Deputy Illinois House Minority Leader and State Representative Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, issued the following statement in response to final passage of a bipartisan state budget for Fiscal Year 2019 today by the Illinois General Assembly:

“After three years of turmoil, Democrats and Republicans worked cooperatively to pass a full-year balanced state budget. In the end, we achieved our three main priorities; a balanced budget, full year funding, and no tax increase. This budget also meets our commitment to mental health and combating opioid, alcohol and substance abuse addiction.”

State Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, speaks during debate in opposition to HR 1025, a resolution calling for Illinois to implement a Progressive Income Tax system.

State Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, met with members of the 4-H administrative staff this week getting ready for the hundreds of kids in 4-H clubs across the State of Illinois who visited the Capitol the following day. Rep. Bellock enjoyed meeting with the 4-H members and discussing their issues. 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth program in the country. There are 6 million kids across the country in 4-H, including 200,000 youth in Illinois, some from each of Illinois' 102 counties.

The Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation hosted an outstanding luncheon to celebrate the many community successes over the past year. Representative Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, was pleased to attend, shown here with EDC President Michael Cassa, Representative David Olsen, R-Downers Grove, EDC Chairman John Luka, and Senator John Curran.

United Way Children’s Home and Aid and other groups visited Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, at her Springfield Office to talk about funding for youth in the 2019 budget. Patti is one of the budgeteers for the State of Illinois in 2019 budget negotiations.

Rep. Patti Bellock

SPRINGFIELD – Deputy Illinois House Minority Leader and State Representative Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, has been named a budget negotiator to help craft a bipartisan balanced state budget this spring for Fiscal Year 2019, announced House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs. The General Assembly is required to pass a state budget by May 31 for the new fiscal year that begins on July 1. 

Joining Representative Bellock on this year’s budget negotiating team for the House Republicans is Representative David Harris, R-Arlington Heights. They will work closely in the coming weeks with the House Democrats team led by Representative Greg Harris, D-Chicago, and their counterparts in the State Senate, as well as staff from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

“It is vitally important that Democrats and Republicans work cooperatively in Springfield to pass a full-year balanced state budget this spring,” Rep. Bellock said. “Our priorities must be to preserve the safety net for the state’s most vulnerable children and families, meet the state’s commitment to K-12 education and public safety, and respect taxpayers by passing a budget that does not include any new tax increases. We can and must achieve each of these goals.”