McHenry Times

Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) reacted to the passage of the 2023-2024 budget in a Facebook post on May 30. 

In the post, Reick shared a link to a Chicago Sun-Times article about the passage of the budget without Republican support. He expressed his disappointment with the Democratic Party.

"Democrats have once again failed to address their spending problems, producing yet another state budget filled with unsustainable promises," Reick wrote. 

According to the article, Chief House Republican budgeteer Norine Hammond was not invited to meet with Democrats, resulting in what she referred to as a "lack of interest from Democrats" and ultimately leading to a "bipartisan, one-sided budget." 

Among the reasons for Republicans voting down the budget was the absence of a proposed $4 per hour wage increase for care providers for individuals with developmental disabilities, with the budget document including a $2.50 per hour increase.

The proposed budget, as outlined in the budget-in-brief document released on Feb. 15 boasted improvements in the state's financial situation, such as the elimination of a backlog of bills, a $1.9 billion Rainy Day Fund balance, and reductions in pension liabilities amounting to $4 billion. The proposed budget amounted to $49.6 billion.

The Illinois Senate passed the budget late Thursday, May 25. The House passed it early Saturday morning May 27. The bill was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday, June 7.

According to WAND-TV, Senate Republicans thanked Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) for allowing bipartisan input.

In a statement quoted by ABC7 on May 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker praised the budget. 

"This budget makes transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois while building on our record of fiscal responsibility," Pritzker said after the Senate passed the budget. "I look forward to the House taking up this budget that will make child care and education more accessible, healthcare more affordable, and our state's business and economic position even stronger." 

Steve Reick, who has served in the Illinois General Assembly since 2016, represents the 36th Senate District. According to his biography, his focus is on using “his office as a platform from which he can move the needle toward a better Illinois, free of the political dogma and the practice of making representation nothing more than a pathway to the next election.”