SPRINGFIELD, IL- State Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon) released the following statement after Governor Pritzker’s Budget Address.

“Over the last six years, the U.S. GDP has grown more than 45 percent. Illinois GDP has grown just over 4 percent. Yet state spending has nearly doubled.

“Illinois is way behind in growth… and spending is out of control.

“We need to create an Illinois where businesses can grow, jobs can expand, and families can stay. That starts by cutting bureaucracy and getting state government out of the way.

“Property taxes are out of control, and this budget does nothing to deliver the relief families were promised. Illinois can do better, but only if we change direction.”