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Governor Pritzker is Making Life Too Damn Expensive. 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.
In his latest proposal, Governor Pritzker continues to squeeze working families and drive up the cost of living:
o A $56 billion budget, the largest in state history and $1 billion more than last year’s massive spending plan
o $728 million in new taxes, fees, and revenue increases on Illinois families
o A proposed $60 million cut to the Local Government Distributive Fund which will drive up property taxes
And this budget builds on a record of higher spending and higher taxes. Under Governor Pritzker:
o State spending has increased by $16 billion since he took office
o Illinois now collects $1,434 more per resident in taxes than before he became governor
o Compared to 2019, the state is taking in $18 billion more from taxpayers
o He has enacted at least 49 taxes and fee hikes since 2019
It does not stop there. In just the past two weeks, House Democrats have introduced new proposals that would further nickel and dime families, including:
o A new fee on campfires for families trying to enjoy outdoor recreation
o A carryout bag tax that would start at 10 cents and climb to 25 cents per bag by 2030, including on reusable bags
House Republicans have continued to fight for affordability across Illinois, filing multiple bills to address the issue. These include Rep. Ugaste’s HB 9 to provide property tax relief and Rep. Spain’s HB 1383, which would allow taxpayers to deduct tip income from their state taxable income, reducing the state tax burden on tips.
So while Governor Pritzker can blame Washington or anyone else he chooses, the reality is simple: affordability starts in Springfield.
· What Governor Pritzker Really Loves
During his budget address last week, Governor Pritzker made “love” a central theme. He said he loves Illinois. But hardworking families know what his record really shows: a love of higher taxes, more spending, and policies that are making our state less safe and less affordable.
Just look at his record.
Governor Pritzker LOVES reckless spending and high taxes
o Governor Pritzker is proposing another record budget of $56 billion, which is $1 billion more than last year
o His proposal includes $728 million in new taxes and revenue increases, further worsening Illinois’ affordability crisis
o State spending has increased by $16 billion since Governor Pritzker took office
o Illinois is taking $1,434 more in taxes from each resident than before Governor Pritzker took office
o Compared to 2019, the state is collecting $18 billion more from taxpayers
Governor Pritzker LOVES allowing dangerous criminals to roam free
Governor Pritzker has claimed that the SAFE-T Act is highly effective, but dangerous repeat offenders continue to wreak havoc across Illinois.
o A woman was set on fire on a CTA Blue Line train by a repeat offender who was out on electronic monitoring
o A man was assaulted and pushed onto the tracks of a CTA Blue Line train by an individual with seven prior felony convictions
o A Joliet man was found with narcotics and firearms in a residence while he currently has nine open criminal cases in Will County court
Governor Pritzker LOVES putting illegal immigrants ahead of Illinois taxpayers
o Illinois has spent roughly $2.5 billion on services for illegal immigrants
o Benefits have included free healthcare, driver’s licenses, and taxpayer-funded college aid
o The Governor is now proposing an additional $110 million for healthcare for illegal immigrant seniors
So while Governor Pritzker talks about love, House Republicans see the reality: higher taxes, out-of-control spending, and policies that are failing Illinois families.
House Republicans are focused on real solutions to make Illinois more affordable, safer, and accountable. That includes efforts like Rep. Ryan Spain’s HB 1383 to provide tax relief on tipped income, along with multiple proposals to fix the SAFE-T Act and restore public safety.
· Taxer-in-Chief Pritzker’s concern for Indiana taxpayers ignores Illinois families he’s taxed to the max
With the Chicago Bears eyeing a possible move to Indiana, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker weighed in about his concern for the cost to Indiana taxpayers.
Missing from Pritzker’s comments was any concern for the Illinois families paying the billions of dollars in tax hikes imposed on them during Pritzker’s time in office.
State Representative Norine Hammond criticized Pritzker’s newfound concern for the taxpayers of neighboring Indiana and highlighted Pritzker’s tax-and-spend record in Illinois.
“Taxer-in-Chief Pritzker’s sudden concern for Indiana taxpayers ignores the hardworking Illinois families that he has taxed to the max,” Rep. Hammond said. “For seven years now, Illinois families have absorbed billions in tax and fee hikes thanks to JB Pritzker. Where was the urgency then? The Governor doesn’t get to warn about tax hikes in another state while ignoring the massive tax hikes he’s imposed here at home.”
Governor JB Pritzker’s terrible record on taxes and affordability speaks for itself:
o Proposed and personally funded the failed 2020 graduated income tax scheme
o Raised taxes and spending by $16 billion, a 40% increase on Pritzker’s watch
o Doubled the gas tax and tied future increases to inflation
o Approved an $8 billion energy rate hike to subsidize a green energy giveaway
o Signed off on a mass transit bailout for Chicago that swept nearly $500 million/year from Downstate road funds, allowed toll hikes and higher sales taxes, at a cost of $2.5 billion.
