Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed the state’s $50.6 billion budget, which includes pay raises for state lawmakers, health care for undocumented migrants, and new taxpayer-funded programs for education.
Pritzker was in Chicago alongside city officials and other state lawmakers to sign the state’s fiscal 2024 budget. The investments in the most expensive budget in state history include $200 million extra for pension payments, $250 million to fund the first year of Smart Start Illinois, which seeks to end childcare deserts, and another $80 million in state funds that will go toward affordable housing.
According to Pritzker, the budget is another step in undoing the work of previous governors.
“From the beginning, I promised to work together with the General Assembly to restore fiscal responsibility to our state government after years of mismanagement,” Pritzker said. “Thanks to our firmer fiscal foundation, we have been able to put billions of dollars back into the pockets of Illinois taxpayers while investing in our future.”
National studies rank Illinois has having among the highest local and state tax burdens in the country.
Another provision in the budget that has received pushback from some Republican lawmakers provides undocumented migrants with health care that was part of a larger medical omnibus bill that makes changes to the state’s Medicaid system.
A recent audit estimated that the subsidies for migrant health care could cost taxpayers more than $1 billion. State Rep. Mike Marron, R-Fithian, said Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers do not have their priorities straight regarding what the state needs.
“I think the amount of money that the Democrats have understated fairly significantly is going to undocumented immigrants,” Marron told The Center Square. “I think it’s a problem. I think they have mixed up priorities.”
Pritzker claims that this change will save the state money.
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