Rockford Sun

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) in a recent news release alluded to hidden spending in the 2023-2024 budget and issues with the healthcare program for undocumented migrants.

“One example of possible ‘phantom' spending in this year’s budget, which also served as a major point of contention during negotiations, is a program solely funded by Illinois taxpayers that provides free healthcare to undocumented immigrants,” Syverson said on his website. “Illinois is currently the only state in the nation to provide this level of healthcare to noncitizens ages 42 and older.”

During budget hearings, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration estimated the cost of the program at $1.1 billion. The Majority Party allocated just half of that projected cost — $550 million — to the program. 

“While Democrats claim that they also provided the governor with rule-making authority to rein in the ballooning program,” Syverson said, “it is difficult to believe that a rule change will be able to reduce the costs by $550 million, especially after the governor and the majority party have made it clear they would not be willing to cut existing enrollees from the program.”

In an earlier reaction to the 2023-2024 budget passing both chambers of the Legislature, Syverson issued a statement focusing on the spending plan.

“When we discuss legislative priorities, especially when it comes to state spending, we always talk about caring for our state’s most vulnerable residents,” Syverson said in that release. “We did push for an increase in funding for disability programs, but there is a lot of financial ground to make up. Illinois ranks 47th out of 50 states in funding community-based services for people with disabilities. Instead of fully funding this vulnerable population, we are set to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on free healthcare for non-citizens.” 

In the newsletter where Syverson suggested a rule change couldn’t reduce spending in the budget, he noted that “it is doubtful that the minimal surplus will be enough to cover the true costs of the state.” 

In March, after the budget had been unveiled in late February, Syverson slammed the proposed budget. The DeKalb Times reported that increased spending was an issue for the Senator. 

"That money will not be there next year. Yet the Governor has laid out a budget based on these revenues being ongoing — which they are not," Syverson said in that statement. "His budget increases base spending by a massive $2.5 billion. This is going to create a financial cliff for taxpayers next year, of course after the election is over.” 

The Illinois Senate approved the $50.6 billion budget with a 34-22 vote on May 25, and sent it to the House of Representatives, ABC7 reported.  

The House of Representatives passed the budget on party lines, 73-38. Before the vote, House Republican leaders held a press conference and announced that they would not support the budget as introduced.