Kane County Reporter

Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, Deputy Leader Norine Hammond, and Deputy Leader Ryan Spain held a press conference to address structural reforms and the looming FY26 budget deadline. As new tax proposals emerge, Representative Spain urged Illinoisans to be cautious about potential tax increases, with House Republicans promising to oppose such measures.

Several issues confront Illinois as the spring legislative session nears its end. These include high tax rates without relief for residents, spending on health benefits for illegal immigrants while vulnerable citizens face struggles, energy policies causing rate hikes and job losses, public safety concerns linked to the SAFE-T Act, and a lack of needed ethics reforms.

House Republicans criticized Democrats' approach of seeking more revenue without structural reforms. They pledged not to support budgets with tax hikes and accused Democrats of proposing billions in taxes to fill budget gaps. Governor JB Pritzker's administration plans to pass a $55.2 billion budget—the largest in state history—despite facing a billion-dollar deficit.

Concerns were also raised over energy costs in Illinois due to reduced power generation capacity amid rising demand. Current laws require all electricity from zero-emission sources by 2045. This has led to increased electricity prices in northern Illinois and significant spikes in downstate areas serviced by Ameren.

The "Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act" (CRGA) was criticized by Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer for worsening the state's energy crisis. State Rep. Travis Weaver attributed rising power rates to flawed policies from the Pritzker administration.

In employment news, unemployment rose by 0.5% in April 2025 within the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumberg metro area, according to IDES data. This increase is linked to weaknesses in professional and business services job creation statewide.

Memorial Day holds historical significance for Illinois due to its Civil War roots. General John A. Logan played a key role post-war by organizing commemoration activities through GAR General Order No. 11 issued in 1868—a precursor leading Memorial Day's evolution into a federal holiday observed annually on the last Monday of May since 1971.