On Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and reflect on the freedoms their service protects.
As we enter the final week of session ahead of the May 31 deadline, we’re focused on finishing strong and getting important work done at the Capitol.
Topics below include:
- Honoring Our Heroes this Memorial Day
- District Highlights – Anything Happening Near You?
- Legislation to Suspend the Gas Tax
- Expanding Solar on School Rooftops, Protecting Illinois Farmland
- Illinois Must Bring Discipline to State Spending Decisions
- Ensuring Benefits for All Children of Fallen First Responders
- Pritzker’s 57 Tax and Fee Hikes Cost Illinoisans $77 Billion
- IL Has the Highest Unemployment Rate in the U.S.
Honoring Our Heroes this Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to protecting our freedoms will never be forgotten.
At the Capitol, we also set up a Memorial Day display to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and reflect on the true meaning of this day. It serves as a reminder that freedom comes at a great cost, and we owe a lasting debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
As we gather with family and friends this weekend, let us take a moment to remember and honor the heroes who gave everything for our nation. May their legacy continue to inspire us all.
District Highlights – Anything Happening Near You?
I am seeking nominations that highlight the people, organizations, programs, businesses, and community efforts that help make Illinois Senate District 53 a stronger place to live, work, and raise a family. Across the district, communities are shaped every day by local leadership, volunteerism, innovation, public service, education, agriculture, healthcare, economic development, and acts of kindness that bring people together and improve the quality of life for others.
This is designed to celebrate the spirit of District 53 as a whole by recognizing the contributions that strengthen our towns, neighborhoods, schools, farms, businesses, and local organizations. From community events and service projects to longstanding traditions and impactful local initiatives, we want to hear the stories that reflect the values and character of our district.
If you know of a person, group, organization, business, or community effort deserving of recognition, please submit their name along with a brief description of how they have made a positive impact in District 53 using the Google Form below. By sharing these stories, we can recognize and celebrate the people and efforts that continue to shape and strengthen communities across the district.
Highlight people, organizations, programs, businesses, and community efforts here.
Legislation to Suspend the Gas Tax
I am co-sponsoring SB4205, legislation that would suspend Illinois’ scheduled gas tax increase set to take effect on July 1. Under the 2019 “Rebuild Illinois” infrastructure program, the state gas tax is automatically adjusted each year for inflation without a recorded vote, and is now projected to rise to 49.6 cents per gallon this summer.
In 2019, the gas tax was doubled from 19 cents to 38 cents, and since then it has continued to increase annually based on inflation, steadily raising costs for Illinois drivers. What began as a 19-cent per gallon tax has now grown to nearly 50 cents, placing Illinois among the highest gas-tax states in the country even before adding federal and local taxes.
I am supporting this effort because Illinois families and working drivers deserve relief from yet another automatic increase at the pump.
Read more about the gas tax increase on Illinois Policy.
Expanding Solar on School Rooftops, Protecting Illinois Farmland
I support expanding renewable energy in Illinois in a way that is practical, responsible, and respects our most valuable farmland. That is why I co-sponsored SB 3272 to prioritize solar development on already-built spaces like school rooftops rather than converting prime agricultural land. School-based rooftop solar is a smart approach. It helps districts lower long-term energy costs, makes use of existing infrastructure, and advances clean energy goals without putting pressure on farmland that is critical to our agricultural economy. We can continue moving toward a more sustainable energy future while still protecting the land that supports our communities and our food supply.
SB 3272 passed the Senate on Wednesday, May 20th and is currently waiting for a vote in the House.
View a video of me speaking on the Senate floor on this legislation here.
Illinois Must Bring Discipline to State Spending Decisions
One of the biggest challenges I continue to see in Springfield is how we make spending decisions before we fully understand the long-term impact on taxpayers.
A recent analysis highlights two key steps Illinois should take to improve accountability in state spending. First, we need stronger, more rigorous review of the true cost and economic impact of major legislation before it becomes law. Too often, programs are passed without a clear understanding of how much they will ultimately cost working families down the road.
Second, Illinois should take a closer look at existing spending and regulations to determine what is actually working and what is simply adding cost and complexity without results. With the state facing continued budget pressure in the years ahead, we cannot afford to operate on autopilot.
At the end of the day, taxpayers deserve a budgeting process that is transparent, disciplined, and focused on outcomes, not assumptions.
Read more details on Illinois Policy.
Ensuring Benefits for All Children of Fallen First Responders
I am proud to serve as the chief co-sponsor of HB5595, a bill that ensures fairness and dignity for the families of our fallen first responders. This legislation provides that a child, including a posthumous child, of a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or correctional or correctional probation officer will not be denied benefits simply because the child had not yet been born or formally designated as a beneficiary at the time of the officer’s death.
At its core, this bill recognizes what many families already know in their hearts, that life and family do not end at the moment of tragedy. These children should not be left behind or excluded from the benefits their parent earned through service and sacrifice. I am honored to support this effort to ensure that every child of a fallen hero is treated with fairness, respect, and care under the law.
Pritzker’s 57 Tax and Fee Hikes Cost Illinoisans $77 Billion
Since taking office in 2019, Governor Pritzker has overseen more than 50 tax and fee increases across Illinois. According to recent analysis, those hikes have added up to an estimated $77 billion in additional costs for taxpayers. These increases have touched everything from gas taxes to business fees and everyday state charges, and the average Illinois family is now paying roughly $1,400 more per year than they did before 2019. While state revenues have grown, Illinois continues to face significant fiscal challenges, including long-term debt and budget pressures. This serves as a reminder that we need to remain focused on making Illinois more affordable for working families and ensuring taxpayers are getting better value for their hard-earned dollars.
Read more details on Illinois Policy.
IL Has the Highest Unemployment Rate in the U.S.
Illinois’ latest jobs report is another reminder that our state is still lagging behind the rest of the country. The unemployment rate held at 5.1% in April, unchanged from March, but it remains higher than the national average and is up compared to a year ago. That year-over-year increase should be a concern for anyone watching Illinois’ long-term economic health.
While Illinois did add about 11,400 jobs in April, growth was uneven, with gains concentrated in a few sectors like health care, hospitality, and transportation, while other key industries such as professional services and financial activities lost jobs.
Even more troubling, Illinois continues to have fewer total jobs than it did a year ago, and the labor force has declined as well, meaning fewer people are working or even participating in the job market.
Taken together, these numbers point to an economy that is still struggling to keep pace with the nation, and it underscores the need for policies that support job creation, economic growth, and greater opportunity for Illinois families.
Read more details on Illinois Policy.
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Have a great rest of your week! If you ever need anything, please reach out to my office! We are happy to help! See locations and contacts below.
Yours truly,
Senator Chris Balkema