SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus Executive Board released the following statement after hearing the governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027:

“Equity is inseparable from the economic stability of our communities. We cannot continue to have our families struggling to put food on the table or our neighbors working two to three jobs and still unable to make ends meet.

“Budgets are not just numbers on a page – they are moral choices. They represent our people who are hurting under skyrocketing costs-of-living. These are Illinois taxpayer dollars and they belong to our communities. For many Illinois families, these funds mean the difference between keeping the lights on, accessing health care or falling further behind. 

“As the Trump administration continues to carelessly pull funds from our state while using our dollars to fund the occupation of our communities through ICE and CBP, and tax cuts for the few, Illinois must ensure that our families don’t pay the price. Beyond making responsible investments, we must demand a fair and equitable revenue system where corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. 

 “As our communities continue to confront attacks on our freedoms and face systemic inequities, it is critical that we pass a budget that uplifts working people and prioritizes the needs of our most vulnerable.

“In the coming months, we vow to fight for a budget that guarantees a high quality of life for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration status, religion, disability or sexual orientation. Illinois families deserve meaningful relief. Working people and the middle class can no longer be expected to carry the brunt of the tax burden alone.”

The members of the Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus Executive Board include State Senators Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) and Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville).