Rockford Sun

State Senator Dave Syverson has called on Governor JB Pritzker to redirect his focus from national issues back to the concerns of Illinois residents. During his annual Budget Address on February 19, Governor Pritzker proposed a $55.4 billion spending plan, marking the largest budget in state history and reflecting a 37 percent increase since he took office in 2019.

Senator Syverson criticized the Governor for prioritizing national spotlight issues such as healthcare, housing, and social services for non-citizens. He stated, "The Governor continues to focus on national spotlight issues, such as free healthcare, housing, and social services for non-citizens, regardless of costs. His priorities should be Illinois families and hard-working citizens."

Syverson expressed satisfaction that Gov. Pritzker is now addressing spending levels on illegal immigrant healthcare after years of Republican pressure. "For years Gov. Pritzker has made non-citizen programs a priority over tackling the financial and public safety crises facing Illinoisans," Syverson said. He noted an estimated $3.3 billion spent from FY21 through FY25 on non-citizen welfare programs and mentioned that the Governor plans to reduce some of these healthcare costs.

As budget discussions progress, Senator Syverson emphasized his commitment to focusing on Illinois citizens' needs and collaborating with lawmakers across party lines to achieve a balanced budget with economic reforms. He also questioned the Governor's statements about Illinois having one of the strongest economies while noting high out-migration rates.

"In his speech, the Governor said our state has one of the strongest economies in the nation," Syverson remarked. "And if our economy is one of the strongest, why is the Governor saying the state’s 2026 forecast projects a 1.9% increase in revenue growth?"

Fiscal Year 2026 will span from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.