East Central Reporter

Republican state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s new budget proposal amounts to one giant crapshoot.

“It is pure fantasy to think that we can base a stable funding stream for our schools and colleges through promoting drug use and more gambling,” Bailey said in a Feb. 21 press release soon after Pritzker made his plan to raise public funds from the legalization of recreational marijuana and the sports gambling public.

The governor’s proposal also calls for a new tax to be slapped on insurance companies that Bailey argues will ultimately be shouldered by policyholders like senior citizens and small business owners.

"The governor’s budget proposal for this next year is based on faulty economics,” Bailey said. “His suggesting that more revenue from sports gambling, marijuana licenses and taxes on electronic cigarettes and vaping products is the wrong path for our families, seniors and state.”

Bailey said he isn’t opposed to "adequately funding" schools, but simply feels it’s time state lawmakers started living within their means.

“...When you understand what belt-tightening is, you can’t in good conscience spend $25 million more than is available,” he said. “Taxing vices like e-cigarettes and vaping products, encouraging drug use by legalizing recreational marijuana and expanding gambling to include betting on sports are not sound economic principles for a cash flow for important programs for our schools and colleges.”