Kankakee Times

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is aware that Illinois is in a tough spot financially, and recognizes that some of this is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but “some of it is due to the severely unbalanced budget that the governor has put forward last year that we are living through.”

“I think Gov. Pritzker's proposal was reckless,” he said after hearing the governor’s budget address.

While the budget presentation states that there is a “balanced approach that holds the line on spending, helping to bend the cost curve of government,” Barickman argues it isn’t.

“It's unbalanced to the tune of nearly $2 billion, it relies on things that we've seen in the past, gimmicks, smoke and mirrors, and tax increases that are going to put some of our most struggling business owners, unfortunately, out of work.”

Barickman wants many unemployed Illinoisans to get back to work again and said he needs to work with people to make this happen.

“The reality is Illinois needs leadership and we need that now. So, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle through this spring legislative session as we try to come together on a balanced budget.”