SPRING SESSION CONCLUDES
The Spring Session concluded early Monday morning in Springfield, as Democrats waited until the last minute to push through many important pieces of legislation, including the budget. A last-second attempt to shove through a bill relating to the Chicago Bears and a new stadium did pass the Senate, but the bill was not called for a vote in the House. The process during the final days included rules being waived and suspended time and again by Democrats, meaning bills were passed without any hearings, debates, or conversations and with zero input from the public.
Our citizens deserve better transparency from their government. For a recap of what happened last week, please click on the story links below.
Illinois 2027 Budget: Winners and Losers of $55.9-Billion Spending Plan – Newsweek
STATE BUDGET
Democrats once again passed the largest state budget in Illinois history in the early morning hours Monday. The $55.9 billion budget included $800 million in new taxes and fees. So much for the affordability platform House Democrats were preaching for months, right? Since Governor Pritzker took office eight years ago, state spending has increased by nearly 40 percent. Learn more here.
Read my statement here.
SECOND AMENDMENT
Despite several committee hearings this past spring and lots of chatter, Democrats ended up not pushing through and voting on proposed legislation attacking the Second Amendment and responsible gun owners. Three bills in particular – the RIFL Act (HB 3320), the Ammo Tax (HB 4414), and the Glock Ban (HB 4471) were all under consideration.
We all must remain vigilant going forward, as these bills and others related to them could be up for discussion again in the near future. I want to thank all of the responsible gun owners and advocates who came to Springfield, filed witness slips, or engaged with their representatives on these issues. We must always stand up for our Second Amendment rights!