East Central Reporter

Brad Halbrook, the Illinois state representative for House District 107, has expressed concerns over the state's economic trajectory. Despite national forecasts indicating growth, Halbrook believes Illinois is lagging behind.

"The troubling findings from the FY 2026 Illinois Economic Forecast," said Halbrook, State Representative for 107th District (R), according to Facebook. "While the national economy is expected to grow, Illinois continues to lag behind—averaging just 1.4% growth compared to the U.S. average of 2.4% since 1998."

In a Facebook post, Halbrook discussed Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2026 Economic Forecast and Revenue Estimate, warning that every member of the state House should be concerned. He cited the state's projected 1.7% growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as evidence of its underperformance compared to the rest of the country. Halbrook attributed this to progressive policies that he claims are responsible for poor economic performance and increased volatility. "These numbers aren’t just lines in a spreadsheet. They represent fewer jobs, slower wage growth, and more young people leaving for opportunity elsewhere," he said. He urged fellow legislators to treat the report as a wake-up call and to come together to enact bold structural reforms to "turn the ship around."

Screenshot of State Representative Brad Halbrook's May 21 Facebook post | State Representative Brad Halbrook's Facebook page

According to WAND News, Governor J.B. Pritzker has lowered revenue projections for fiscal year 2026 by more than $500 million compared to his February proposal. The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) indicated that this revision reflects broader impacts on the U.S. economy attributed to President Donald Trump. GOMB Director Alexi Sturm said reports suggest slower GDP growth—or even a potential recession—contributing to this revised outlook.

Capitol News Illinois reported that lawmakers have one week left to pass a new state budget with a simple majority vote; after June 1, a three-fifths vote will be required for approval. Before the revenue projection was lowered, Democrats anticipated a tight fiscal year with limited room for new programs in the FY 2026 budget. The reduced revenue forecast further restricts potential additional spending. Uncertainty over federal budget allocations and Medicaid funding also contributes to fiscal concerns, as recent legislation passed by the Illinois House aims to reduce federal Medicaid spending.

Halbrook has served as a state representative since 2023 and previously represented different districts within the Illinois House of Representatives from 2012-2015 and 2017-2022.