Illinois Budget

Illinois Tax and Spend Budget for FY 2025

David E. Smith — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:00:41 +0000

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.

“They Got Everything They Wanted and More” (Illinois Family Spotlight #153)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 09:00:45 +0000

This edition of Spotlight features a Townhall event where former state rep Jeanne Ives and current State Rep John Cabello recapped the 2019 spring legislative session with an eye for the “bi-partisan” budget, gas tax, a pay raise for legislators, and other mind numbingly stupid laws only Illinois could conceive.… Continue Reading

Illinois General Assembly Session Recap (Illinois Family Spotlight #098)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 07:00:13 +0000

Monte Larrick sat down with Illinois Family Institute’s lobbyist Ralph Rivera, and IFI’s contract lobbyist Mark Johnson following the adjournment of the most recent Illinois General Assembly session.

They discuss the new Illinois budget, a potential Illinois fair tax, SB 1564 and a pro-life version, financing taxpayer funded abortion, Illinois ratifying of the Equal Rights Amendment, when Illinois will attempt to legalize recreational marijuana, what the next attack on life might target, what Illinois might do with the US Supreme Court’s ruling about sports betting, and the vital importance of turning out to vote in the down ballot races.… Continue Reading

“A Taxing Discussion” (Spotlight#051)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 05:15:43 +0000

John Biver, the Special Projects Manager for the Illinois Family Institute, joins Monte Larrick and David Smith to talk about the recent tax increase coming from Springfield.

The second half of the show, due to technical difficulties, had to be redone without Monte. However, Dave and John discuss statements made on the IPM (Illinois Public Media) podcast known as the 21st by Illinois state representative from the 110th district Reggie Phillips (R-Charleston) and former governor Jim Edgar (R-Illinois).… Continue Reading

Rep. Ives Blasts House Dems, Says Illinoisans Don’t Want Massive Tax Hike

David E. Smith — Wed, 31 May 2017 09:00:40 +0000

Written by John Biver

On Monday, the Illinois News Network featured as its top story the above headline with this lead:

State Rep. Jeanne Ives blasted her Democrat colleagues in the Illinois House for removing her as chief sponsor of a Senate bill that would increase taxes on Illinoisans by $5.4 billion.

For the record, Illinois Representative Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is a staunch opponent of tax increases. So why in the world would she sponsor a tax increase?… Continue Reading

Five Consequences of Illinois’ Bad Budget Deals

David E. Smith — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:30:31 +0000

Written by Ted Dabrowski and John Klinger

Illinois politicians are notorious for making deals in the middle of a crisis that end up being good for the political establishment but destructive for Illinois residents and taxpayers. It’s no coincidence that the author of the famous quote “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste” – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel – hails from Illinois.

Now Illinois is in the midst of its worst fiscal crisis ever, and yet another bad deal is on the horizon.… Continue Reading

Empty Talking Heads Wasting Chances to Inform Voters About the Real Problem

David E. Smith — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 09:00:13 +0000

Written by John Biver

Over the weekend veteran Chicago news reporter Bill Cameron had Pat Brady as a guest on his weekly program and podcast. Yes, that Pat Brady — the disgraced former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, who was hired by the radical ACLU to convince weak-kneed and malleable Republicans to vote for marriage redefinition in 2013. On Monday, a friend brought it to my attention in an email and asked:

“Why does Bill Cameron go to a disgraced Republican who was chased out as GOP chairman for a supposedly conservative reaction to Donald Trump’s first few months as POTUS?

Just Say No… to Speaker Madigan (Illinois Family Spotlight #013)

David E. Smith — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 10:00:37 +0000

A number of candidates for state representative have signed a pledge declaring they will not vote for Michael Madigan as Speaker of the House. In the first part of the show, Rep. Tom Morrison and guests state why voting against Madigan is so important for the future of Illinois. Afterword, John Biver (special projects coordinator at Illinois Family action) joins Monte and Dave to discuss Madigan, the pledge, and why fiscal reform is so desperately needed.… Continue Reading