“Illinois keeps losing businesses, residents, and opportunity because Governor Pritzker keeps making Illinois more and more unaffordable,” added Hammond. “I will continue to advocate for real solutions that address affordability by reining in out-of-control government spending, cutting taxes for working families and seniors, and opposing Pritzker’s tax hikes. Illinois families deserve real relief, not another bill to pay.”
CHICAGO BEARS
Indiana passes Bears stadium bill while Illinois crawls forward. The state of Indiana has enacted what could be a groundbreaking infrastructure bill to enable the Chicago Bears to move from Soldier Field to Hammond, Indiana. Senate Bill 27, which was signed into law this week, creates a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to potentially host the Bears. The Authority would collect tax money and contributions from a defined territory within Northwest Indiana, build and own the stadium, and grant a long-term lease to the NFL football franchise on terms that would be highly favorable to the Bears and their ownership.
The Indiana law parallels many features of the stadium authorities currently in operation in Kansas for the Kansas City Chiefs and in Tennessee for the Tennessee Titans. In both states, public authorities are deeply engaged in the planning and construction of state-of-the-art NFL football stadiums that are meant to be profitably enjoyed by team owners.
While Indiana moved forward this week, action in Illinois to retain the Chicago Bears crawled along. In a lengthy and sometimes contentious debate in the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee, lawmakers considered legislation that could potentially be used to build a new football stadium in Illinois. However, many Illinois Democrat lawmakers – whose votes would be necessary to pass the bill – expressed continued feelings of resentment about the use of Illinois law to provide property tax breaks to a privately-owned NFL team, the prospect of moving the team out of Chicago’s historic Soldier Field, and the alleged lack of respect shown by the Bears to various constituencies. In sharp contrast to successful legislative action in Indiana, the Bears-in-Illinois bill did not advance to a floor vote in the Illinois House this week.
· Rep. Ugaste: While We Want the Bears to Stay, We Must Provide Property Tax Relief for All Illinoisans!
Earlier this week, Representative Dan Ugaste addressed the problem the Bears are facing, as well as the crippling property tax burden the hard-working residents of our state face. And while the Governor and Democrat leaders continue to meet with the Bears to keep them from moving to Indiana, where is the meeting for homeowners and business owners in Illinois?
Property tax relief and reforms must be for all, and we must not pass up the opportunity to address this issue now!
CORRUPTION
Former ComEd executive sentenced to probation in Madigan corruption case. Ties between convicted ex-Speaker Michael J. Madigan, ComEd, and the Madigan insiders who took ComEd bribes upon instructions from the Madigan machine, were at the heart of the former Illinois political kingpin’s trial, conviction, and sentencing in 2025. A key witness in the case, Fidel Marquez, has been sentenced to two years’ probation for his participation in the wrongdoing. The probation sentence was related to Marquez’s agreement to wear a wire.
As ComEd’s chief governmental affairs executive, Marquez had been a facilitator of do-nothing ComEd contracts. In these arrangements, Madigan and his inner circle would recommend specific names to ComEd, and ComEd would then contact these people and offer them contracts as ‘coordinators’ and ‘developers.’ It was understood by all parties that no work would be carried out in return for these ComEd payments. When the Madigan case went to the jury, the panel found that ComEd had carried out a massive conspiracy to bribe Madigan. In return for these bribes, the powerful Speaker facilitated the enactment and passage of ComEd-friendly legislation in Springfield.
As this conspiracy went into full operation, the FBI was beginning a program of wiretaps. Defendant Marquez was one of the targets. In January 2019, the FBI confronted Marquez with the wiretapped evidence gathered so far and asked him to switch sides and start wearing a wire, which Marquez did. The evidence gathered by Marquez played a role in the trials of Madigan, chief Madigan ally Mike McClain, and other political figures. As part of Marquez’s testimony and participation, prosecutors agreed to the probation sentence. Sentence on Marquez, which also included a $50,000 fine for his overall participation in the bribery scheme, was passed on Thursday, February 19.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New Illinois Auditor General appointed. The Illinois Constitution directs the General Assembly to provide by law for the audit of the obligation, receipt and use of public funds of the State. The Illinois Auditor General shall conduct the audit of public funds of the State. The Auditor General shall make additional reports and investigations as directed by the General Assembly. The office is meant to be bipartisan. Auditor Generals are elected by a three-fifths majority of both houses of the General Assembly. In order to separate them from the two-year political election cycle, they are given ten-year terms.
After ten years (2016-2026), longtime Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino expressed the desire to step down. The Legislative Audit Commission, a bipartisan panel of the General Assembly, interviewed candidates for the position. Upon the Commission’s recommendation, the Illinois House and Senate voted to appoint Chris Meister, the executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), to be the new Illinois Auditor General. The House vote was 97-1-0 and the appointment was completed on Wednesday, February 25.
JOBS
House Republicans Emphasize Need for Pro-Growth, Pro-Business Policies in Illinois. State Representative Brandun Schweizer joined colleagues State Representatives Dan Ugaste and Joe Sosnowski for a Capitol news conference this week to discuss the need for pro-growth, pro-business policies in Illinois, amid record-high business closures and businesses moving out of the state.
