Last Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker delivered his annual State of the State and Budget Address to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield.
Following the speech, State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), Deputy Republican Leader and the House Republican Caucus’ chief budget negotiator, said Pritzker was proposing the largest budget in state history.
The Governor’s FY26 budget proposal would spend $55.2 billion, which is nearly $2 billion more than the FY25 enacted budget.
Yesterday on the House floor, Hammond once again talked about the governor’s budget and how on Governor Pritzker’s watch, state spending has increased by more than $15 billion, a 38% increase in spending.
Hammond said that House Republicans support a balanced budget without gimmicks and tax hikes and want a budget that prioritizes the needs of Illinois working families and seniors over migrants and illegal immigrants.