Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered a reelection year state spending plan, touting record on pandemic, crime and climate.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered a reelection year state spending plan Wednesday, touting his efforts to bring stability to the state’s finances and offering voters a near $1 billion package of temporary tax relief while warning that Republicans vowing to take back Illinois would return the state to budgetary chaos.
The group was seated at wooden desks with decorative old-fashioned feather pens and candles. Some officials in the audience included Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, state police officials, and some legislators, among them House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs. Pritzker’s proposal also would add $500 million to the state’s minimum certified $9.6 billion contribution to its woefully underfunded public employee pension funds. The added funding would reduce the overall long term $130 billion unfunded liability, which dropped by $14 billion due to strong investment returns, by $1.8 billion. Another program allowing pensioners to buy out their benefits will save another $1.4 billion, the administration said.
All told, the administration said it will have paid off $4 billion in debt since taking office, including COVID-related borrowing, a reduction in unpaid bills including state employee health insurance and covering a shortage in the state’s College Illinois pre-paid tuition program. Already, the politically powerful International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 has come out against the gas-tax freeze, contending it would short-circuit a state constitutional guarantee to use highway related taxes for infrastructure repairs. It argues instead for a reduction in the state sales tax on gas, but those revenues go to the state’s general bankbook. Pritzker said an influx of federal infrastructure funds will allow projects to go on without delay.
Republicans have used recent outbreaks of violent crime to attack Pritzker and Democrats, contending their criminal justice reforms have encouraged crime — though many of their initiatives, such as the elimination of cash bail, have yet to take place. Pritzker and other Democratic politicians, such as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, have championed this approach to violence at a time when the nation’s third largest city ended 2021 with more than 4,300 people shot and 800 homicides — the most killings in the city for any year since the 1990s.
In a warning to GOP lawmakers in budget negotiations with the General Assembly’s Democratic majority, Pritzker said: “During this budget cycle especially, seats at the grown-up table will be off limits to those who aren’t working in the public’s best interests.”
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
IL legislature cancels sessions due to snow; Gov. Pritzker will give budget address virtuallyThe Illinois legislature has canceled its sessions this week due to the winter storm warning and Gov. Pritzker will give his budget address virtually.
Consulte Mais informação »
Huge Winter Storm Has Texas Gov. Abbott Singing a Different Tune About Power OutagesThe state is girding up for ice and snow as a 2,000-mile-long winter storm hits this week.
Consulte Mais informação »
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he can't guarantee power one year after freezeThe National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings heeding against icy conditions in multiple Texas counties.
Consulte Mais informação »
Ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo won't be charged by Oswego County district attorneyAn upstate New York prosecutor announced Monday that he will not bring criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo, after investigating an allegation of unwanted physical contact by the former Democratic governor.
Consulte Mais informação »