During his budget address last week, Governor Pritzker declared that everything is “too damned expensive.” On that point, Republicans agree. But the Governor failed to take accountability for his role in making Illinois less affordable, and his proposed budget makes clear that more of the same is on the way. 

AFFORDABILITY/BUDGET
Pritzker’s Budget Blame Game Won’t Make Life More Affordable for Illinois Families. Governor JB Pritzker delivered his annual Budget/State of the State Address Wednesday to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Governor Pritzker’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget is a record-high $56 billion, nearly a billion dollars more than last year’s enacted budget. Pritzker’s spending plan relies on $728 million in new revenue, including new taxes on social media platforms and higher gaming taxes. 

After seven years in office, Illinois families are still being squeezed by high taxes, rising crime, and a governor who governs with arrogance instead of accountability. Governor JB Pritzker promised stability and progress, but his tenure has delivered bigger government, higher costs, and policies that continue to fail the people of Illinois.

Illinois deserves an honest accounting of where we are and how we got here. Governor Pritzker’s record speaks for itself. Below are just a few examples of how his leadership has failed Illinois: 

AFFORDABILITY/TAXES
House Republicans Discuss Democrat Tax Hikes and Affordability for Illinois Families. House Republican State Representatives Dave Severin and Kyle Moore held a Zoom press conference on Wednesday to alert Illinois taxpayers about two pending legislative proposals that would increase taxes on campfires and grocery bags. 

With the 2026 tax season upon us, the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), have both announced they began accepting and processing 2025 tax returns beginning on Monday, January 26th.

In Illinois, taxpayers may use MyTax Illinois, a free online management program offered by the state for those filing state taxes. The software is open to individuals and businesses, utilized by IDOR, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC). MyTax Illinois also allows taxpayers to make payments, respond to department inquiries, and check the status of returns with the Where’s My Refund? site.

Democratic State Representative Laura Faver Dias has filed a bill to bring back the Democrats’ proposed bag tax, just another example of their push to raise the cost of living on Illinois families.

As more legislation is introduced, it’s becoming clear that Democrats’ agenda for the 2026 session is to make everyday life even more expensive. Under Faver Dias’s proposal, a new carryout bag tax would be imposed and then increased by five cents each year through 2030. The tax would apply to paper, plastic, and even reusable bags. 

AFFORDABILITY
Democrats Want to Tax Your Campfires. When it comes to staying warm and enjoying time outdoors, Illinois House Democrats seem determined to make it as expensive as possible. First came their massive energy rate hike last fall. Now, Representative Murri Briel and House Democrats are proposing legislation that would allow municipalities to charge a fee just for lighting a campfire.

House Bill 4459 would open the door for local governments to impose a $5 charge on open burns, including campfires. For families, campers, and anyone simply trying to enjoy the outdoors, this is effectively another tax on everyday life. 

When it comes to staying warm and enjoying time outdoors, Illinois House Democrats seem determined to make it as expensive as possible. First came their massive energy rate hike last fall. Now, Representative Murri Briel and House Democrats are proposing legislation that would allow municipalities to charge a fee just for lighting a campfire. 

House Bill 4459 would open the door for local governments to impose a $5 charge on open burns, including campfires. For families, campers, and anyone simply trying to enjoy the outdoors, this is effectively another tax on everyday life. 

AFFORDABILITY
How Much Longer Will Governor Pritzker Lie About His Record On Affordability? This week on the I’ve Had It podcast, Governor JB Pritzker once again claimed he is fighting to lower taxes for working and middle-class families. Illinois families know that claim simply does not match reality.

Just last year, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly passed the largest budget in state history, totaling more than $55 billion and including roughly $700 million in new taxes. 

This week on the I’ve Had It podcast, Governor JB Pritzker once again claimed he is fighting to lower taxes for working and middle-class families. Illinois families know that claim simply does not match reality.

Just last year, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly passed the largest budget in state history, totaling more than $55 billion and including roughly $700 million in new taxes. 

After promising to return to Springfield to work for their districts and address affordability, House Democrats spent the first week of session doing anything but.

On the opening day of session, Democrats were in the chamber for less than 30 minutes. The following day was consumed almost entirely by politically motivated resolutions attacking federal law enforcement, resolutions that did nothing to lower costs for Illinois families, or address the affordability crisis Democrats themselves created. 

AFFORDABILITY
House Republicans Prioritize Affordability for Illinois Families. As legislative session resumed in the Illinois House this week, House Republican lawmakers held a press conference in the Capitol to talk about their session priorities. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie stood beside Assistant Leader Amy Elik and State Representative Joe Sosnowski to talk about delivering affordability to Illinois families.

“House Republicans have long focused on reining in spending, providing real tax relief for hardworking families, and creating opportunities for growth,” said Leader McCombie. “What is new is hearing House Democrats suddenly embrace the word ‘affordability.’ Here’s the problem: you can’t have affordability without accountability.” 

During remarks earlier this month at the City Club of Chicago, Speaker Welch claimed that Democrats are working to bring down the cost of living. That statement is difficult to square with reality, given how much Democratic policies have increased costs for Illinois families over just the past year.

Since May of last year alone, Democrats have driven up the cost of living through a series of tax hikes and expensive policy decisions. 

AFFORDABILITY
Republicans Will Continue to Expose and Oppose Bad Policy. As lawmakers in the Illinois House prepare to return to legislative session next week, Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has set expectations as to where her caucus’ priorities will be when the House convenes on January 20th.

At a recent City Club of Chicago event, Speaker of the House Emmanuel “Chris” Welch said the legislature is focused on “bringing down the cost of living,” and suggested that meeting the everyday needs of Illinoisans takes precedence over requests for new high-profile projects like a Bears stadium. 

ENERGY
Pritzker signs CRGA energy bill, costing consumers billions in higher energy rates. Governor JB Pritzker signed a controversial battery storage and energy omnibus bill into law Thursday. Senate Bill 25, also known as CRGA, is another example of flawed green energy policies that Illinois ratepayers are already all too familiar with.

Pritzker’s signing of SB 25 comes on the heels of a study released last month by three state agencies that detailed the ‘credible risk’ of electricity shortages across Illinois within the next five years.