Metro East Sun

The Illinois House Democrats have passed a $55.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, marking a $2 billion increase from the previous year. This development occurred just before midnight on the final day of the legislative session. State spending has seen significant growth since Governor Pritzker took office in 2019, rising from $40.3 billion to the current figure.

Governor Pritzker previously stated, “If you come to the table looking to spend more – I’m going to ask you where you want to cut.” However, the new budget includes $1 billion in tax hikes and fund sweeps to support increased spending and pay raises for politicians.

State Representative Kevin Schmidt criticized the budget, saying it does not address Illinois residents' needs: “This massive budget does not reflect the needs of Illinois citizens. Bad public policy has cost the state billions.”

In another matter, federal prosecutors are seeking a 12.5-year prison sentence and a $1.5 million fine for former Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan following his conviction on corruption charges earlier this year. His sentencing is scheduled for June 13.

“The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,” federal prosecutors argued.

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie commented on Madigan's situation: “Mike Madigan’s fall from power is no surprise — it’s the bill coming due for decades of corruption.”

Meanwhile, implementation of a controversial 'swipe fee' law has been delayed by one year by the Illinois General Assembly. The law would ban credit card issuers from imposing fees on retailers accepting their cards in Illinois.

On firearms legislation, House Republicans voted against Senate Bill 8, known as the Safe Gun Storage Act, which mandates locked storage of firearms around minors or prohibited individuals. Rep. Schmidt expressed concerns about legal uncertainties created by conflicting provisions within the bill.

“Democrat lawmakers keep pushing questionable legislation that further restricts law-abiding gun owners from exercising their Second Amendment Rights,” said Schmidt.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie remarked after adjournment: “Democrats spent more time extolling the virtues of violating federal immigration laws than they did taking away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners.”