Prairie State Wire

Republican state House candidate Peter Breen can’t see how Democrats can justify standing behind the new $42 billion state budget they sent to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“It’s totally outrageous that Democrats passed this partisan budget that actually hikes spending in the midst of this ongoing pandemic,” Breen told the Prairie State Wire. “They made no account of the fact that people are hurting and they need government to rein in spending in the same way that so many families are having to.”

The budget overwhelmingly embraced by Democrats in both chambers during an emergency pandemic session heavily counts on federal funding to plug holes made deeper by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers in Springfield also approved a measure that allows for the borrowing of up to $5 billion from the federal government, which legislators hope will eventually be repaid with funds allocated from Washington.

“The idea that not only did Illinois Democrats spend billions more than we have but approved pay increases for themselves is beyond maddening,” added Breen, now running against incumbent state Rep. Terra Costa-Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) in the 48th District. “It just leaves you speechless to know that the General Assembly worked four days and believed they are entitled to a pay increase.”

Breen said most DuPage County residents are now of the mindset the session never needed to happen.

“I think looking at the budget that was rammed through on a partisan basis, folks in DuPage County would agree they should have stayed home and saved the state additional damage,” he said.

Breen said the only person he can imagine that got everything he wanted during the session is Pritzker.

“The governor seems ecstatic that the legislature passed a budget with no real oversight on spending and gives him a free hand to direct billions of dollars in whatever way he sees fit,” he said.