Inside:
- Budget deadline approaches, revenue still running short
- Bill to update auctioneer license law passes House
- Senior and Veterans Fair coming up in June
- Around the District
Budget deadline approaches, revenue still running short
Five years ago, the Illinois state budget was $40 billion. Last year the state set a new spending record of $53 billion, and this year Governor Pritzker proposes to break that record again, with a $55 billion spending bill.
But with just two weeks before the scheduled end of the spring session, and the deadline to pass a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Governor’s own budget office reported to a House committee that the state is $500 million short of the amount of revenue they projected when they made their budget proposal.
The information on the shortfall from the Governor’s office confirms months of warnings from the General Assembly’s non-partisan budget agency that the state was going to have less revenue than expected. With only a few days of scheduled session remaining, we now have a choice: rein in the new spending and the spending increases in the budget proposal so that it fits within the amount of tax revenue the state will have available, or continue the self-destructive pattern of increasing spending and raising taxes to pay for it.
We need to change course, make the right decision, and choose to live within our means.
Bill to update auctioneer license law passes House
This week the House passed a bill I am sponsoring to update state laws governing auctions.
Senate Bill 2351, which was carried in the Senate by Senator Mike Halpin, amends the Auction License Act. It modernizes the state law governing auctions by adding internet promotions to the advertisement side of the law as well as bringing some other definitions up to date.
The bill was the idea of the Illinois State Auctioneers’ Association. It passed the House 113-0 and the Senate 56-0. It is now on its way to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
Senior and Veterans Fair coming up in June
Mark your calendar for Wednesday June 18, when I will be once again joining Seminary Village for our annual Senior and Veterans Fair.
We will have a new location this year: The Vault at Reserve Artisan Ales, located at 185 S. Kellogg in Galesburg. The event is FREE and open to the public. It will run from 9 a.m. until noon.
We will have free health screenings on site, as well as a number of vendors with helpful information about state programs and services available to local veterans and seniors. There will be complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to register for door prizes.
If you have questions, please contact my office at (309) 334-7474. I hope to see you there!
Around the district
This weekend was the Galesburg FFA Annual Banquet. For only their second year after a long pause the FFA members participated and competed in many FFA events. A great experience and opportunity to learn lifelong leadership skills. Congratulations to the incoming 2025-2026 officer team and great job to the outgoing 2024-2025 officer team.
Thank you to the Galesburg FFA Alumni members for your vision and dedication to resurrect the Galesburg FFA Chapter. As always, it was great to see Sidney Stiers, the current State FFA officer.
Oxford American Legion Post #1197 put flags out at gravesites for Decoration Day (Memorial Day). We visited four local cemeteries and honored our fallen by placing a flag at their respective marker.
Of the six graves marked at Summit Level Cemetery; five were from the Civil War Grand Army of the Republic, and one was from World War I.
I also visited the Black Hawk – East Campus for the Equine Arena 50th Anniversary Open House. Three BHE students from Arkansas, Pennsylvania and McHenry, Illinois, provided the tour and spoke very highly of their experience and education at BHE.
The students graduated last weekend. Each is excited to return home and begin a new job.
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