The Governor signed the state budget last week, it wasn’t without criticism from Republicans and state spending came under critique from Democrat Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

She told a reporter that she would have liked to have seen “cuts across the board” in spending. But with no specific calls for cuts – Democrat Governor JB Pritzker says it’s an empty thought.

Mendoza says there are things to like inside the budget – increasing the state’s rainy-day fund. And she notes the good overall fiscal health of the state and the nine credit upgrades its received since 2021.