Villa Highlights Need for Balanced Budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s delivery of the annual budget address, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, released the below statement:

“Illinois made momentous strides toward progress last year, but there is much more work to be done to get our state back on the right track and lawmakers will be making tough decisions in the coming months.

“Last year I proudly supported a balanced, bipartisan budget that prioritized paying down the enormous backlog of unpaid bills and invested in important programs like the MAP Grant, the Autism Program (TAP), and breast and cervical cancer screenings for low-income women. I also supported smart initiatives like the legalization of recreational cannabis and a Fair Tax plan to put our state on better financial footing without increasing the tax burden on middle-class and working families. The budget plan I supported also devoted $350 million dollars to K-12 education and I intend to support a plan this year that continues to make important investments into education to ensure our children receive the world-class education they deserve.

“It is critical to build upon the progress of the last year. To continue my efforts to lift up middle-class families, I am committed to passing a balanced, bipartisan budget that continues to pay down old bills and provide property tax relief while continuing investments into education and other important programs.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Villa’s constituent service office at 630-326-9319 or at StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.