Illinois Freedom Caucus: "Cut the Waste & Bloat"

Illinois lawmakers are actively shaping the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, with negotiations ongoing as the May 31st legislative deadline approaches. Governor Pritzker’s proposed budget is $55.45 billion - an increase of $2.35 billion over last year, but final numbers are still under negotiation.

On May 13, 2025, Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives held a press conference, urging substantial budget reductions. They claimed over $1 billion in wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse could be eliminated to save citizens from new or increased tax proposals.

State Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) said he will present an alternative budget bill that would be $11 billion less than Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget.

BACKGROUND
The FY 2025 Illinois budget was $53.1 billion.
The FY 2024 Illinois budget was $50.6 billion.
The FY 2023 Illinois budget was $46.5 billion.
The FY 2022 Illinois budget was $42.3 billion.

Read more: https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2025/05/illinois-freedom-caucus-cut-the-waste-bloat-in-budget/