South West Illinois News

Ed McLean, Chairman of Monroe County Republicans, has called for Illinois Democrats to be held accountable for what he describes as prioritizing billions in migrant spending over essential services for residents. McLean expressed his views to SW Illinois News.

"Illinois Democrats have consistently chosen to fund expansive migrant programs while leaving critical services for citizens underfunded," said McLean. "This misalignment in priorities raises questions about who lawmakers are really working for. The $55.2 billion state budget continues a trend of ignoring taxpayers in favor of political optics. Responsible budgeting and structural reform are needed to restore public trust."

According to the Illinois Policy Institute, by the end of 2025, Illinois is projected to have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care. This figure far exceeds initial projections and places a strain on taxpayers. Health care alone accounted for $1.6 billion through July 2024. The adult migrant program, initially expected to cost $126.4 million from 2021–2023, reached a total of $485.3 million. Similarly, the senior program cost $412.3 million, nearly double its estimates. An additional $478 million has been allocated to migrant services since 2023. These budget pressures have led to the termination of the adult program in 2025, prompting critics to question Governor J.B. Pritzker's spending priorities.

The Illinois Policy Institute further reported that Illinois’ budget for 2026 stands at $55.2 billion, which is an increase of $2 billion from the previous year and includes over $800 million in added taxpayer costs. The budget was approved with limited review and employs tax increases, fund sweeps, and delayed payments to achieve balance. It underfunds pensions by $5 billion and eliminates the Property Tax Relief Grant, resulting in a $43 million property tax hike while lawmakers included over $6,000 in pay raises for themselves. Since 2019, Governor Pritzker has increased the state budget by $16 billion and approved more than 50 tax hikes.

As reported by NBC News in February 2024, over 13,200 migrants were residing in 28 shelters run by Illinois according to a city census of new arrivals. Most migrants arrived since June 2023 as part of a busing campaign from southern border cities. More than 100,000 migrants have been transported to so-called sanctuary cities since April 2022; approximately 35,000 of them have gone to Chicago. Cities like Chicago, New York City, and Denver are struggling to meet the demand for housing and social services due to this influx.

McLean was first appointed Chairman in 2016 and has worked towards representing conservative values within the Republican Party while focusing on strengthening Monroe County as a community. A retired engineer and business leader married for 45 years, McLean resides with his wife on a small horse farm in rural Monroe County and remains active in civic organizations such as the Mason Shriner Organization and Rotary Club.