March 12, Illinois House Republican members discuss the funds Illinois will be getting from the $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief bill passed this week, and why they say a priority of the state should be to help the many small businesses decimated by the national shutdown.
In response to the $7.5 billion in federal aid approved for the State of Illinois and $6 billion for local governments, State Representatives Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego), and C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) discuss the dire need for transparency and accountability amid the newfound federal relief.
Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer, a member of the Legislative Budget Oversight Commission, called on Governor Pritzker to be transparent about where the new federal windfall will be spent, especially as the state budget picture for FY22 becomes clearer.
While the federal relief funds are significant, Rep. Davidsmeyer emphasized that in regards to the state’s current debt and fiscal outlook, lawmakers can’t lose sight of the reality of the state’s fiscal situation.
House Republicans backed significant business reform bills in 2019, including the Blue Collar Jobs Act, which Pritzker has refused to implement. For Rep. Wheeler, implementing this can make all the difference in the state’s revenue picture.
The Blue Collar Jobs Act was part of a bipartisan package of legislation passed in 2019 that creates incentives for businesses and was scheduled to take effect January 1st, 2021.
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