SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – As Governon JB Pritzker prepares to deliver his annual budget address, Senate Republicans are pushing for greater transparency in state spending, specifically related to programs for asylum seekers and undocumented residents. With Illinois facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit in fiscal year 2026, GOP lawmakers are advocating for budget cuts rather than tax increases to address the shortfall.
Senate Republicans are demanding that the Pritzker administration provide clearer details about how the state has allocated funds to programs supporting asylum seekers, citing a lack of transparency due to executive orders and emergency declarations issued by the governor. Since September 2022, Pritzker has issued 30 emergency declarations in response to the influx of asylum seekers transported from Texas and other southern states to northern Illinois cities.
Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, argued that the emergency declarations have made it difficult for lawmakers to track spending. “We’re unable to do that because of all the workarounds by this administration through executive orders and the state of emergency declarations that are constantly issued,” Curran said at a Capitol news conference.
The emergency declarations have allowed Pritzker to direct funding toward cities like Chicago and its suburbs to support asylum seekers. Despite the criticism, the Illinois comptroller’s office provides data showing that $158.7 million has been spent on asylum seekers since November 2023.
Senate Republicans are adamant that the state should not raise taxes to close the budget gap. Instead, they are calling for an end to the emergency declarations and a more transparent approach to budgeting. “We’re calling on Gov. Pritzker to not increase taxes on Illinois families and businesses and present a transparent plan of how he intends to address the budget hole,” said Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris.
Gov. Pritzker has previously stated that raising taxes would be a “last resort” to address the budget deficit. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have also criticized the Illinois State Board of Education for withholding $50 million allocated for after-school programs, an issue that has frustrated Democratic lawmakers.
As the new fiscal year approaches, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle will be working to find solutions to Illinois’ financial challenges, with a focus on balancing the budget without imposing additional tax burdens on residents.