Kendall County Times

Veteran state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) fumes that Springfield has become its own worst enemy when it comes putting the state back on the right track.

"After more than two months of stay-at-home mandates and staggering loss of tax revenues, our fiscal situation is dire,” Oberweis told the Kendall County Times. “Instead of taking a hard look at spending reductions to get through these tough times, this administration is basing the budget plan on a $5 billion charge card from the federal government that we can access with the hopes of a huge federal windfall to pay that money back.”

Oberweis joins the growing list of GOP lawmakers taking great exception with the $42 billion budget Democrats rammed through the legislature during a recent special gathering that marked the first time lawmakers have convened since the before the COVID-19 outbreak.

As part of the plan, lawmakers granted themselves a $1,800 pay hike at a time when much of the state remains on some level of lock down stemming from the stay-at-home order Gov. J.B. Pritzker first enacted more than two months ago.

“My colleagues and I are trying to change the way things are done in Springfield, but our suggestions are not being considered,” Oberweis added. “We are trying to get rid of the corruption. We are trying to reduce property taxes. We are trying to address our fundamental pension problem that is stealing the future from our children and grandchildren. We are trying to get control of the runaway spending.”

Oberweis said the level of resistance has been at an all-time high, including the governor continuing to push his progressive income tax proposal.

“Unfortunately, this administration’s tax that is central to their spending plan will drive even more of our businesses and tax-paying citizens out of the state,” he said. “And with them will go many good, high-paying jobs, making our situation even worse. That is disgraceful.”