Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) of Illinois 95th District released a number of news items last month headlined by her denouncing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to tie school funding to a graduated income tax hike approval.
Pritzker introduced a proposed Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget that increased operational expenses by $2.2 billion on Feb. 19.
“Rather than presenting a balanced budget based on record-high state revenues, the governor presented a proposal that was by his own admission, unbalanced,” wrote Bourne in the newsletter. “He tied $1.4 million in spending for FY21 to the passage of his graduated income tax proposal. In an effort to push his personal political agenda, Pritzker withheld important funding in key budget areas pending voter action on his tax hike plan.”
Bourne has since joined a number of House Republicans to denounce Pritzker's decision to pass his graduated income tax proposal ahead of a commitment to fully fund education, health care and public safety in his budget.
“His budget speaks volumes about his priorities,” wrote Avery. “He would rather withhold funding from our schools to further his political agenda than provide a stable and responsible budget that fully funds schools and lives within our means.
“Through his self-serving actions, the governor has put schools in an impossible situation. There will be no certainty on the funding that schools will receive from the state. Because school district levies and budgets must be finalized before the outcome of the graduated income tax constitutional amendment is known, school leaders will be forced to delay hiring decisions and possibly increase property taxes…The responsible thing to do would have been to introduce a budget that gives schools and taxpayers certainty. The Pritzker budget does neither.”
Among other news, Bourne announced that she filed a comprehensive legislative agenda for 2020. Members of the House and Senate had to file their substantive bills for 2020 prior to the Feb. 14 deadline. House committees are currently holding meetings to consider the proposed bills as the spring legislative session approaches.
“For 2020, I have filed a comprehensive legislative agenda that protects lawful gun owners, taxpayers and our communities,” wrote the representative. “Other parts of my agenda seek to improve government ethics and transparency, address the rising cost of a college education, assist veterans and improve public safety, address mental health and health care issues, and makes the state more business-friendly. I will be highlighting these bills in the coming weeks.”
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