Chicago City Wire

Brian Kasal, President of the Northside Republicans Club, criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker's budgetary policies on November 19. He said, "Illinois deserves better than these empty promises and budget gimmicks—Pritzker’s reckless approach is steering our state toward financial disaster."

"Governor J.B. Pritzker has blatantly misled Illinoisans, boasting of a "balanced budget" even as the state faces escalating deficits year after year," said Kasal. "Instead of implementing meaningful spending and pension reforms, he masked the state's financial woes with one-time COVID bailout funds, now depleted. Promises of property tax relief through the “millionaire's tax” ring hollow, as rising deficits make it clear that residents won't see the benefits. Illinois deserves better than these empty promises and budget gimmicks—Pritzker's reckless approach is steering our state toward financial disaster."

In June, Governor Pritzker signed a $53.1 billion spending plan for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, described by some as the largest in state history. According to Capitol News Illinois, when he signed the budget, Pritzker called it a demonstration of "fiscal responsibility." He noted that $198 million would be added to the state's rainy day fund, bringing it to a record $2.2 billion. The budget also aims to make full payments into the state's pension systems.

The spending plan includes provisions such as a tax credit for low-income families and higher wages for individuals working with disabled people. The tax credit will provide 20% of the state's Earned Income Tax Credit in 2024 and 40% in 2025 for families with children under the age of 12.

According to an August 9 report from Illinois Policy, Chicago's population is currently lower than it was in the 1920 Census. The city's population has been declining for nearly a decade, with 128,034 individuals leaving during that period. Illinois Policy attributes this trend to public policy decisions affecting housing and employment opportunities. A poll conducted by NPR Illinois and the University of Illinois in 2019 found that high taxes were a primary reason why 60% of respondents considered moving.

Even in October, Pritzker’s office denied data indicating a population decline in the state. Deputy Governor Andy Manar participated in a panel discussion on pensions with the Better Government Association on October 19, as reported by The Center Square. Manar said during that discussion: "There has never been more people living in the state of Illinois than there is today. The Census is the Census. There’s a thing called the Post Enumeration Survey which shows Illinois gained population. It’s a correction. And it’s a real correction from the Census Bureau. So I just want to dispel that right away. Illinois is not losing people. Illinois is gaining people." Wirepoints publisher Ted Dabrowski said that the administration needs to admit that it's happening.

Kasal was first appointed as President of the Northside Republican Club in Chicago's Northside in 2021. In his role, he focuses on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing party membership, and communicating party positions on issues important to voters in Chicago's Northside.