The second and final week of the General Assembly’s Veto Session wrapped up on Thursday with few legislative items passing through either chamber. 

While the Veto Session has ended, the 103rd General Assembly is expected to reconvene in early January for a “lame duck” session before the 104th General Assembly is sworn in on Wednesday, January 8. 

Illinois faces a projected budget deficit of more than $3 billion in the next fiscal year. Republican legislators argue that this shortfall is due in part to a significant increase in state spending fueled by temporary federal funds. 

Spending growth has been further fueled by the Governor’s initiatives, including programs for noncitizens, such as free healthcare, which cost Illinois taxpayers over $1 billion annually. To support these programs, the Governor recently enacted $1 billion in tax increases. 

Senate Republicans are urging the Governor to balance the upcoming budget without raising taxes, emphasizing that struggling Illinoisans cannot afford to cover the cost of Governor Pritzker’s self-made budget crisis.