SPRINGFIELD — As Illinois heads into a new year and a new legislative session, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie is calling for a clear change in direction, one focused on affordability, public safety, and job-creating infrastructure.
McCombie says her call for change reflects what Illinois families are experiencing every day: rising costs, safety concerns, and uncertainty about the state’s future.
“Illinois families are budgeting every day,” McCombie said. “They are making tough choices about housing, energy, fuel, and raising their kids. Illinois democrats need to start doing the same, by ending overspending, prioritizing Illinois taxpayers, and focusing on outcomes that actually improve people’s lives.”
McCombie says that affordability goes far beyond the state budget. It includes educational outcomes, addressing the failures of the SAFE-T Act by putting victims first and stopping repeat offenders, and reversing energy policies that are driving up utility bills and pushing families and businesses out of the state.
The Leader also named infrastructure and job growth as key priorities, noting that Illinois residents already pay a higher gas tax while recent policy changes divert road funds away from critical projects.
“When dollars are swept away from our downstate roads and bridges, to be sent to Chicago transit, job growth in our area slows and the disinvestment hurts our local economy,” McCombie said. “Protecting infrastructure funding is protecting our families–keeping people working and strengthening local communities.”
Looking ahead to 2026, McCombie says Illinois must prioritize this refocus, without raising taxes or growing government.
“Strong schools, safe communities, reliable energy, and smart infrastructure aren’t partisan ideas,” McCombie said. “They are the foundation of a stronger future for Illinois. Ending wasteful spending and putting people first isn’t optional, it’s the only path forward.”