Illinois Rep. Criticizes Governor's State of the State Address

State Rep. Joe Sosnowski says Pritzker ignored key issues facing Illinois

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

State Representative Joe Sosnowski has criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's recent State of the State address, saying the governor painted an overly rosy picture of the state's situation while proposing to raise taxes and fees by over $700 million. Sosnowski called the address "surreal" and said Pritzker failed to address the real issues facing Illinois.

Why it matters

Sosnowski's criticism highlights the ongoing political tensions and disagreements between the Democratic governor and Republican legislators over the direction of the state. The State of the State address is an important annual event where the governor lays out their agenda, so Sosnowski's rebuke carries significant weight.

The details

In his State of the State address, Governor Pritzker touted Illinois' economic progress and recovery, but Sosnowski says the governor ignored key issues facing the state. Instead of addressing problems, Pritzker proposed raising taxes and fees by over $700 million, which Sosnowski criticized as an attempt to blame the federal government rather than take responsibility.

  • Governor Pritzker delivered the State of the State address on March 1, 2026.

The players

JB Pritzker

The Democratic governor of Illinois.

Joe Sosnowski

A Republican state representative in Illinois who has criticized Governor Pritzker's State of the State address.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Rather than discuss the issues facing Illinois, the governor took the time to paint a rosy picture as if nothing was wrong. He then laid out how he was going to raise taxes and fees by over $700 million and blamed the federal government. It was surreal.”

— Joe Sosnowski, State Representative (Rockford Register Star)

The takeaway

Sosnowski's criticism highlights the ongoing partisan divide in Illinois politics, with Republicans pushing back against the Democratic governor's agenda and portrayal of the state's condition. This sets the stage for continued political battles over the state's priorities and policies.