The 2025 legislative session will have a special focus on funding, as Illinois finds itself in the tightest budget situation since 2015-2018. Pressure will increase for k-12 education, university funding, pensions, and child tax credits. Dr. Redfield, Professor Emeritus of Political Science from the University of Illinois credits this fiscal standing to the loss of federal Covid dollars and a decrease in state revenue growth.

Mass transit agencies in Illinois will be hurting for funds as well with complaints in the legislator about declining services in the RTA, CTA, PACE, and METRA.

Dr. Redfield points to times of comfort for the Illinois budget that fell between 2019-2023, where revenue streams were prominent, but a lack of attention to the future leaves the state in a tough spot.

Dr. Kent Redfield appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.