PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - State senators came to Peoria on Tuesday to speak to city leaders about challenges regarding to business, budget, and growth in Illinois.

The luncheon was hosted at the Pere Marquette hotel by the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. A major talking point was the almost $55 billion state budget signed earlier this year and how lawmakers can ensure continued and sustainable growth without burdening taxpayers.

State Chief Budgetee and Democratic Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said the high budget amount is an investment in the state’s future, making sure that Illinois is a competitive destination for people to live and visit.

“The reason our economy has topped one trillion dollars is because we made those investments,” Sims said. “We focused on having an economy that’s fu

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