CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A top Republican lawmaker in Illinois is concerned that Governor J.B. Pritzker will try to saddle residents with new or higher taxes to balance Illinois' next budget.
Pritzker’s management and budget team has forecast a more than $3 billion shortfall for the coming year, and while Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran admits the governor hasn’t made any budget proposals yet, he said Pritzker has previously used taxes to close a budget gap.
So, what cuts and spending do Curran and his caucus want to see?
“The first step’s going to be full transparency from this administration, a full accounting of where they are spending those dollars,” Curran said. “Once we get to that, we have to focus on the core services that state government must provide.”
He said, for example, that there should be more money to help the people with developmental disabilities and less money spent on free health care for undocumented immigrants.
The governor’s office has said the Republicans are welcome at the coming budget negotiations.
On another matter, Curran criticized Pritzker for suggesting he will try to make Illinois “Trump proof” as the former President returns to the White House.
Curran’s comments came after Pritzker and top staffers have said they are considering what legal moves they might make to preserve reproductive rights, among others, in light of Donald Trump becoming President again.
“'You come for my people, you come through me,” Pritzker said following the election.'
Curran, though, doesn’t think that’s wise. He said he doesn't see how it can be good for Illinois to go into fight mode against the Administration at the very start. He’d rather see Illinois officials first see if and how they can work with the new White House.
Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran is the guest on this weekend’s episode of “At Issue,” which airs every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
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