Metro East Sun

In a Feb. 15 Facebook post, Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) responded to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's State of the State address with criticism. 

In his post, he said, “The Governor today laid out a spending plan that I am concerned will put taxpayers on the hook for future tax increases. The promises of increased funding for programs sounds good, but we have to investigate each line item through the appropriations process to ensure that we are not setting ourselves up for future financial failure. We have seen record spending budgets clear the General Assembly for several years in a row now."

Severin expanded upon that statement in a news release on his official website.

"The Federal COVID-19 cash that has propped up state government spending for years is now running out," Severin said. "Revenues are expected to trend downward due to the recession that is predicted to happen in the coming months. It’s time to get real about what our state government can and cannot afford. Today’s speech is just the first step in a long budget making process. We are talking about spending the people’s money, and that means the people deserve to know where every nickel is being spent.”

In his address, Pritzker outlined his vision for the state's prosperity and development, emphasizing the importance of investing in the educational needs of its youngest citizens.

"We’ve reduced the burden on Illinois taxpayers by eliminating hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments," Pritzker said. "We’ve reduced taxes on those who can least afford them, and we’re finally investing in what really matters — improving education and making college more affordable, modernizing our transportation systems, improving public safety and assisting law enforcement to make our neighborhoods safer, reducing homelessness and increasing mental healthcare, cutting taxes and fees on small businesses, attracting new businesses, giving more state revenue to local governments and schools so they can stop raising your property taxes, and so much more."

The governor also brought attention to his successes in balancing the state budget.

"What was once an Illinois with $17 billion in overdue bills is now an Illinois that pays its bills on time," Pritzker said. "What was once an Illinois that went years without a budget is now an Illinois that has passed four balanced budgets in a row. What was once a state with no cushion to protect it in an economic downturn is now an Illinois on track to have a $2.3 billion Rainy Day Fund. What was once an Illinois with a credit rating on the verge of junk status is now an Illinois getting credit upgrades. 

Pritzker then listed the billions in debt that has been paid off.