After the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget on June 1, State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) issued the following statement:
“The lack of transparency with the final budget process is disappointing. Good government does not fear scrutiny. In fact, good government embraces scrutiny because scrutiny and transparency help build public trust.
“While there are certainly parts of this budget that I can support, I cannot support a process where hundreds of pages authorizing billions of dollars in spending are released with little time for lawmakers or the public to review. The people of Illinois deserve a budget process that is transparent, responsible, and deliberate. Taxpayers have every right to know how their hard-earned dollars are being spent before a vote is taken, not after the fact.
“This budget does not reflect a vision of growth or excellence for the State of Illinois. If we are going to make Illinois a place people want to live rather than leave, then we need a budget that prioritizes long-term economic competitiveness, fiscal responsibility, and policies that actually strengthen families, create opportunity, and restore confidence in our state’s future.”