What your lawmakers are saying

How suburban lawmakers felt about the budget process

Rep. Carol Sente, Vernon Hills Democrat

“The budget is my core concern and having a responsible budget has always been a top priority,” she said. “I’m really proud. ... We set a ceiling and did not go above that and made our pension payment.”

Rep. Timothy Schmitz, Batavia Republican

“Our appropriation committees worked together, they went line by line and made cuts. They went in and made each area kind of prove why they needed the dollars that they were asking for.”

Rep. Michelle Mussman, Schaumburg Democrat

“I was thrilled ... everybody who came and sat at the table brought their own expertise and everybody’s ideas were respected. I think it is absolutely the work that our citizens really wanted us to be doing.”

Rep. Sandra Pihos, Glen Ellyn Republican

“I think it was a matter of efficiency, it was a matter of not using our budget like a credit card and it was a wise use of taxpayer dollars. We deliberated for days and days and days to bring the best budget possible forward that would not be draconian, but reasonable.”

Sen. Arthur “A.J.” Wilhelmi, Joliet Democrat

“When we passed the tax increase bill, we said we we’re going to pay the pension obligation, pass a balanced budget and make difficult cuts. It was a deliberate, thoughtful process and it’s a good sign for taxpayers to see this more open, transparent process.”

Sen. Suzi Schmidt, Lake Villa Republican

“You can cut from the $35 billion that the governor says he has, but he doesn’t have it. I call it Monopoly money. We’re not cutting anything because we don’t have $35 billion. ... I think there were plenty of other places to cut. Why did we give raises?”

_ Jeff Engelhardt