### Illinois House Passes $55 Billion Budget Amid Controversy

SPRINGFIELD - In a late-night session, Illinois Democratic lawmakers successfully passed a $55.2 billion budget just before the midnight deadline. The budget was balanced through a mixture of spending cuts and a hefty $800 million in new tax increases, targeting tobacco products, vaping, and online sportsbooks. Governor JB Pritzker lauded the budget, marking it as his seventh consecutive balanced budget aimed at stabilizing the state’s finances.

Democrats rushed to approve the budget before the June 1 deadline, after which a three-fifths majority would have been required for passage. The House passed the spending portion of the budget with a 75-41 vote. Notably, Democrats Larry Walsh of Elwood and Stephanie Kifowit of Aurora sided with Republicans in opposition. The Senate approved the measure by a 34-23 vote, narrowly meeting the requirements before the midnight cutoff.

The agreed budget included $400 million in spending cuts, with $193 million slashed from state agencies' operational budgets. House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel of Evanston emphasized that these reductions were strategic, primarily driven by uncertainties regarding federal funding under the Trump administration. “These are strategic efficiencies so we can invest in the needs of our working families and seniors on fixed incomes,” Gabel stated.

However, the budget did not address the $771 million shortfall faced by Chicago-area mass transit systems or the proposals concerning the Chicago Bears' potential stadium relocation. Some Democrats expressed their dissatisfaction with parts of the budget, such as the elimination of a Medicaid-style program for noncitizens aged 42 through 64. Rep. Dagmara Avelar of Bolingbrook, though supporting the budget, admitted it was "not a perfect budget" and highlighted the painful cuts involved.

Republicans criticized the budget, labeling it excessive and fiscally irresponsible. GOP Rep. William Hauter of Morton described the Democrats' budget as wasteful, accusing them of mishandling billions of dollars. GOP Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet pointed to a pattern of financial mismanagement, criticizing the $15 billion increase in the budget over six years.

Senate Republican leader John Curran of Downers Grove criticized Democrats for what he termed a lack of transparency, pushing through significant tax increases without ample time for review. Despite these criticisms, Democratic Sen. Elgie Sims defended the budget as a reflection of fiscal responsibility and forward-thinking priorities.

In the end, the budget incorporated several one-time revenue measures, such as an amnesty for delinquent tax filers, and featured increased taxes on tobacco products and nicotine alternatives, effective from July. These taxes are expected to support health initiatives and the state’s Medicaid program. Governor Pritzker praised the budget for supporting working families while criticizing the lingering influence of former President Trump and Congressional Republicans on the national economy.