SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) is sounding the alarm after Governor JB Pritzker signed the largest budget in Illinois history—totaling $55 billion.

“In just six years, Governor Pritzker has grown state spending by nearly 40 percent,” Syverson said. “Ask any Illinois family, has your income gone up 40 percent? Of course not. Yet you’re expected to keep paying for the failures of Democratic leadership.”

While the Governor touts he has passed his seventh balanced budget, Sen. Syverson says that claim doesn’t tell the full story.

“I’m sorry but who couldn’t balance a budget if done with billions in new tax and fee increases on working families and small businesses over the last two years,” Syverson said. “Real leadership is balancing a budget with the revenue you have, which is what working families have to do every day.”

Sen. Syverson says the Governor and his Democrat allies are trying to deflect blame.

“They’re claiming this is somehow President Trump’s fault,” Syverson said. “But it wasn’t Trump who added $1 billion in new spending. It wasn’t Trump who created the nation’s first taxpayer-funded healthcare program for non-citizens. And it wasn’t Trump who proposed a $1.50 tax on your deliveries. If ‘Trump made me do it’ is the best excuse they’ve got, it’s clear we need leaders who take responsibility, not just point fingers.”

Sen. Syverson says the budget also included nearly $1 billion in additional spending, and Democrats attempted to advance several tax hikes targeting working families and small businesses—including a $1.50 tax on every delivery to your doorstep.

“Republicans stood firm and stopped these taxes—for now,” Syverson said. “But make no mistake, Democrats will be back. These proposals are not off the table, and families should be prepared for more attempts to raise costs on everyday necessities.”

“This isn’t relief, it’s a cash grab,” Syverson added. “I will continue to stand against bloated budgets and fight for responsible spending, balanced reform, and policies that put Illinois families first.”