* Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus…

Members of the Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus today called for renewed action to advance progressive revenue solutions, protect taxpayers, and refocus the end of session on working families, property-tax relief and sustainable school funding.

Senate progressives support balanced economic development, and want to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois. But any proposal that offers public benefit to a billionaire-owned franchise must include serious scrutiny, enforceable protections and a full accounting of taxpayer exposure.

“We love our Bears. We want them to stay in Illinois, and we want a solution that works for everyone,” said State Sen. Mary Edly-Allen. “But we should not give billionaires tax breaks at the expense of working people. We want inclusive economic development, not hidden costs or incomplete deals. A thoughtful Senate review of HB 910 is what taxpayers deserve.”

While the millionaire’s surcharge did not advance in the House, the chamber moved quickly on a megaproject framework tied to the new Bears stadium. The proposal requires serious review, public accountability measures and stronger guardrails to protect Illinois taxpayers.

Senate progressives are clear that the fight for a more fair tax system, one that asks more of those most able to pay and delivers more for working families, is not over.

“Now it is the Senate’s turn,” said State Sen. Karina Villa. “Illinois families were told there was not enough time to ask the wealthiest few to pay more. Yet there was time to move a Bears package that even the Bears management themselves say still needs changes. When Springfield decides something is urgent, it finds the time. Working families deserve to be treated as urgent too.”

Any final Bears-related megaproject legislation must include clear public-interest guardrails, including full fiscal transparency, enforceable labor and local-hire standards, clawbacks if promised jobs or investment do not materialize, and ongoing public reporting with a meaningful sunset.

“Illinois Democrats cannot keep acting as though the party can’t get big things done for working people when it controls every lever of power in state government,” said State Sen. Lakesia Collins. “The big question is whether we are willing to use that power to advance the policies working families need. We all know families are already dealing with the highest property tax increases in decades; we can and must do much better for the people we were elected to serve.”

“Families are facing real pressure right now, from food assistance and healthcare to child care, housing, schools and property taxes,” State Sen. Graciela Guzman said. “This is exactly the moment for Illinois to raise revenue from those most able to pay, not shift more costs onto working people.”

Senate progressives called for continued action on serious progressive revenue options that ask more of wealthy individuals and corporations, protect schools and local governments, reduce pressure on homeowners, and stop balancing budgets on the backs of working people.

Budgets are moral documents. So are tax codes. Illinois’ fiscal choices should reflect our values. That means real relief for working people, real protection for taxpayers, and real revenue solutions that stop shifting costs onto the people who can least afford them.

* Affordability and Tax Justice Coalition…

The following is a joint statement from the Affordability and Tax Justice Coalition, following developments in Springfield that made clear that a proposed constitutional amendment to create a “Millionaire’s Tax” will not be moving forward in 2026:

“With the ‘Millionaire’s Tax’ amendment not moving forward in 2026 and the painful impact of the Trump administration’s irresponsible cuts to healthcare, SNAP benefits, public education and more, there is more urgency than ever for legislators to take bold action to make our system of taxation fairer for Illinoisans while addressing rising costs of living that our residents face. We cannot stand by as Illinois remains the 8th most regressive tax state in the country.

“Measures to create a digital advertising tax on the wealthiest corporations (HB4894/SB3353), close corporate loopholes and further decouple from the tax giveaways in HR1 (HB5125/SB3796), tax billionaire wealth (HB5215/SB3376), enact world wide combined reporting (HB5318/SB3486), and close luxury loopholes for millionaires must now become the central focus of our work for the next four weeks.”

* Illinois Revenue Alliance…

The Illinois Revenue Alliance issued the following statement in response to the passage of the “megaproject” bill in the Illinois House:

“On May 1st, thousands of Illinoisans will begin losing SNAP benefits, while the ultra-rich and mega developers continue to get tax breaks. This week’s vote on the Megaproject bill is proof that when there is political will, there is a way. We hope legislators will dedicate that same willpower to addressing food assistance and cuts to our communities.

“As the bill moves to the Senate, Illinois leaders must find the political will to tax billionaires and wealthy corporations to close our budget gap and ensure essential services like education, healthcare, child care, and housing remain funded. The Illinois Revenue Alliance’s $4B revenue package offers four proposals: a digital ads tax, a billionaire tax, an end to offshore tax havens, and the closure of corporate loopholes. These solutions protect communities from federal cuts and the state’s structural deficit.

“The Illinois General Assembly and the Governor can stand up to Trump and his devastating cuts if the ultra-rich finally pay what they owe to protect and fund our communities. The ILRA revenue package is the way.”

Discuss.