A southern Illinois lawmaker is criticizing the governor for his nearly 50-billion-dollar budget proposal.
State Senator Terri Bryant from Murphysboro says increased spending across the board is a bad idea with a potential recession looming.
She says it's important to remember the governor's budget address, delivered Wednesday in Springfield, is just a wish list.
“But, as legislators, it becomes our responsibility then to become the adults in the room and say, ‘those might be very, very good ideas in a different economic time, maybe we have to look at those things.’”
But, Bryant is behind Governor Pritzker's call for a strong investment in early childhood education.
The governor proposed a 250-million-dollar “Smart Start Illinois” program to emphasize the importance of quality pre-schools and child care, as well as home visits and early intervention.
Bryant says many people in southern Illinois can't go back to work because of childcare deserts.
“It’s very real right now for my family because our son and daughter-in-law just had twins and, to tell you the truth, our daughter-in-law is just about ready to go back to work after that birth and cannot find childcare for the twins.”
Bryant also supports the governor's call for increased spending on higher education, especially where it could help single moms and struggling dads get back to work after the pandemic.
