Metro East Sun

State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) is disappointed by the recent budget address by Gov. Pritzker because she said the budget is not balanced.

Contrary to Elik’s assertion, Pritzker said in his speech: “right now, we need to pass a balanced budget that finds the right equilibrium between tightening our belts and preventing more hardships for Illinoisans already carrying a heavy load.” 

As a CPA, Elik said she is disappointed to hear this from Pritzker.  

“The fact is, the Pritzker budget proposal fails to include a plan to pay off Illinois’ $5 billion in unpaid bills, and there is no realistic plan to pay off the $4.3 billion the state recently borrowed," she said.

Pritzker also said that his proposal is far different from the previous year.

“I had bolder plans for our state budget than what I am going to present to you today,” he said. “It would be a lie to suggest otherwise. But as all our families have had to make hard choices over the last year, so too does the state government.”

But Elik said that “the governor’s budget is more of the same, failed tax and spending schemes that continue to put our state further into debt. I think It’s time for the legislature to pass a budget that is balanced without new taxes.”