>> MORE MONEY FOR MIGRANTS INCREASED ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL.

A BREAK ON GROCERY BILLS AND A PRESCRIPTION FOR HOW THE STATE COULD WIPE OUT MEDICAL DEBT.

THERE ARE SOME OF THE SPENDING PLANS AND GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER'S NEARLY 53 BILLION DOLLAR PROPOSED STATE BUDGET.

BUT HOW TO PAY FOR ALL THIS.

THE GOVERNORS EYEING NEARLY 900 MILLION IN TAX INCREASES, INCLUDING A CORPORATE TAX HIKE AND INCREASING THE STATE SPORTS BETTING TAX DURING HIS BUDGET ADDRESS LAST MONTH.

PRINCE GOT OUT AND HOW HE'S GOTTEN THE STATE'S FINANCES BACK ON TRACK OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS.

>> WE CREATED A 2 BILLION DOLLAR RAINY DAY FUND.

WE ACHIEVED 9 CREDIT UPGRADES AND IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC AND HIGH INFLATION, WE DELIVERED HISTORIC TAX RELIEF.

>> AND HERE TO DEBATE BUDGET POLITICS ARE STATE SEN LG SIMS, A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO AND JOINING US FROM SPRINGFIELD, REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR DAVE SEVERSON, WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES PORTIONS OF DEKALB KANE AND MCHENRY COUNTIES.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

SO LET'S GET TO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS BUDGET.

52.7 BILLION DOLLARS IN ALL BETWEEN 8, 900 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW TAXES LARGELY ON SPORTS BOOKS AND ELIMINATING SOME EXEMPTIONS FOR BUSINESS LOSSES 182 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A MIGRANT RESPONSE.

ELIMINATION OF THE ONE PERCENT GROCERY TAX, 12 MILLION DOLLARS.

NEWT AT CHILD TAX CREDIT AND A PLAN TO FULLY FUND THE STATE'S PENSION SYSTEMS BY THE YEAR 2048.

SENATOR SIMMS INITIAL REACTION ALL THIS STUFF IN THE BUDGET.

BUT I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR TOOK BALANCED APPROACH TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT WAS DISCIPLINED BUT ALSO TO CARE TAKES CARE OF OUR PRIORITIES AND ALSO AS COMPASSIONATE TOO, THE MOST VULNERABLE CASE.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PAY CZAR DEBTS.

I THINK WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE OUR ECONOMY TOPPING 1 TRILLION DOLLARS.

NOW WE'RE WE'VE PAID OUT.

WE'RE GOT 9 CREDIT RATING UP GREECE.

WE PAID BILLS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK JUST FEW YEARS AGO, WE HAVE OVER 60 MILLION DOLLARS BILLS.

NOW WE'RE LESS THAN 500 MILLION BY THE END OF BIDEN, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN THE NEXT GREAT.

NEXT FISCAL GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT A RAINY DAY FUND RAISE.

THAT IS PUTTING MONEY INTO SENATOR SEVERSON UVA SAID THAT THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL REFLECTS THE GOVERNOR'S RADICAL AGENDA.

WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN THIS BUDGET IS RADICAL.

WELL, I THINK WHAT WHAT IT DOES IS WE HAVE WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO TRY TO GET THE FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER.

BUT >> THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR A REALLY GOING DOWN THE WRONG EVERYONE WE HAVE TAX INCREASES ON HERE AT A TIME ILLINOIS FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE HAVE PERSONAL DATA ALL TIME HIGH.

WE HAVE CREDIT CARD DEBT AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES OF PEOPLE DRAWING OFF OF THEIR 4, 1, K'S.

SO PEOPLE ARE USING DEBT TO SURVIVE.

AND SO THE IDEA OF RAISING TAXES, ESPECIALLY TEAMS, THOSE ACTUALLY INCREASES TO PROVIDE WHAT IS DEEMED AS THE BEST HEALTH CARE IN THE WORLD GIVEN TO NONCITIZENS.

IT'S SOMETHING I THINK A LOT OF VOTERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY.

WHAT AND FRANKLY, A LOT OF LEGISLATORS, I DIDN'T FIND IT DIFFICULT TO VOTE FOR TAX INCREASES.

ON ONE HAND.

DON'T GET THAT.

