"Pritzker's Budget Prioritizes Medical Debt Erasure, Migrant Funding, and Tax Increases"

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker plans to allocate $10 million in federal funds to erase over $1 billion in medical debt for state residents, following the successful model implemented in Cook County. The initiative aims to remove the burden of medical debt for low-income individuals and is set to be the first year of a multiyear plan. The state will partner with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt to identify and cancel debts for those facing financial hardship, with the potential to benefit 364,000 people in the first year. Additionally, Pritzker's budget proposal includes funding for the ongoing migrant crisis and a tax increase on sports betting revenues, drawing potential opposition from industry lobbyists.