109th District Republican State Representative Adam Niemerg has issued a written statement regarding the passage this past weekend of a Fiscal Year 2023 State Budget by the Illinois State Legislature. The spending plan was voted upon early Saturday after a marathon final session. Niemerg was critical of the over $46 billion dollar budget which covers over 3,500 pages. He cited increased pork barrel spending, pay raises for politicians and the failure to the budget to satisfy outstanding unemployment insurance debt at a time of record inflation in the state as reasons for his no vote. Niemerg voted no along with all House Republicans. The budget was approved along party lines in both the House and Senate.