State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) issued the following statement following Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Budget Address, which was delivered on February 19.

“The facts are these: the Governor is proposing to increase state government spending by over $2 billion. Even more disconcerting is that two-thirds of this substantial increase is based upon the Governor’s tax increase plan, which has yet to be approved by the state’s voters. But perhaps most troubling, the Governor has done that for which he once criticized his predecessor – holding schools, infrastructure spending and small-business owners budgetarily hostage by proposing that if his tax increase plan is not approved, school funding, transportation and tax refunds will be reduced,” said Sen. Righter. “I look forward to what I hope will be the Democratic majority’s rejection of this tactic so that we can set aside the Governor’s plan and go to work on a budget that is actually balanced and funds our priorities.”