* Gov. Pritzker…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and budget leaders from each chamber to sign the FY25 state budget package. The $53.1 billion budget builds on the Pritzker administration’s initiatives to invest in early childhood, accelerate business development, and support working families.

“The FY25 budget is another demonstration of the fiscal responsibility that has guided me from Day One of my administration,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This budget is balanced, pro-family, cuts taxes on workers, and opens up doors of opportunity for employers and employees alike. I’m proud to sign it today and look forward to working together to bring these investments to life in a healthier, more prosperous Illinois.” […]

Some highlights of the FY25 budget include:

• $198 million into the Budget Stabilization “Rainy Day” Fund.
• More than $500 million in increases for education funding across early childhood, K-12, and higher education.
• Funding to increase birth equity and eliminate black maternal mortality disparities.
• $14 million to fund creation of the new Department of Early Childhood.
• $500 million to build a world-leading quantum computing campus, attracting billions in potential private sector and federal government investment.
• Elimination of the statewide grocery tax.
• $50 million for the state’s first ever child tax credit to help working families with children under 12 who receive earned income tax credits.
• $290 million to Home Illinois to work towards ending homelessness in Illinois.
• Pay increases for Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who work in group homes and Community Care Program (CCP) in-home providers who serve seniors.
• Nearly $3 billion to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the highest-ever investment of its kind in Illinois.
• Increases in funding for safety net hospitals and nursing homes across the state.

Click here and scroll to the bottom for links to the walkdown and the highlights.

* SGOPs…

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran: Pritzker’s budget grossly unfair to Illinois taxpayers

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement on Gov. Pritzker’s signing of the FY 25 Budget:

“In six short years, Gov. Pritzker has raised the cost of state government by over 30 percent and expanded non-citizen spending from a few million dollars per-year to nearly a billion dollars per-year today. The immense cost of Gov. Pritzker’s taxpayer-funded spending spree coupled with President Biden’s refusal to secure our nation’s border, is playing out in the budget signed today. It is grossly unfair for Gov. Pritzker to raise taxes on Illinois families and businesses to pay for the migrant crisis he created.”

* US Rep. Mary Miller had a similar take…

Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the State Budget into law that forces Illinois families to pay more in taxes to foot the bill for the cost of living for illegal aliens. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) released the following statement:

“Governor Pritzker just signed a budget that raises taxes in order to give illegal immigrants $400 million of ‘free’ healthcare and $182 million in handouts, all paid for by hardworking Illinois families.

“Governor Pritzker is forcing you to pay the welfare, education, and healthcare costs of foreign nationals who are not American citizens.

“Joe Biden and JB Pritzker put the American people last in their desperate attempt to appease the radical left by opening our borders to mass illegal immigration, which will bankrupt our state and our nation.”

* Sen. Sims…

Sims: FY 25 budget invests in our communities

CHICAGO – Majority Caucus Appropriations Leader Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor signed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget into law:

“The budget signed today builds upon our strong, smart spending decisions of recent years that have led Illinois to not just one credit upgrade – but nine.

“I am proud of the steps we took to continue Illinois on the right path. We didn’t just look at fiscal outcomes, but prioritized our most vulnerable populations – educating our young people, keeping our communities safe, creating good jobs, and growing our economy.

“Continuing our principled and disciplined approach will keep our fiscal house in order. I am committed to doing the work necessary to ensure that Illinois continues to enact responsible budgets and remains on the path toward fiscal stability, investing in and uplifting marginalized people, all while prioritizing our communities and people who need the most assistance.”

* Arne Duncan at CRED…

Thanks to lawmakers in Springfield, Chicago and Illinois are in a position to lead the nation in addressing gun violence as a public health issue. With their support we are preventing shootings, engaging with people at risk, and guiding them into the legal economy. We are deeply grateful to Governor Pritzker, President Harmon, Speaker Welch and the legislature for their courage and vision in reimagining public safety.

More budget statements have already been posted on our press release live feed, and I’ll post new releases there as they come in.