West Central Reporter

State Rep. Randy Frese (R-Quincy) sees Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest budget proposal as more of the same.

“It’s appropriate that today’s budget address was delivered on Groundhog Day because, like the movie, it was a bit like living the same day over again,” Frese said in a post to his website. “Once again we heard a budget plan based on a rosy picture of our state’s finances that isn’t really honest.”

Frese deemed the governor’s recent budget, State of the State address as just more of the same rhetoric, equating it to more of a political stump speech than any sort of realistic blueprint for the state.  

“The governor failed to mention that slight improvements in our financial picture are temporary,” he said. “They are the result of a massive federal bailout and increased taxpayer burdens due to rising inflation, not responsible financial policies from his administration.”  

Frese argues those aren’t the only areas where the governor’s proposed plan for the state comes up short.

“We’re now into year three of business closures from failed COVID mandates, violent crime is on the rise due to anti-police policies he signed into law last year and we’re still looking for answers and solutions to protect our veterans in the state’s care at our veterans’ homes,” he said. “Once again, there was no realistic plan to address the long-term structural issues that are holding our state back. Welcome to Groundhog Day in Illinois.”