State Government Spending Surges 40% Under Pritzker as Governor Blames Washington
As families continue to struggle, state government spending in Illinois has grown nearly 40 percent in just seven years under Governor JB Pritzker. Despite record tax collections, the Governor continues to expand government spending while trying to shift the blame for the state’s fiscal challenges onto the federal government.
Last week, Pritzker signed an executive order telling agencies to cut up to 4 percent from their budgets while once again blaming Washington for the state’s fiscal troubles. The order instructs agencies to curb non-essential spending, review hiring decisions, and prepare reserves in case of slower revenue growth.
While Pritzker seeks to blame Washington, State Senator Terri Bryant said the problem lies with state spending. Earlier this year, Governor Pritzker signed a budget totaling more than $55 billion and added over $1 billion in new taxes and revenue gimmicks on the backs of Illinois taxpayers and businesses.
The Governor and his allies have also pushed proposals that would have raised everyday costs, including a $1.50 delivery tax on packages, new service taxes on haircuts, car repairs, and home maintenance, as well as a digital advertising tax aimed at small businesses.
While state payrolls and programs expand, private-sector job growth in Illinois continues to trail neighboring states. Families face rising costs of living, yet government spending keeps accelerating.
Senator Bryant says Illinois’ record revenues underscore that the state does not have a revenue problem but a spending problem. She argues that families are forced to live within their means every day, but Springfield continues to grow government faster than taxpayers can keep up.
State Launches Listening Tour on Math Plan
Illinois education officials are seeking feedback on a new statewide effort to improve student math performance, five years after Governor JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 shutdown closed schools and disrupted learning.
The Illinois State Board of Education will begin an eight-stop listening tour in October to gather input on its first draft of a “Comprehensive Numeracy Plan,” designed to provide educators with evidence-based strategies for teaching math.
The first session is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the board’s Springfield office, with additional stops set for Naperville on Oct. 22, Rockford on Oct. 23, a virtual session on Nov. 4, Champaign on Nov. 5, Edwardsville on Nov. 12, Carbondale on Nov. 13, and Chicago on Nov. 18. All meetings begin at 4 p.m. and participants can register online. The final version of the plan is expected to be presented to the state board by June 2026.
Student testing data show that reading scores for grades three through eight have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, gains that state officials attribute to the Comprehensive Literacy Plan adopted in recent years. Math scores, however, remain below 2019 levels, prompting the state to rethink the way math is currently being taught.
Illinois State Fairs Top One Million Visitors in 2025
The Illinois State Fair in Springfield drew 723,079 people in August, the second-largest turnout in its history. When combined with the Du Quoin State Fair, which welcomed a record 282,202 visitors, total attendance at the two state fairs surpassed one million.
Grandstand ticket sales were fueled by record-setting performances, highlighted by Megan Moroney’s concert in Springfield, which set a new all-time attendance record with 15,532 tickets sold, breaking the mark set in 2024. Sales of admission booklets, Mega and Jumbo passes, and camping permits also climbed compared to the previous year.
Agriculture remained central to the fairs’ success. At the Governor’s Sale of Champions, the Grand Champion Steer sold for $105,000, while the Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer set a record at $70,000. Combined livestock and commodities sales reached nearly $294,000.
In Du Quoin, acts from Little River Band to TESLA to Tucker Wetmore boosted Grandstand sales, and carnival vendors reported 245,000 rides. The Illinois Product Expo also grew, surpassing $25,000 in revenue, an increase of $5,000 from 2024.
A recent study by the International Association of Fairs and Expos found that fairs across Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska contribute $2.7 billion in regional economic impact and found that 29 percent of Americans attend a fair each year.
Dates are already set for the 2026 Illinois State Fair, which is scheduled to run August 13–23 in Springfield.
Department of Agriculture Asks for the Public’s Help Against Invasive Spotted Lanternfly
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is asking residents to be on the lookout for the invasive spotted lanternfly, a pest that was first confirmed in the state in 2023 and is now being found more frequently. While the insect does not pose a threat to people or animals, it feeds on a variety of plants, including grapevines, fruit trees, and maples, which could affect agriculture and outdoor spaces.
Officials say the spotted lanternfly is often found in backyards, gardens, and other non-commercial areas, making public awareness important. Residents are encouraged to report sightings by emailing lanternfly@illinois.edu with a photo of the insect and the location where it was found. These reports enable experts to track the spread and plan effective responses.
The Department of Agriculture notes that prevention and early detection are the best defenses against this pest. Residents should check outdoor items, vehicles, and firewood for insects or egg masses before traveling, and take action to remove and destroy any that are found.
State Senator Terri Bryant says community involvement is essential in stopping the spread of the spotted lanternfly and protecting Illinois agriculture. She urges residents to stay alert and take a moment to report sightings to state officials.
Illinois Native Named Among NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidates
Savanna-native Cameron Jones has been selected as one of 10 astronaut candidates in NASA’s 2025 class following a nationwide competition that drew more than 8,000 applicants.
Jones, 35, is a U.S. Air Force major and an experienced test pilot with more than 1,600 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft, including 150 combat hours.
Jones holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base. At the time of his selection, he was serving as an Air Force Academic Fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The 2025 astronaut class reported for duty at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in September of this year. Their two-year program includes survival skills, robotics, geology, medicine, language study, simulated spacewalks, and flights in high-performance jets.
Once training is complete, candidates will become eligible for missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and eventually Mars.