North Egypt News

Illinois State Senate District 58 candidate Terri Bryant criticized the recently passed state budget, stating, "The Majority Party just passed their partisan budget that spends more than $53 billion in Fiscal Year 2025." Bryant, who is running for re-election, shared a screenshot of a longer statement on social media.

"The Majority Party just passed their partisan budget that spends more than $53 billion in Fiscal Year 2025," said Bryant, State Senator, according to Facebook.

In her Facebook post, Bryant wrote: "Once again, Governor Pritzker and his allies have set a new state budget record – increasing spending by 32% since he first took office. And once again, we are prioritizing spending funds on non-citizen programs instead of properly funding Direct Support professionals, the people who take care of our state’s most vulnerable population. For years, Senate Republicans have warned Governor Pritzker and his allies that the use of temporary federal funds and unexpected revenue to create and grow new permanent spending was leading the state towards a fiscal cliff. Now, thanks to their desire to spend $1 billion per year on non-citizens, the citizens of our state will see increased taxes so the Majority Party can hang onto the ledge of their irresponsible fiscal cliff."

Screenshot of Terri Bryant's May 27 Facebooo post | Senator Terri Bryant's Facebook page

On May 26, in a 38-21 vote, the Illinois State Senate passed a $53.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025. According to WAND-TV, this budget includes a $20.3 billion appropriation for education during the fiscal year. This funding encompasses support for the Smart Start Illinois program and an additional $75 million for early-childhood block grants aimed at opening 5,000 more preschool slots.

Regarding non-citizen programs mentioned by Bryant, the budget earmarks $160 million for migrant welcome centers. Additionally, it allocates $290 million for the Home Illinois program to address homelessness.

WGN9 reported that the state is also funding various other initiatives including a $2 million allocation to the Illinois Department of Education for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program and $20 million earmarked for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault to maintain rape crisis centers across Illinois.

Bryant has served in the Illinois General Assembly since 2014 and was elected to the state senate in 2020. Outside of her legislative role, she has two decades of experience with the Illinois Department of Corrections and has been politically active prior to her election to public office. Her official biography notes her roles as precinct committee woman, vice president of the Jackson County Republican Women’s Club, and Second Vice-Chair of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee.