* I figured there’d be more of these over three years, but it is kinda funny that two Illinois Freedom Caucus members (Miller and Niemerg) celebrating the distribution of government money. From the Democratic Party of Illinois…
Illinois House and Senate Republicans attempted to block legislation that brought jobs, new businesses, and COVID-19 relief funding to their own districts. Representatives Chris Miller (IL-101), Steve Reick (IL-63), Adam Niemerg (IL-102) and Senator Chapin Rose (IL-51) and Seth Lewis (IL-24) have collectively taken credit for a combined $90.1 million in economic development funding for their districts, despite voting against or refusing to vote for legislation that provided the funding.
“These legislators are lying to their constituents,” said Democratic Party of Illinois spokesperson Gwen Pepin. “As they brag about economic development wins, voters and business leaders should know they refused to stand for every single one of these investments. While Democrats delivered for their communities, Republicans stood in the way.”
Here’s the ILGOP’s record of taking credit for legislation that supported new businesses, jobs, and economic growth, even though they tried to block it:
- In June 2026, Representative Chris Miller celebrated the groundbreaking of Rural King’s Store Support Center Campus, a $75 million investment through Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy program, despite refusing to vote for legislation that expanded the program.
- In April 2026, Senator Chapin Rose took credit for a $2.2 million grant for a new industrial park through Illinois’ Regional Site Readiness Program, despite voting against funding it.
- In October 2025, Representative Steve Reick touted a $10 million IDOT grant for economically-distressed communities, despite voting against the program.
- In September 2023, Senator Seth Lewis highlighted nearly $3 million in Back to Business grants for restaurants and hotels in his district, despite voting against funds for COVID-19 recovery.
- In August 2023, Representative Adam Niemerg celebrated a company in his district receiving a $37,000 employer training investment program grant, despite voting against funding it.
[Many thanks to Isabel for formatting this post.]
- Annon'in - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 1:23 pm:
We think Sleepy McClure is taking credit for $ for New Salem despite casting the BIG N. He will probably do same with the downtown state $$$ rescue plan if it ever passes — while trashing Rep. Coffey. And GOPies wonder why their ranks slide backwards.
- TNR - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
Glad to see someone is keeping track of this and calling them out. Long overdue.
- Cordelia Goode - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 1:31 pm:
That is what they do. They are great at following their leader in DC.
- Bob - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 1:53 pm:
Because its so unrealistic that they can support a line item in an overall budget they disagree with. “I’m going to vote for this $2 million grant and stomach the other $55.98 billion in bloated spending.”
Dumb.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 1:59 pm:
===I’m going to vote for this $2 million grant and stomach the other $55.98 billion in bloated spending===
What a goofy thing to say. There are lots of wins for every district in state budgets. Nobody agrees with the whole thing.
Talk about dumb.
- Eastside - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:10 pm:
“What a goofy thing to say. There are lots of wins for every district in state budgets. Nobody agrees with the whole thing.”
I guess by that logic every budget vote should be unanimous. Wonder why Turner votes against it every year.
- Illiana - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
=Annon’in=
I’m not normally a huge fan of McClure, but I think him taking some credit for the New Salem funding is fair. He held a press conference bringing attention to the issues there and called to fund the repairs through the Capital bill, which he voted for, filed a standalone bill to do it, and then two weeks after that press conference, IDNR announced the funding.
- Southern Dude - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:24 pm:
=== What a goofy thing to say. There are lots of wins for every district in state budgets. Nobody agrees with the whole thing. ===
Kind of hard to vote for a budget when you don’t get to see what is in it until the last minute.
- Save Ferris - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
“Kind of hard to vote for a budget when you don’t get to see what is in it until the last minute.”
Fundraising does take time away from doing your government paid job.
- Probably should retire soon - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
“What a goofy thing to say. There are lots of wins for every district in state budgets. Nobody agrees with the whole thing.
Talk about dumb.”
Kind of like a deep red seat supporting Ammons kickback scheme, or immigrant healthcare, right Rich?
- Southern Dude - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:34 pm:
“Fundraising does take time away from doing your government paid job.”
I’m sure he was doing some heavy fundraising in the middle of the night when the details were released.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:53 pm:
===Kind of hard to vote for a budget when===
Another victim.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:54 pm:
Also, if you have things in the budget, you can easily find them before you vote.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
=== Kind of hard to vote for a budget when you don’t get to see what is in it until the last minute. ===
The general outline is known way before then. It’s always the controversial items that get negotiated at the last minute. Since the MAGA members will vote “no” anyway, there’s no need to involve them on those decisions.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 3:17 pm:
==I guess by that logic every budget vote should be unanimous.==
Yeah, that’s exactly what he said. /s/
I don’t have a problem with people voting against the budget. Fine. Whatever. But then do go on and tout items in a budget that you voted against as if you had something to do with getting the money.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 3:45 pm:
===I guess by that logic every budget vote should be unanimous===
Stop arguing like a child here.
- Same as it ever was - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 3:46 pm:
Most interesting piece here is that IDP called it out. Otherwise, this is par for the course.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 16, 26 @ 3:47 pm:
…and I say all this as someone who has publicly said this year’s budget was a mess.
- James - Friday, Jul 17, 26 @ 9:53 am:
Republicans have been gerrymandered into hyper red districts, therefore the budget is an annual trick bag for republicans. Vote for it, and your right flank will attack you for supporting all sorts of left wing budget priorities. Vote against it, and you are often voting against funding for your own district. Voters don’t do nuance, so the expedient thing to do is vote No. It’s easier to explain, and has less political peril involved.