Grundy Reporter

State Rep. Jed Davis (R-Newark) is taking a bold stance against the lack of transparency and bipartisan cooperation in the state budget process. In the latest episode of his “Springfield in 90 Seconds” Facebook video series, Davis opened up about the frustrations felt by Republican lawmakers, using a symbolic gesture to drive his point home.

“What does the budget look like? As a Republican, I’m going to show you,” Davis said.

Davis then closed the door to his office and looks out through the window.

“OK. That’s really silly. But that is exactly what it is,” Davis said. “There is no across-the-aisle dialog at all on a 50-plus billion dollar budget. We are locked out. We don’t even have a window in. We are wondering what’s going on. And then it shows up in 1, 2, 3 a.m. in the morning to have debate on something that we’ve only seen for 3,400 pages.”

“We’ve only seen it for like a day. Come on. What are we doing? Hey, we’re broke. Illinois is broke financially, but we’re also broke. The system is broken. Let’s fix this. And let’s actually be brave enough to have conversations. Because together, if we allow that cross-pollination, I guarantee everyone wins. So please stop locking us out,” he said. 

Illinois’ 2024 budget, approved at $50.6 billion, faced a significant deficit due to underfunded pensions, falling short by $4.1 billion of required contributions, according to Illinois Policy. Despite claims of balance, the budget lacks essential contributions to pensions, relies on unreliable revenue estimates and employs creative budgeting tactics, spotlighting the need for comprehensive financial reforms in the state.

A recent report by the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting Accountability highlights a substantial 95% increase in total taxpayer spending since 2018. Despite a reported annual budget of $50.4 billion in state funds, the actual spending is over $193.5 billion when factoring in federal and special funds, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the state’s budget allocation, The Center Square reported.

The 75th District includes parts of Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle and Will Counties.