Prairie State Wire

Kathy Salvi, chair of the Illinois Republican Party, said that Democratic leadership has mismanaged the state budget amid negotiations in Springfield. The statement was made in a press release.

"JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats have driven our state into the ground," said Salvi.

In late May 2025, Illinois lawmakers passed a $55.2 billion state budget just before the General Assembly's deadline, following heated debates in Springfield. According to the State Journal-Register, the plan includes over $1 billion in new revenue through targeted tax increases on sports betting and foreign business income. It also eliminates a $330 million health insurance program for certain non-citizens while retaining a smaller $110 million plan for senior immigrants. The budget faced criticism from Republicans for lacking transparency and cutting critical services like public transit funding.

The State Journal-Register reported that the Illinois fiscal year 2026 budget includes $55.3 billion in projected revenue against $55.2 billion in spending, resulting in a slim $100 million surplus. The spending plan represents a 3.9% increase over the previous year’s expenditures and includes the creation of a new $100 million emergency fund to address potential shortfalls caused by lapsing federal pandemic aid.

Capitol News Illinois reported that Illinois is projected to face a $3.2 billion budget deficit for fiscal year 2026, marking a stark reversal from the $211 million surplus seen in fiscal 2025. The state’s worsening fiscal outlook is tied to increased costs in education, pensions, and healthcare, compounded by the expiration of federal COVID-era funding. Analysts warn that the deficit could grow without additional revenue measures or spending cuts.

According to Ballotpedia and her official bio, Kathy Salvi is a veteran personal injury attorney and partner at Salvi & Maher LLP with decades of experience in litigation and public defense. She earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and previously served as an Assistant Public Defender in Lake County, Illinois. In 2022, Salvi ran as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois but ultimately lost to incumbent Tammy Duckworth.