Illinois Tax and Spend Budget for FY 2025
Written by David E. Smith
In the wee hours of the morning, Democrats — who control the Illinois House of Representatives — approved a $53.1 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The 3,374 page budget, plus supplemental spending bills, had already been approved by Democrats — who control the Illinois Senate — on Sunday evening.
The budget includes a significant increase in spending — $400 million more than what Governor J.B. Pritzker had initially proposed. The budget also includes $750 million in tax hikes. Some of what we are paying for in this budget includes:
- $23 million in abortion access, reproductive health care training programs, including $2 million for “security grants” at abortion mills.
- Another 5% pay hike for lawmakers that would boost annual base pay for all 177 members of the General Assembly to $93,712 — for what is supposed to be a part-time job.
- Another 5% pay hike for the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, comptroller and treasurer and the heads of executive agencies as well. (Billionaire JB Pritzker does not collect a salary as governor.)
- $182 million toward shelter and care for illegal immigrants and $440 million to cover their healthcare costs.
- $250 million to cover pharmaceuticals Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic for obesity issues for Illinois state employees.
- The budget throws more money toward education and early childhood development, including $250 million for preschool slots; $100 million for capital improvements at early childhood learning facilities; and $500 million dollars for a new quantum computing campus. This despite the decreasing enrollment in government schools and the tragic academic failure at educating students.
- Hundreds of millions were also allocated for electric vehicle subsidies. They amount to $4000 tax breaks for those who can afford the $75,000 vehicles.
The budget also includes $750 million in tax hikes, including raising taxes on sports betting from 15% to 35%. Proponents of this tax claim that this increase is expected to generate an extra $200 million for our state lawmakers to squander.
The various bills making up the state budget will now go to Governor Pritzker for his approval.
In a video update this morning, the Illinois Freedom Caucus reported on some of details budget and some of the games Democratic leaders played leading up to the final votes on the budget — which took place around 4:30 in the morning — when the majority of the state’s citizens were fast asleep.
Our Response?
Jesus tells us that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We must be intentional about our job as ambassadors for His Kingdom. The low-voter turnout in the primary election earlier this year is alarming. We must remember that we are to shine the light of our faith “before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Additionally, we are to encourage one another to stand fast. Hebrews 10:23-25 instructs us:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works… exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
There is little doubt in my mind that the Illinois General Assembly needs a huge dose of salt and light. We must not slack off on encouraging one another to stay the course, to love God, and to do good for our neighbors. Engaging the culture is a civic duty of every Christian who lives in the U.S.
Self-government is fading away precisely because we are failing to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us to preserve this precious gift from God. Meanwhile, the immoral and irresponsible priorities of Illinois Democrats win the day.
As a result, hard working families are paying a terribly high price for this corruption — which grows month by month in the absence of salt and light.
Tags: abortion, Brad Halbrook, Chris Miller, Collin Moseley, Healthcare, illegal immigrants, Illinois Budget, Illinois Democrats, Illinois Freedom Caucus, Illinois Taxes, JB Pritzker, Mounjaro, Ozempic, taxes, Wegovy
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
May 29, 2024 8:00 AM
