Quincy Reporter

After the 2023 Fiscal Year budget passed in the early hours of April 9, Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) took to social media and her website to express her displeasure.

“Republican legislative leaders have for months offered plans that would have provided more permanent tax relief for taxpayers, not just election-year temporary tax relief gimmicks; however, Democrat budgeteers did not include any of those ideas in their $46.5 billion spending plan,” Tracy posted.

Besides sending out checks directly to the taxpayers, the Democratic response to rising prices also involves tax breaks on groceries, real estate levies, and gas. But the breaks are temporary. “We are offering real tax relief, permanent tax relief, tax relief that does not involve raiding other state funds. They are offering temporary relief, which is rather ironic,” Tracy said.

“Last year at the end of Spring Session, I stood with several of my colleagues expressing concern that money was being diverted from job-creating programs at a time when Illinoisans need them the most," Tracy said. "Our fiscal analysis had revealed an additional $16 billion in unanticipated tax revenues, so there was no need for tax hikes, budget cuts or a cut in job incentives. We asked, ‘Where does it end? When is it enough?’ We could easily ask those questions again this year.”

The $46.5 billion budget was approved by the House of Representatives on April 9 before 6 a.m., according to the Chicago Tribune. The budget also proposes a permanent tax credit expansion for moderate- and low-income taxpayers.

 “Illinois has been flooded with billions in relief money from the federal government, but so much of that had been squandered. It would be nice to know where it was spent,” Tracy said.