Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Freedom Caucus has expressed its opposition to the recently passed state budget, labeling it a "generational curse" on taxpayers. The group accused Democrats of approving the budget at midnight for their own financial benefit.

In early June, Illinois Democrats approved a $55.2 billion budget late on a Saturday night, which left "almost no time for review" before its passage. This move drew criticism for secrecy and haste, particularly from Republicans who cited transparency concerns. According to My Journal Courier, the budget was advanced with minimal public input and included over $1 billion in new taxes on items such as sports betting, nicotine, and out-of-state income. GOP members like Rep. John Cabello accused the majority of hiding budget details until it was too late, saying, "We're rushing this process like we always do."

The fiscal year 2026 budget represents a 3.9 percent increase over the previous year's spending and is funded by approximately $55.3 billion in total revenue. This includes just over $1 billion sourced from new or expanded taxes. These revenue increases are largely attributed to expanded taxation on sports betting, nicotine products, and foreign business income. Republicans have highlighted this as disproportionate and unexpected taxation of citizens and businesses.

Illinois is known for having one of the highest combined state and local tax burdens in the nation. WalletHub's 2025 study ranks it among the top states with an average tax payment of $12,270 per household, representing roughly 16.58 percent of income. The state's high taxation has been cited as a key factor behind taxpayer discontent and domestic out-migration.

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is a coalition of seven conservative Republican legislators in the Illinois House led by State Rep. Chris Miller. They advocate for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and transparent legislative procedures. Closely aligned with the national House Freedom Caucus and affiliated State Freedom Caucus Network, they aim to influence state policy to reflect staunch conservative principles.