Metro East Sun

State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) and State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) held a press conference to address concerns over Governor JB Pritzker’s recent executive order regarding state spending. In September, Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2025-05, instructing state agencies to identify immediate areas for spending reductions by October 23. The governor attributed the need for cuts to actions by the Trump Administration.

Rep. Elik commented on her expectations as a CPA and Spokesperson for the General Services Appropriations committee: “As a CPA and Spokesperson for the General Services Appropriations committee, I was very much looking forward to seeing where Governor Pritzker’s agencies identified inefficiencies and excessive spending and hoped that just maybe this Executive Order would create a slightly more efficient government,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “But that proved to be wishful thinking. We have not gotten any information whatsoever from agencies about where they planned to cut.”

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie filed a Freedom of Information Act request on October 23 in an attempt to access information about the agency reviews. The request was denied by the governor’s office, citing “internal deliberations” as justification for withholding the findings.

“So today we ask Governor Pritzker – When can we expect these ‘internal deliberations’ to be made public?” asked Rep. Elik. “Illinoisans deserve transparency and accountability. Their government should be honest about the work they are doing for them, not hiding behind political theater and press releases.”

According to Rep. Elik, this is not the first time such requests have been made of state agencies under Governor Pritzker’s administration; previous agency reviews have also not been released publicly.

Elik, a Republican, was elected in 2021 to represent Illinois' 111th House District, succeeding Monica Bristow.