Crespo Votes to Balance Budget, Cut Nearly $3 Billion in State Bureaucracy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, issued the following statement after House Democrats and Republicans voted to override the governor’s veto on their bipartisan budget plan:

“Today, I voted to pass a bipartisan, balanced budget that cuts nearly $3 billion in state bureaucracy and spending so we could invest our limited resources to fund our schools, child care for working families, and medical services for our senior citizens. This vote was not easy, but it was necessary in order to bring about much needed stability to our state.

“The lack of a budget has resulted in Illinois’ bill backlog tripling to an unprecedented $14.7 billion. At this rate, if nothing is done, taxpayers would be on the hook for a $26 billion tax hike a year from now. That’s why I worked with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass a budget that is balanced, and that won’t just increase taxes irresponsibly but will do so while expanding tax credits to help working families keep more of what they earn.

“We are by no means done, and I am committed to working with all of my colleagues so we can continue to address Illinois’ financial problems, and move our state forward by providing real property tax relief to the residents I represent.”