Rockford Sun

Illinois state Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) recently took to social media to inform his constituents about his distaste for the budget that was recently passed in the House without receiving a single Republican vote.

“As I prepare for session this evening, I will remember the conversations I have had with so many of you in this new 90th District,” he said in a May 26 Facebook post. “I will stand up to all of the fee increases, tax increases and budget gimmicks. It’s an honor and privilege to sit in your chair on the House floor.

Cabello also issued a release on May 26 on his website, in which he had harsh words for the new budget.

“I just brought the 50 PLUS BILLION DOLLAR budget in and placed it on my desk on the House floor,” he said in the release. “The red book next to it is the Unabridged Dictionary with every word in the English language to gauge how massive it is. Hide your wallet!!!!!”

Cabello was critical of the process leading up to the vote as well. On May 19 he posted on Facebook, saying, “We do not have a budget yet but maybe it just got delivered to the State House. Watch your wallets. 50 BILLION DOLLAR budget on the way. I will be a NO to new taxes!”

He and state Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) announced a joint end-of-session wrap-up from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 1 at Highland Community College, Room H-127, 2998 W. Pearl City Road in Freeport. Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller was also slated to be on hand.

“Hosting this end of session wrap up event with House Republican Leader Tony McCombie and Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller will allow us to inform residents of the no-spin, truth about what happens in Springfield,” Cabello said in the announcement on his website. “I look forward to meeting with residents from mine and Leader McCombie’s districts and answering their questions about how we are working to get things done.”

Cabello was appointed to fill a vacancy in Illinois’ 68th District and sworn into office in August of 2012, his website biography said. He was then elected to that seat in November of 2012 and reelected in 2014, 2016 and 2018. In 2022, Cabello was elected state representative for the new 90th District that starts in Boone County and cuts across the top of Winnebago County over to Stephenson County and Freeport.

Cabello and his family moved from Texas when he was young, and he graduated from Harlem High School in Machesney Park. He was a member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.