Schweizer’s Summary: May 27th-31st

FY25 BUDGET, MEMORIAL DAY, IN THE DISTRICT EVENTS & MORE

We adjourned last Wednesday at around 5 in the morning. It was a busy week here in the legislature, cramming months of work into the last week of the legislative Session. We are back in our districts until Veto Session.

FY 25 BUDGET

Democrats pass largest budget in state history; vote for tax hikes, politician pay raises and a billion dollars for non-citizens. In the early morning hours Wednesday, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly voted to implement a $53.1 billion spending plan, passing the largest budget in state history, without Republican support. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget is a whopping $2.6 billion more than last year’s enacted budget and includes pay raises for politicians and a staggering $1 billion for non-citizens. Moreover, Democrats voted for $1 billion in tax hikes to pay for their record-breaking spending.

Over the last four years, the Democrat-controlled General Assembly has joined Governor Pritzker in a voracious appetite for increased government spending. Since the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, Democratic lawmakers have voted to grow state expenditures by more than $13 billion, from nearly $40 billion in 2020 to more than $53 billion this year and have forced hard-working Illinoisans to foot the bill.

Following the passage of the budget, I released the below statement:

“Today, the largest budget in Illinois history passed the House with partisan votes. I voted no on the budget because I cannot support a budget that prioritizes pay raises for lawmakers while increasing the tax burden on Illinoisans. The budget outlines a five percent pay raise for lawmakers, approximately $1 billion in taxpayer funds for noncitizens, and nearly $1 billion in tax hikes, but does not include property tax relief or incentives for businesses to come or stay in Illinois. Within the budget, four times the amount of money allocated to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is set to be spent on noncitizens. It is our responsibility as lawmakers and leaders of the state to take care of our Illinois citizens first, especially veterans. A lack of fiscal responsibility and misplaced spending priorities leave out hardworking, middle-class Illinoisans.”

MEMORIAL DAY

Last Monday, I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Danville National Cemetery.

Thank you to Jake Serd for coordinating and to all the speakers and guests for coming out to show respect to the fallen soldiers that served our country to protect our freedom.

IN THE DISTRICT

NU RAIL EVENT

On Wednesday, the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign opened the University-led National University Rail Center of Excellence. The Federal Railroad Administration selected UIUC as the institution for the Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence Program in FY 2022-2023. Congratulations to the Grainger College of Engineering!

VERMILION COUNTY HEALTH DEPT. MEN’S FAIR | JUNE 14TH, 3-7PM

SUMMER READING

At the beginning of last month, I announced my Summer Reading Program. In case you missed it…

Rep. Schweizer Hosts First Annual Summer Reading Program for K-5 Students in the 104th District

The program spans until July 1, 2024. The readers that participate in my program by “Getting in the Game” will receive an invitation to celebrate with a certificate ceremony with me in the late summer!

Forms can be mailed in or submitted here.

NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

June is National PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, affects an estimated 9 million Americans who have been exposed to life-threatening and traumatic events. This month you can learn more about this condition and advocate for those who have been diagnosed and affected by PTSD.