On June 16, Governor JB Pritzker officially signed into law the largest government spending plan in Illinois history – a more than $55 billion spending plan that includes nearly $1 billion in new tax increases and relies heavily on budget gimmicks and one-time revenue grabs. The budget was so bad, even some Democrats joined all Republicans in voting NO.

Passed by the Democrat Majority in General Assembly on May 31, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget reflects a nearly $15 billion increase, almost 40%, since Pritzker took office. Senate Republicans opposed the plan, pointing to record spending, misplaced priorities, a lack of transparency, and a growing financial burden on families and businesses.

The massive government spending plan relies on new and increased taxes on vacation rentals like Airbnb, gaming, phone services, nicotine products, and hundreds of millions in additional taxes on businesses that will inevitably be passed on to consumers.

Republican-led efforts to provide tax relief to Illinois families were blocked this year. While the budget continues to fund programs for non-citizens, it underfunds services for some of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens, like those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The plan also underfunds Pre-K through 12th grade education and eliminates a small, but vital property tax relief program for families already struggling to survive.

This is yet another bloated government spending plan that keeps growing while family incomes remain stagnant. It adds to the strain on working families, drives employers out of Illinois, and offers little relief in a state already burdened with the highest tax load in the nation.

Last week, I joined members of the Illinois House and Senate Republican caucuses to call on Governor Pritzker to veto Senate Bill 328, legislation that would serve only to enrich trial lawyers at the expense of jobs and economic growth. It is important to note that NO taxpayer funds are being used to pay for this lawsuit.

In furtherance of that effort, we also filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County court to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Three Readings Rule, due to the blatantly unconstitutional process the Democratic majority used to ram the special interest proposal through the General Assembly after midnight on the last day of session. 

The Illinois Constitution’s Three Readings Rule is designed to give lawmakers sufficient time to evaluate legislation and to ensure transparency for the public. It requires that bills be read on three separate days. However, Democrats have consistently disregarded this requirement.

The lawsuit specifically challenges the passage of Senate Bill 328, which Republicans argue was advanced without following the required legislative procedures. They contend that the bill poses an immediate threat to Illinois residents by exposing the legal system to greater exploitation by trial lawyers.

The legislation would overhaul Illinois’ judicial system and allow out-of-state businesses to be sued by out-of-state plaintiffs in Illinois courts for incidents with no connection to the state. A lesser-known provision in the law also allows foreign businesses registered in the state to be sued. It was passed using a variety of procedural gimmicks to avoid constitutional requirements and public scrutiny. 

Similar legislation has twice been vetoed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and multiple national and state business groups, including the American Tort Reform Association and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, have been echoing the Republicans’ call for a veto.

The lawsuit is a necessary step toward holding lawmakers accountable and restoring transparency and constitutional integrity to the legislative process.

Last week I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion about the future of public transit in Illinois. I was joined on the panel by State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tempore Kam Buckner (R-Chicago), and Jacky Grimshaw, a long-time transit activist from Chicago. Moderating the event was David Greising, President and Chief Executive of the Illinois Better Government Association.

We discussed the $771 million fiscal cliff facing Metra, Pace, and the Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA), progress on a new governance and voting structure for the agencies and a new overarching Northern Illinois Transportation Authority (NITA), and options for funding public transit in the future.

Click here to view the video of the discussion.