Quad Cities and Illinois political, business and nonprofit leaders were quick to share their views about Gov. JB Pritzker’s $53.9 billion Fiscal Year 2026 state spending plan.
The Democratic governor delivered his proposed budget and seventh State of the State address Wednesday, Feb. 19, to the Illinois General Assembly. Among those commenting were:
Illinois state Sen. Mike Halpin
“Illinois is moving ahead with a balanced budget, but we need to remain vigilant. Fiscal responsibility must be emphasized, and we must make clear that the Rock Island region’s needs are as important as any other part of Illinois,” the Rock Island Democratic lawmaker said.
“This budget year I will fight to protect and enhance higher education funding. We must also create incentives for affordable middle class housing in order to ease the financial burden on Illinois families. Protecting pensions remains a top priority of mine and I will also continue to support additional funding for K-12 schools.”
Mr. Halpin also said he was encouraged by Mr. Pritzker’s continued commitment to the state’s Monetary Awards Program, or MAP, grants, the state’s pension obligation, and shoring up Illinois rainy day funds.
“With uncertainty and funding cuts coming from the federal government, Illinois cannot cut corners on essential programs for our most vulnerable,” he added. “We must ensure Illinois remains a pillar of stability to its residents.”
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie
“Illinois families deserve an honest and transparent government – not one that increases spending by $2 billion and masks a $3.2 billion deficit on paper, setting taxpayers up for a potential tax hike on May 31,” the GOP lawmaker from Savanna said.
“I promised at the start of the year that House Republicans would expose and oppose poor public policy, and this budget proposal is just that.
“It won’t grow our tax base; it will continue to punish businesses and hardworking Illinoisans.”
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
“With budgetary pressures only expected to increase, it’s vital Illinois focus on ways to grow the economy, particularly our state’s manufacturing sector,” IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler said. A strong business climate provides stability and sustainability, and we’re encouraged by the governor’s continued commitment to invest in Illinois manufacturing.“
He added “At the same time, we must maintain fiscal discipline to avoid revenue shortfalls that negatively impact our state’s ability to foster innovation and create new jobs. Manufacturers are problem solvers, and we stand ready to work in collaboration with policymakers to address challenges, including the need to increase energy generation, improve transmission and streamline permitting, to shape a brighter future.”
Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
The regional business organization said it was “excited to hear Gov. Pritzker’s emphasis on implementing his ad hoc committee report on missing middle-income housing.
“The chamber helped to introduce legislation to create a pilot program, the Middle-Income Housing Grant, based on one of the report’s findings and we look forward to moving that legislation forward this session.”
Regarding site readiness, another priority on the QC chamber’s legislative agenda, the organization said. “Gov. Pritzker’s focus and emphasis on economic development rings true to Quad Citizens. His budget proposes half a billion dollars toward site readiness and the Illinois Quad Cities is ready to put that money to work bringing new investment to the region.”
Illinois state Sen. Neil Anderson
“Governor Pritzker’s budget address wasn’t about leadership — it was about setting the stage for his national ambitions. Instead of addressing Illinois’ high taxes, ethics reform, and rampant crime, he chose to pander to the far left, delivering a speech better suited for a campaign rally than a serious budget proposal,” the Andalusia, Illinois, Republican said.
“His budget is built on fiction, not fiscal responsibility. While families struggle under the highest taxes in the Midwest, Pritzker remains more focused on expanding government than providing real financial relief for Illinoisans.
“And rather than taking accountability for his failures, he resorted to smearing his political opponents with reckless comparisons. Many were offended by the Governor’s remarks comparing republicans to Nazis, but sadly, I expect nothing less from the left,” he said.
“When they can’t defend their policies, they resort to ad hominem attacks. It doesn’t surprise me when a coyote attacks a lamb—that’s its nature. And it doesn’t surprise me when the left resorts to name-calling and emotional rhetoric—it’s in their nature.”
Senate GOP Leader John Curran
“While Illinois families continue to struggle, I am disappointed that instead of controlling government spending, Gov. Pritzker has once again increased it, introducing a record-breaking $55.4 billion taxpayer-funded budget,” the Downers Grove Republican leader said.
”His plan raises state spending by an astonishing 37% since he took office. Rather than ensuring transparency, it relies on the same gimmicks and job-killing taxes that hurt Illinois’ growth. We remain committed to standing up for taxpayers by demanding accountability and responsible spending to protect vital services throughout this year’s budget process.”
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon
“I thought it was a speech for our moment. The governor recognizes that our budget doesn’t exist in a vacuum and is subject to the economic winds in Washington and our place on the greater world stage,” the Oak Park legislative leader said.
“We have our work cut out for us, not just balancing Illinois’ budget, but also doing what we can to protect democracy. I applaud the governor for his leadership and look forward to working with him on our shared goals of assembling a balanced, responsible budget and building a better Illinois.”
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
The statewide organization said Mr. Pritzker “presented an optimistic outlook for the Illinois economy during his budget address; however, several fiscal concerns remain unaddressed.”
The state chamber said it supports commitments to long-term structural fiscal stability, a strong education system, and forward-thinking investments that promote business growth and new investments all with no new taxes.
“We encourage Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to continue to address the economic and regulatory obstacles that impede job growth in Illinois. Significant budget pressures, including the impending transit cliff, were not addressed in today’s speech and raised concerns for Illinois businesses and taxpayers. For Illinois to take its rightful place as a national economic leader, new policies need to be enacted that support rather than burden job creators,” the chamber said.
“While we appreciate the governor’s efforts to attract new business to Illinois through initiatives like the shovel-ready program, the chamber will continue to advocate for both lowering the mandated cost of doing business while furthering investment in existing small and medium-sized businesses to help them grow and create jobs for families in Illinois.
