South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) is one of several critics questioning Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement of a less-than-expected budget shortfall for the state.

Emphasizing Illinoisans deserve better, Wilhour said that "Papering over Illinois flaws won’t solve our financial woes. Saying Illinois is in great financial (shape) is like saying Sam Bankman-Fried is a financial genius.”  

“It should come as no surprise that the media is completely uninterested in the nuances of this story," Wilhour said. "Gov. Pritzker has not done one thing to address the underlying structural problems that have brought us to the brink of financial insolvency.” 

Wilhour said that Illinois still has the worst credit rating of all 50 states as well as having some of the highest state and local taxes in the country. He argued that "Even if we wanted to raise taxes, which has been Gov. Pritzker’s goal since Day One of his administration, it still would not solve the deep financial problems we have in Illinois. The public deserves better than what the mainstream media is feeding them on a daily basis.” He also said that the slight increase in Illinois' credit rating "has not resulted in being able to pay less to borrow money." Referencing Bond Buyer, Wilhour underscored that the state is still paying "the highest yield penalty."

“We have not passed one balanced budget in the entire time I have served in the Legislature;" he said. "The only thing propping up our state is the massive amount of federal spending that will soon run out. To say we are fiscally strong is a joke. We have not addressed a long-term fix for pensions and other cost drivers. Where we are headed is unsustainable and unfortunately, nothing is going to change any time soon with the current leadership in Springfield. 

Wilhour’s remarks came after Pritzker’s comments from a Nov. 14 press release saying "Illinois' bills are being paid on time." The governor further said, "we have over $1 billion in our rainy-day fund, our credit ratings are up and we are honoring our commitments to long-term financial liabilities by contributing extra to Illinois' pension systems." 

The press release also said that Pritzker's administration has made tremendous progress "with our partners in the General Assembly, we remain committed to working tirelessly for Illinois taxpayers and responsibly managing the state's finances." 

Pritzker also heralded that his administration has "closed a seemingly insurmountable structural deficit" and has said that he is working on "securing Illinois' long term fiscal stability and providing economic opportunities to its citizens."

Pritzker opponents have said the improved outlook has more to do with one-time COVID funds from the federal government and higher taxes. 

Writing in Wirepoints, Mark Glennon criticized Pritzker’s opinion that his administration should be thanked for a projection showing an improved budget shortfall, the Prairie State Wire reported. 

“Here’s the question that’s key: What has Pritzker or the General Assembly done to improve Illinois’ finances, other than tax increases?” Glennon asked in Wirepoints. “Nothing material. For Pritzker to include the higher estimates in the context of his claim that 'we celebrate the tremendous progress' they have made is unfounded for the simple reason that he has nothing to point to.” 

Others have noted that the projection is based on a budget the state is obscuring. "The people continue to be misled by the state's finances,” Sheila Weinberg of Truth in Accounting told The Center Square. "Can [Illinoisans] knowledgeably participate in their government if they are not being told the truth about their finances?" 

Illinois’ budgets under Pritzker have routinely ignored structural problems. “Instead, it’s a budget that gives billions more to a political class that has proven to be the most corrupt in the nation,” a Wirepoints report said of Pritzker’s 2021 budget. “That will only invite more abuse.”