Illinois Republicans react to budget plan

Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Once Gov. Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside), and Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) sprung their budget news Thursday evening, Republicans reacted.

“As our spending has continued to grow, we’re covering it up with these one-time federal revenues,” said State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), the House Republicans’ chief budget negotiator. “When the tide goes out, we’re going to be left holding the bag.”

“What we’re seeing at the price pump, a lot of that is baked into the sales tax that’s on top,” said Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) “What we’ve proposed doing is capping that at pre-pandemic levels in order to help provide relief.”

Budget votes are expected today, the final day of the spring session.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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