THOSE TAXES ARE BEING INCREASED TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE.

THAT'S BETTER HEALTH CARE.

THEN THE CITIZENS OF THE TAXPAYERS GET THEMSELVES.

AND SO THERE ARE SOME STICKING POINTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE A CERTAINLY A CONCERN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THE SENATOR, THERE'S TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE FOR MINORS.

THERE'S ALSO 186 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED ADDITIONALLY TO HELP CHICAGO SETTLING MINERS ARE RESETTLING AS A NURSE A DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY POT OF MONEY.

SO INTENT TO RESPOND TO THE SENATOR'S CLAIMS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE REALITY IS THAT YOU DON'T SEE THE TAXES BEING RAISED ON EVERYDAY FAMILIES.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS CORPORATIONS HAVING RECORD PROFITS, INCLUDING DURING A PANDEMIC.

SO THAT THEY REACHED THE REACHED THE REVENUES THAT THE GOVERNOR'S JUST TALKING ABOUT RAISING AND THEY'RE RETIRING, RAISED ON CORPORATIONS.

BUT I WOULD ALSO REMIND GOOD FRIEND COLLEAGUE.

THIS IS JUST A PROPOSAL AND THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT U.S. VETTING THE PROPOSAL AND SEEING WHERE AGREE AND WE DON'T AGREE TO SENATOR SEVERSON.

YOU KNOW, THE MIGRANTS ARE THE CITY HAS HAD TROUBLE TAKING CARE THE STATE'S KIND OF HAD TO COME IN.

>> AND BAIL ARE YOU SUGGESTING THE STATE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING ANY OF THIS MONEY?

>> COUPLE PROBLEMS.

NUMBER ONE IS WE'RE STILL MAINTAINING OR CELLS AND ADVERTISING YOURSELVES AS A SANCTUARY STATE.

WE'RE ONE OF ONLY 2 STATES THAT PROVIDE UNLIMITED.

CADILLAC HEALTH CARE.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE BRINGING IN NONCITIZENS WERE BRINGING IN THE SICKEST OF THE SICK THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR AND UNTIL IT ALSO GETS TURNED OFF, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM.

IT'S LEAKING OUT INTO ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS INTO ELLEDGE AURORA AND ROCKFORD WHERE IT'S CAUSING LOCAL COSTS.

AND SOME OF THESE INCREASES OF THESE TAX INCREASES, AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, THEY MAY INCREASES ON A LOCAL BUSINESSES OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT THAT JUST GETS PASSED ON TO EITHER EMPLOYEES OR GETS TAXED ON HIGHER PROPERTY WHEN YOU ELIMINATE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THE GROCERY TAX.

THAT'S A HUGE HIT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO IN TURN, WE'LL PROBABLY JUST RAISE PROPERTY TAX TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.

AGAIN, THAT'S CREATES PROBLEMS FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

SO WE JUST THINK THAT THE BUDGET SHOULD BE LEANER.

WE SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR SLOWER ECONOMIC TIMES THAT ARE COMING AND WE SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE MORE TAX INCREASES AFTER WE'VE HAD RECORD AMOUNTS OF REVENUE THE LAST 4 YEARS.

AND WE NEED TO DELINEATE THAT THAT THE VAST VAST MAJORITY OF THE MIGRANTS ARE COMING.

OUR ASYLUM SEEKERS, THEIRS.

>> THE DIFFERENT A SET OF FOLKS THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED THAT COMING.

SO THAT'S WHAT SANCTUARY STATE SANCTUARY CITY APPLIES TO.

BUT SENATOR SIMMS, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT DOING AWAY WITH THAT ONE PERCENT SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

YOU KNOW, GROCERY SHOPPERS MIGHT BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS RELY ON SOME OF THOSE TAXES TO FUND.

>> THERE NEEDS IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THEM.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT HIS PROPOSAL ALLOWING THE GOV, ALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TO REINSTATE THOSE TAXES IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT THE BUT THE REALITY IS AT THE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PASS A BUDGET THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

THAT IS IT EDUCATION.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

YOU SEE A BUDGET THAT INVESTS RECORD NUMBER RECORD NUMBERS OF DOLLARS INTO EDUCATION TAKES CARE OF IT HIRES, GET OUR HIGHER EDUCATION BUT MORE MONEY INTO MAP GRANTS SO THE STUDENTS CAN GO TO SCHOOL, PUT MORE MONEY INTO HEALTH CARE, FOR FORESTS TO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ALL BEFORE CITIZENS WERE HERE.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT THIS BUDGET IS, MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT JUST THE NEXT ELECTION, BUT FOOT FOCUSING ON THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK MY MY MY COLLEAGUE WE'VE WE'VE ASKED OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US IN EFFORT.

