House Republicans are questioning spending in the new state budget and are worried that there is too much reliance on the one-time federal COVID-19 relief money to fund projects.  The GOP says there is too much-increased spending planned for the new fiscal year. State Representative Tom Demmer says that Illinoisans have a right to know what’s going on with the spending.

Republicans say they were left out of the final budget negotiations and say that money is going to be spent that is not there. GOP Leader Jim Durkin echoed the same sentiment. 

Durkin says any extra money should have been used to shore up the state’s unemployment insurance fund which took a big hit during the pandemic.