Springfield – Gov. JB Pritzker continued his aggressive against President Donald Trump’s policy initiative on Tuesday, expressing concern over the new reports that the White House is demanding the abolition of the US Education Department, a step Governor said that Illinois is required federal Can deprive funding.
“The Department of Education funds important programs like special education. We have many, many parents and their children in the state of Illinois who need special education and this wealth is important, ”Pritjkar told reporters at Illinois State Capital. “If they take it away, it is going to be extremely harmful to the people of our state. Therefore, I am going to do everything to preserve that funding. I hope this is not the goal of their attacks. They should know better. It would be shameful to take it away. ,
Pritzker raised his concerns about federal funding as it is ready to present a budget at the end of this month that would require to address an estimated reduction of $ 3.2 billion in the next financial year.
He said, “We are going to do everything within our budget to try to overcome those problems, but this is the federal government dollar, which means that there is a lot.” “If they cut these programs, families will be left in great need.”
The Illinois State Board of Education approved a budget request of about $ 11.4 billion for the coming financial year last month, which increased by 4.6% from its current budget. The proposal involves an increase of $ 350 million in “evidence-based funding”, aimed at providing justified funding for school districts in low-income communities, annual minimum amount annually by State Act of 2017. Some education officers and advocates believe that more money should be allocated.
Pritzker on Tuesday also acknowledged uncertainty on how tariffs were imposed by Trump, and those who have threatened will affect the economy of Illinois. Trump imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports and threatened to implement tariffs of at least 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, which two of America’s largest trading partners, on what the President said, They were concerned about the illegal flow of drugs. Country and border security issues.
In the early stages of his business for the year, with the new Illinois Mahasabha, Pritjkar said that he has not yet determined whether his legislative agenda needs to be converted into light of any policy initiative being waged by the Trump administration. .
The governor said, “A lot has happened in the last two weeks, as you know, and we are evaluating that we may need to tweak state laws or really new.” “And of course we don’t know what will be the effect on our budget. But these are things we are seeing. ,
Pritzker’s annual budget proposal is scheduled for February 19. Their challenges include how the bloated pension of Illinois and a push for ambitious health care funding schemes in front of rising medical costs, to deal with a negligible increase in all revenue.
There will also be pressure for new expenses, including the city’s public school and transit system to help fix long -term financial problems, which promoted the issues with a lack of federal covid -19 relief funds Has gone.
Sub -village. About $ 441 billion in sales.
Manar pointed to analysis, when Illinois and the nation were emerging from the epidemic, to encourage news for the state for the state, and he said that it reflects the priority of the state to raise the economy.
Manar said, “This piece of continuing to understand and develop the state’s economy is important, whether the deficit is at one billion or $ 3.2 (billion), or anything we have dealt with in the past.” “So, the governor’s approach to investing in business, ensuring that our targeted incentives work and understand the importance of retailers, a few weeks are going to have a negotiation parallel to the budget proposal.”
The state’s current $ 53.1 billion operating budget tax growth was balanced with about $ 750 million and was barely passed through the Legislature in the previous spring. Pritzker said on Tuesday “Taxes should not be the first, but the last thing we see.”
State rape. Kama Bakner, a Chicago Democrat and a newly-elected house Democratic Budget cum Nagotter, said that last week’s budget process will not be “opaque,” what is happening and about what we are doing with this budget. How to move forward. ,
On Tuesday, House Republican leader Tony McCombi said that he encouraged the comments that are encouraging after complaints that GOP Cocks have been excluded from the budget process in the previous years.
“I trust work. So if he said so, I am confident, “McCombi of Savannah said. “I have also heard from the governor and they have also sought our priorities. So, this is the beginning. Therefore, we are moving forward with hope. ,