THEY'VE NOT DONE THIS DURING THOSE RECORD YEARS.

WE HAVE THOSE RECORD WE HAD RECORD REVENUES AND WE'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS TO INVEST IN THE DECISIONS THAT NOW WE'RE ABLE TO NOW IS THIS TIME TO GET GOING NOW WE'RE ABLE TO TO FOCUS ON ON MAKING THOSE CHOICES.

WE'VE DONE THAT THE PAST AND WE'VE ASKED THEM TO PARTICIPATE.

SENATOR SEVERSON REPUBLICANS AREN'T SUPER MINORITY YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS AND A GOVERNOR COULD THEORETICALLY PASSED WITHOUT REPUBLICAN INPUT.

BUT YOU SEE REPUBLICANS HAVING A ROLE HERE IN THE NEGOTIATING.

SOME CHANGES.

>> WELL, GET THERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THIS BUDGET.

IN FACT, LAST YEAR, I THINK A LOT OF PROGRESS IS MADE AND THERE WAS A GOOD, LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WERE NUMBER REPUBLICANS HOLDING THE SUPPORT THAT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WE SLIPPED IN THE COVERAGE FOR THE YOU'RE NOT CITIZENS, WHICH AGAIN, THAT COST IS GETTING TO BE A PRETTY DRAMATIC.

AND SO THAT WAS THAT WAS THE ISSUE.

I THINK THAT REALLY DERAILED WHEN WE SAW THAT ROLLING COST THAT ONLY TAX PAYERS WILL HAVE TO HAVE.

I THINK BACK TO THE GROCERY TAX BUT NOT MISTAKEN.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN'T GO TO GROCERY TAX ON WEED AT THE PAST LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THEM TO DO A REFERENDUM TO DO THAT.

SO MANY OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A PROPERTY TAX.

SO WHEN THEY LOSE THE GROCERY TAX, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S A PROBLEM DURING THE COVID DAYS AS A STATE WHERE WE TOOK GAS THE GROCERY TAX OFF.

WE BACKFILL THAT AND HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SO THEY WOULD TAKE THAT KIND OF A HIT.

I HOPE WE CAN DO HERE.

I'M IN FAVOR OF TAKING THE GROCERY TAX OFF.

WE NEED TO BACKFILL THAT TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

SO THEY'RE NOT STUCK THE SO WE WE HAVE WE ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT, BUT I HAVE TO QUICKLY ASK BOTH OF YOU.

>> THERE'S A REPORT NOW THAT THE BEARS AND THE WHITE SOX ARE PERHAPS TALKING TOGETHER ABOUT JOINT FINANCING FOR 2 NEW STADIUMS.

>> VERY SENATOR SIMMONS, WE THANK.

I WASN'T SEEN FOR POLLS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING BOTH.

AM LIFELONG BEARS AND WHITE SOX FAN SOME.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE STAY HERE IN THE CITY.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

NRC VERSE AND IT'S KIND OF TOUGH SELL FOR JERRY REINSDORF TEST FOR BILLION.

BUT IF THESE 2 FRANCHISES THAT WORK OUT SOME TOGETHER, IS THAT AN EASIER SELL FOR LAWMAKERS TO GET ON BOARD WITH?

>> WELL, TO WORKING OUT TOGETHER IN THE SAND IN A IN A COMMON FACILITY.

BUT IF TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BUILDING TOO 2 NEW STADIUMS THAT IS CAN BE SOMETHING AS CAN BE HARD PRESSED TAXPAYERS THAT DURING THESE DAYS TO TRY TO STEP UP TO DO WE SEE OTHER STATES TO A LOT OF MERGING OF OF OF TEAMS AND COMING UP WITH CREATIVE IDEAS FOR TO MAKE STADIUMS.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THE STATES IN THE POSITION TO