Illinois Attorney General requesting $15 million budget increase to address Trump actions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is asking state lawmakers to approve a $120 million budget for his office. House appropriations leaders noted Friday that is a $15 million increase over his current operating budget.

The Attorney General's office addresses crime victims services, Medicaid fraud, and organized retail crime among many other areas. However, the Trump administration has become the largest issue for Raoul.

"His unlawful actions harm people in Illinois ranging from consumers to farmers, to veterans, to students, people with disabilities, medical professionals, and scientists working on cancer research," Raoul said.

Raoul said it is his responsibility to act on behalf of Illinois when the state has suffered harms from what he called unlawful and unconstitutional federal overreach. His office has filed over 10 lawsuits and 14 amicus briefs against the Trump administration, but there are other cases in the works.

Raoul told lawmakers it is essential that his budget supports the capacity to maintain vital programs and efforts.

"This budget will support supplying the requisite attorneys to step up where the federal government is stepping away, as well as attorneys involved in critical cases to protect our state's interests," Raoul explained.

Still, Democrats and Republicans know that this is a tight budget year with potential cuts across multiple state agencies. Gov. JB Pritzker's proposed budget included $106 million for Raoul's team, significantly less than the Attorney General is requesting.

"I filed a bill regarding having the AG's office do billable hours type recording for these cases that your attorneys work on, so at least we'd have some indication of what the cost of time is," said Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton). "What does it cost us to pursue these?"

Raoul said he couldn't provide that information because his attorneys are salaried employees.

Democratic leaders will spend the final weeks of session discussing budget plans behind closed doors before introducing their spending plan. Lawmakers have to pass the budget before session adjourns May 31.