainy Day Fund. Right now the average state can run for 29 days on its Rainy Day Fund. In Illinois, we can run for 15 minutes. I'm proposing that we set aside $600 million for the fund this year plus another $279 million next year. The past few years have shown us that rainy days do actually arrive, and it's time to begin rebuilding protections from future fiscal calamities. Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 2, 2022

Entrepreneurs create most of the jobs in our state

Entrepreneurs are the folks who create most of the jobs in our state. Their businesses are key to our economic revitalization, and they're the most immediate way for us to help those that are shouldering the heaviest burden from COVID-19. While the federal government writes billion-dollar checks to big businesses, here in Illinois we're standing up for small businesses--or as I like to say--the big businesses of the future. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 17, 2021

Illinois pays billions more in federal taxes than it gets

For decades, Illinois has been forced to send billions more tax dollars every year to the federal government than we receive back from them in support of our citizens. Federal spending is rigged against Illinois. We've been subsidizing public services for other states, like Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, and Missouri. So far, not a single Republican Congressman from Illinois has supported you getting back what you paid for. If not in a national crisis, when will they stand up for us? Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 17, 2021

A balanced budget reflects our values as a state

We passed a bipartisan, truly balanced budget on time, with renewed investments in job creation, cradle to career education, and physical and mental healthcare. Even the credit rating agencies and financial analysts described a "distinct improvement" in our fiscal stability, and investors took notice and lowered our state's borrowing rate. A balanced budget is an important accomplishment, but it's more than just about fiscal discipline. It's a moral document that reflects our values as a state. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Time for honest budgeting instead of game-playing

Illinois has a $3.2 billion budget deficit and a $15 billion debt. Last year the state paid out more than $700 million in late payment penalties, enough to cover free four-year university tuition for more than 12,000 students. Budgeting will not be done any more by court orders, consent decrees and continuing appropriations but instead by debate and compromise. The budget I present to you today is an honest proposal--the costs are not hidden, the revenues I propose are not out of reach. Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 20, 2019

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*Other governors on Budget & Economy:*			*J.B. Pritzker on other issues:*
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