“Over the past several years, we have watched too many businesses in our region shut their doors or scale back operations, businesses that employed our friends, neighbors, and generations of family members,” said Schweizer. “These are not just statistics; these are paychecks, and these are livelihoods. Where I live in Vermilion County, we have seen more than 700 jobs be impacted due to businesses closing or leaving Illinois, but the loss of jobs and businesses is not just a local issue.”
“Business owners across Illinois are being squeezed by rising costs, high taxes, increasing mandates, mounting fees, and long-term regulatory uncertainty. They’re not asking for special treatment, they’re asking for stability and predictability.”
To help restore Illinois’ competitiveness, Rep. Schweizer filed two pieces of legislation:
o HB 5526, which phases out the corporate franchise tax beginning in 2027, eliminating an outdated and burdensome tax that discourages investment.
o HB 5527, which strengthens Illinois’ research and development tax credit, increasing incentives for businesses that innovate and expand here at home.
“If we want investment, we must create an environment that rewards it,” continued Rep. Schweizer. “Our current path of increasing costs and layering mandates on job creators is not reversing our economic challenges, stabilizing our business climate, or helping the communities we serve. Illinois has the workforce, the location, and potential, but we must choose policies that compete, not constrain.”
Schweizer says affordability is not a slogan.
“Affordability means whether family-owned businesses can survive, manufacturers can expand, or entrepreneurs decide to invest in Illinois or somewhere else,” Schweizer said. “When businesses leave, jobs leave. When jobs leave, families leave. And when families leave, communities suffer. It’s time to restore Illinois’ competitiveness and put our state back on a path to sustainable growth.”
· AbbVie building new production facilities in North Chicago
Illinois-based pharmaceutical giant AbbVie announced their intent this week to invest $380 million to construct two new production-line facilities adjacent to their already-under-development management facility in North Chicago.
The AbbVie announcement followed disclosure of the firm’s agreement with the Trump Administration to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing within the United States. This agreement followed years of industry “offshoring” in which more and more of the production of U.S-branded and FDA-approved pharmaceuticals were moved to non-U.S. factories. In some cases, these non-U.S. factories make generic drugs that compete directly with the labeled pharmaceuticals that represent U.S. intellectual properties. The Trump administration has taken steps to move against deals of these sorts.
The new AbbVie North Chicago factories are expected to support approximately 300 good-paying production and production-related jobs. The facilities are expected to be fully operational in 2029. The construction announcement was made on Monday, February 23.
· Pending layoffs for more than 2,000 Illinois workers
Under Illinois law, large employers are required to give 90 days’ notice to their employees of pending layoffs related to plant closures or permanent cutbacks. These are notices granted to workers under the terms of the State’s WARN Act. The January 2026 cycle of WARN Act notices shows that more than 2,000 Illinois workers are scheduled to lose large-workplace jobs. Most of these permanent layoffs will be carried out in April 2026, 90 days after notice was given.
The largest segment of laid-off workers will come from ten Amazon Fresh supermarkets located in suburban Chicagoland. The closures will affect the jobs of 1,545 Illinois workers in April 2026. All the currently operating Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores will close nationwide, with Amazon consolidating its brick-and-mortar grocery retail activity into its Whole Foods unit. Other Illinois layoff notices were included in the January WARN Act cycle by Founders Insurance, GXO Logistics, Kroger, and T-Mobile.
LOCAL CONTROL OF ZONING
Rep. McLaughlin Hosts Press Conference with Northwest Suburban Mayors to Oppose Governor’s Housing Proposal. Rep. Martin McLaughlin hosted a press conference with local mayors from the Barrington area Thursday to voice strong opposition to the Governor’s latest housing proposal, citing concerns over local control and the protection of community character.
McLaughlin was joined by municipal leaders who expressed concern that Pritzker’s proposal would override long-standing local zoning authority and impose a one-size-fits-all mandate on communities across Illinois.
“This proposal from the governor is a one size fits all solution that doesn’t solve affordability. What it does do is it violates zoning, which is a sacrosanct rule to protect all homeowners, businesses, and families,” McLaughlin said. “The communities that we live in need to be protected, and the communities where this type of development fits are usually along busy rail lines and other high-density corridors. The Barrington region is more rural, with farms, and has been that way intentionally. Zoning isn’t exclusionary. The zoning is to protect the real nature of the community from 100 years ago, and so it will be protected for those to enjoy it 100 years from now.”
McLaughlin emphasized that local leaders, not state government, are best positioned to determine what types of development fit their communities. He warned that sweeping mandates from Springfield could undermine property values, disrupt infrastructure planning, and permanently alter the character of long-established neighborhoods.
“Our local officials understand the unique needs of their towns,” McLaughlin added. “We must protect local decision-making and ensure that any efforts to address housing affordability respect the diversity of communities across Illinois.”