Budget Priorities
House Republicans have laid out our priorities for the new state budget that we will adopt before we adjourn this spring. With hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars currently being spent to care for migrants, budget funding for other programs and services is going to be even harder to come by (more details in the next article). House Republican priorities for this year’s budget include:
✅ No new taxes
✅ Tackle pension debt
✅ Improve state agency efficiency
✅ Fund education
✅ Prioritize services for Illinois citizens
Read more below.
Controversial Immigrant Healthcare Program Running Hundreds of Millions Over Budget
Swirling disputes have confused all parties involved, including health care providers, with respect to two conjoined programs that provide taxpayer-funded health care for undocumented immigrant adults in Illinois. The programs are called “Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults” (HBIA) and “Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors” (HBIS).
These HBIA and HBIS programs have become one of the largest components of the State’s overall budget. $550 million was appropriate for these programs in fiscal year 2024. In testimony to the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) on February 6, an HFS spokesperson confessed that current spending trends lead to anticipated expenditures for these programs at $773 million in FY24. This represents a $223 million cost overrun from the sum appropriated by the General Assembly at the start of the fiscal year.
Panthers in the House
Sen. Tracy and I welcomed to the Capitol members of the Camp Point Central High School Panthers football team – 2023 IHSA Class 1A Champions! I am a proud Camp Point Central alumnus, and last month I won unanimous House approval of HR 3307, congratulating the team and coaching staff on their 2023 championship season! Watch below!
IMA Hits Landmark Anniversary/State Manufacturing Grants Available
130 years ago, during the height of the Industrial Revolution, a small but ambitious group of 7 manufacturers met at the Medinah Temple in Chicago and founded the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association which has grown into the nation’s oldest – and one of the largest – state manufacturing trade associations and the strongest business advocacy organization in Illinois.
Congratulations to IMA members across the state, and to IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler.
In addition, The State of Illinois is partnering with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to launch the Made in Illinois Grant Program to support small and mid-sized manufacturers. Through the program, eligible manufacturers may receive up to $50K in grant funding. Applications are open through the end of March. Read more here.
Around the District
Several Illinois farm families were featured in an ad that aired during the Super Bowl, including the Marr family from Morgan County! Read more about it below!
Illinois family farms to be featured in Super Bowl LVIII commercial (thetelegraph.com)
We Are the 96: Meet Your Local Farmers | Illinois Farm Families (watchusgrow.org)
Happy Birthday to Honest Abe!
On February 12th, 1809, President Abraham Lincoln was born. President Lincoln had a profound effect on his home state of Illinois, and the entire nation, through his work to end slavery in the United States. Happy birthday, Mr. President!