NW Illinois News

Governor JB Pritzker delivered his annual Budget Address on Wednesday before a joint session of the Senate and House. Following the address, State Senator Andrew Chesney from Freeport shared his thoughts on the speech.

Senator Chesney criticized Governor Pritzker's address, stating, “J.B. Pritzker’s budget address wasn’t about governing—it was about launching his national campaign. Instead of tackling Illinois’ skyrocketing taxes, failing schools, or horrific crime, he used the moment to pander to the far-left, spewing the rhetoric of a desperate politician auditioning for the national stage rather than a leader focused on solutions."

He further commented on the governor's financial plans: “His budget isn’t grounded in reality. It’s a fantasy designed to appease progressive elites, while everyday Illinoisans bear the burden of the highest taxes in the Midwest and flee the state in record numbers. This is a governor who didn’t get where he is on merit, and it shows. He didn’t build his fortune—he inherited it. And when it came time to pay his fair share, he stashed his wealth in the Cayman Islands to avoid taxes."

Chesney also expressed concern over Pritzker's approach towards political unity: “Worst of all, instead of uniting the people of Illinois, he chose to demonize Republicans, comparing half the country—including the leader of the free world—to Nazis. This is beyond reckless; it’s disqualifying.”