Illinois Democrats and Republicans at Odds Over Spending Bill

The state is on the wrong side of a $4.5 billion hole in the unemployment trust fund. The massive debt came from historic unemployment after COVID 19 shutdowns. Last week, the Governor signed a bill only supported by Democrats that uses $2.7 billion in federal COVID relief dollars to pay off a chunk of the debt. Governor JB Pritzker says the lack of Republican support is a further indication that they have little interest in working on fixing real issues at the statehouse.

Republicans wanted remaining unspent COVID funds dedicated to balance – paying it all off and avoiding interest charges on the debt.

Democrats are leaving about $1.8 billion unpaid; Republican Terri Bryant says it’s kicking more bad debt down the road when there should be enough money to pay it all back.

The Governor signed the bill on Friday that partially pays down the trust fund debt, pays down $900 million in employee medical insurance bills and $270 million in College Illinois debt, and sends an extra $300 million to the state’s pension fund.