In this issue:

• Illinois Lawmakers get 26 second per page to read FY2026 budget

• Gov. Pritzker denies that illegal migrants receive Medicaid in Illinois

• IL Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro reacts to FY2026 budget

• Illinois Lawmakers give themselves another pay increase

• Illinoisans pay the second-highest rate for gasoline tax in the nation

• STRO Events at https://www.stgop.org/events

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read FY 2026 budget – from Illinois Policy

"Lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly must read fast when they get final state budgets, because thousands of pages are dropped on them at the last minute before they must vote. They averaged about 67 seconds per page to digest the past nine state appropriations bills. For the past four years they had less than 30 seconds per page to read over 3,000 pages. Evelyn Wood would be proud."

Full story at Wirepoints

Gov. Pritzker denies that illegal migrants receive Medicaid benefits in Illinois

Members of the Illinois General Assembly delivered to Gov. J.B. Pritzker a record $55.2 billion budget plan, which requires $1.1 billion in new taxes. Overall, state spending will grow by about 5% from last year's enacted plan. Despite tax hikes and record spending, the FY2026 budget falls $4.5 billion short of what is required to keep up with the state’s pension debt.

However, the budget includes $182 million to provide shelter, health care and other services for recently arrived migrants and includes $440 million from the general revenue fund for state-funded Medicaid-like benefits to noncitizens, with $189 million from other state funds as well.  (Illinois Policy Institute)

On June 12, 2025, Governor Pritzker appeared before the House Oversight Committee. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) questioned him,

DONALDS: “Governor, don’t you keep track of how many people are on your Medicaid rolls, how many people who are illegal immigrants in the State of Illinois who are getting benefits in your state?”

PRITZKER: “They don’t get Medicaid in Illinois or in any state as far as I know.”

DONALDS: “Governor, do you not keep track of any public service dollars in the State of Illinois that go to illegal immigrants?”

PRITZKER: “We keep track of our budget and it’s been balanced for the past seven years.”

DONALDS: “It’s interesting, I’ve noticed that in the State of Illinois, you don’t really keep track of your money…A month ago, I asked your mayor in Chicago a similar question, and he didn’t have an answer…I think this might be an Illinois problem.” Watch this exchange on Youtube:

Illinois Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro reacts to FY2026 budget

In a video posted to YouTube, Representative Sanalitro (R-48) outlines what the budget does and does not address. You can watch the Youtube video here:

Here’s a taste.

“Do you know what made it into this budget,” said Rep. Sanalitro, “pork projects for Democrat districts, but Republican districts got nothing…Pay raises for lawmakers, but no crackdowns on waste, fraud, and abuse.

“Do you know what else made it into this budget; money for illegal immigrant housing, healthcare, and transportation, but nothing for veterans, counties, municipalities and townships that operate programs for seniors and other at-risk groups.”

Another pay increase for lawmakers.

The FY2026 budget includes another cost-of-living pay raise for Illinois lawmakers. The law establishing a COLA for state lawmakers is found in the Illinois Compiled Statutes, specifically under Chapter 25, Legislature. The COLA is capped at 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Illinois lawmakers went from $93,712 in 2024 to $98,304 this year. Are they worth it? About 71 percent of the 177 lawmakers earn additional money, called stipends, for holding leadership posts or serving in key committee positions. Those stipends range from $10,327 to $27,477. Not a single Republican lawmaker voted for this. We encourage you to open this link to an article from Wirepoints: Why do we pay nearly $100K in salary for each Illinois lawmaker? | Wirepoints

Illinoisans pay the second-highest rate for gas taxes, behind only California.

You’ll remember that in 2019, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, doubling the state’s motor fuel tax rate from 19 cents to 38 cents per gallon. Included in the plan were annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, which now brings the tax to 48.3¢. Illinois’ motor fuel tax is the second highest in the nation behind California.

To that Cook County adds 6¢ per gallon, and DuPage adds 9.7¢ per gallon. Other state taxes on fuel include an underground storage tank tax, an environmental impact fee, and a separate tax for the Illinois’ Underground Storage Tank Fund. When you add a federal tax of 18.4¢ per gallon, Illinoisans pay more than 85¢ per gallon of gas in taxes.

STRO Events

Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025, 9:30 am – 12:30 PM Republican Precinct Committeeman Training at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Rd, Schaumburg. Instruction is by Bob Grogan, CPA, CFE. Former IL Rep. Jeanne Ives IL-03 and Debbie Kanarowski, ILSCC-08 will also be presenting.

Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 from 6 – 8 pm. It’s a time for fun; We’re throwing a STRO Social – a STROcial at Moretti’s, 2475 W. Higgins Rd., Hoffman Estates. There will be appetizers and Cash Bar. Please RSVP at https://www.stgop.org/strocial_stro_social_20250723

Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025, starting at 1 pm. We’re STROing a PICNIC at the Grove at Saint Peter Lutheran Church. The cost is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers or those who did not pre-register. A child under 12 is free if accompanied by a member. Please RSVP at https://www.stgop.org/stro_picnic_20250803. Registration ends July 31 so we can give accurate numbers to the caterer.

  Please join us on Facebook or Instagram.