illinois governor race

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal likely will be a key plank of his re-election platform. Not only does it contain goodies for everyday Illinoisans – a property tax rebate for roughly 2 million people, plus a one-year break on grocery and gas taxes – the governor says it demonstrates he’s made good on a pledge to dig the state out of the financial morass of the budget impasse during Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration. Here to analyze that budget is Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a government watchdog group founded by the Commercial Club of Chicago. Msall worked for Governors Jim Thompson and George Ryan on economic development issues, and has deepened his knowledge during his time at the Civic Federation. Republicans in the general assembly and the gubernatorial primary say the governor’s proposal is an election year gimmick that doesn’t fix the state’s structural issues. Msall agrees, but only in part. There are goodies, yes, but he gives the proposal good grades on addressing the state’s bill backlog, pensions, rainy day fund, and likely, its unemployment insurance fund. But there are warnings: the state needs more transparency around its infrastructure plans; the budget doesn’t restart a stalled conversation on larger property tax reform; and there might be challenges in getting this budget through a general assembly who might be eager to spend, rather than stowing money away.