Deering Calls out Governor for Lack of Transparency

DECATUR, IL… State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) took part in a press conference with State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) to call out the Governor for his political posturing and failure to follow through on an Executive Order he issued in September, Executive Order 2025-05.

"As a first-year legislator, I came into the budgeting process hopeful. Hopeful that maybe my Democrat colleagues would recognize the seriousness of our state's financial crisis and rein in spending where we could," began Rep. Deering. "Unfortunately, we all saw how that panned out. Another bloated budget signed, spending nearly $2 billion more than the year before. More taxes, more spending, and less opportunities for hardworking Illinoisans."

Executive Order 2025-05 required agencies to identify immediate spending cuts, blaming the Trump Administration rather than his own agencies for their reckless spending. Agencies were to present their plans to the Governor by October 23rd. No findings have been made available from the Governor's Office or any of the agencies he oversees.

"In Springfield, the budgeting process is not based in reality because in the real world, when money gets tight, businesses and families prioritize, stretch, and reform, not rely on hopeful revenue streams to close the gaps," continued Rep. Deering. "The Illinois families I talk to have to balance their own budgets at home and spend within their means. The government should simply be required to do the same."

Earlier this year, Rep. Deering filed HB 3792 to require the government to, at the very least, pass a budget that is balanced. The measure remains in the Rules Committee.

"Instead of eyeing a bid for higher office, Governor Pritzker needs to do the job he was elected to here in Illinois. We are ranked at the top of almost every tax list published. And for what? To fund shortfalls in Chicago? To support pay raises for legislators? To give illegal aliens top-of-the-line benefits? It's shameful that our Governor gets away with smoke and mirror tactics, dangling Executive Orders in the faces of Illinoisans to score cheap political points," concluded Deering.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Governor's Office in an attempt to learn what work is being done to identify the Governor's required cuts, but it was declined. The Governor's Office cited 'internal deliberations' as the reason why the proposed spending reductions were not made public.

###