McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) thinks of the state’s new $42 billion budget and can’t help wondering what may have been.

“It’s legislation that was carefully crafted by Democrats and just handed to us Republicans at the last minute to vote on,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “We had no input, no chance of adding anything. I look at this bill and know it could have been a much better one with our input.”

The plan that Democrats ultimately passed to send to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his almost certain signature heavily banks on federal funding in hopes of plugging the many holes made deeper by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, lawmakers added a provision that also clears the way for a $5 billion loan from the federal government.

“This is no way to budget,” Ugaste added. “To just assume that someone is going to come along and bail you out seems crazy, especially when the budget is just more of the same tax, borrow and spend policies.”

Ugaste said the most egregious part of the bill may be the $1,800 raise lawmakers carved out for themselves as part of the package.

“Republicans tried to raise the issue and have it taken out of the bill,” Ugaste added. “For me, I’ll just end up writing a check to return my share. Illinois has record unemployment right now and people are struggling everywhere. There’s no way in good conscience I can keep that.”

Overall, Ugaste said he essentially looks at the four-day special session where the bill was passed as a wasted opportunity.

“There was so much work to be done on behalf of the people,” he said. “We could have helped businesses to get back going and people to get back on their feet and we didn’t do any of that.”