The "Endless Appetite": How Illinois Spends Your Money

There is an "endless appetite" for spending in Springfield, but who is actually paying the bill? Former Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer pulls back the curtain on the chaotic, high-stakes game of the Illinois state budget on the latest episode of the Illinois Policy Podcast. As Governor Pritzker prepares his annual budget address, Illinois faces a potential structural deficit. Despite failed attempts at a progressive income tax, state spending continues to rise, driven by pension liabilities and Medicaid expansion. This episode analyzes the General Revenue Fund (GRF), the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) projections, and the economic impact of having the nation's highest corporate tax rates. We discuss the need for a spending cap, the reality of outmigration, and fiscal reforms needed to stabilize the Illinois economy.

You can listen to The "Endless Appetite": How Illinois Spends Your Money online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The "Endless Appetite": How Illinois Spends Your Money is an episode from Illinois Rising by Illinois Policy.

This episode is 52:38 long.

This episode was published on Feb 17, 2026.

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