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Earlier in the day Thursday, at an unrelated event in Pontoon
Beach, Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave scant details about the budget.
But he was asked about his proposed tax increase on sports
betting companies.
“Most of the pushback of course is by the sportsbook companies
that have made literally tens of millions of dollars from the
state of Illinois and all we’re asking is they pay a little more
of their fair share,” Pritzker said. “It keeps our tax rate at
below the other of the top sportsbook states in the country, New
York and New Jersey.”
Later in the day, as the House was giving final approval for
what could be the state’s official mushroom, House Minority
Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, asked state Rep. Michelle
Mussman, D-Schaumburg, what was next to her.
“Is that big white thing there, is that the budget?” McCombie
asked, referencing a representation of a large mushroom on
display at Mussman’s desk.
“This is not the budget, this is calvatia,” Mussman said.
While details about how legislators plan to spend more than $50
billion in taxpayer funds were scarce late into Thursday
evening, some legislators were lining up new or expanded
programs to use taxpayer funds.
State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, was confident her measure to
bring about grants for farmer-owned grocery stores would be
funded in the budget.
“I believe I was told the cost is about $200,000 and we’re
working to get it in the budget right now,” Harper said.
Legislators return to session Friday. That’s the scheduled
adjournment, but they also have the rest of the month scheduled
for contingency days.
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