* 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.
- Sue - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:09 am:
The demand for local hiring for the Bears in particular doesn’t make any sense. I doubt there are anywhere near enough people in Arlington Heights who are looking for low wage seasonal jobs, and AH certainly doesn’t want them to move there!
- City Zen - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:18 am:
Affordability and Tax Justice Coalition, Illinois Revenue Alliance, Progressive Caucus…platform rebranding that would make GM blush.
==Budgets are moral documents. So are tax codes.==
Another argument for taxing retirement income.
- queenies - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:25 am:
You gotta love the progessives typical flex to push for more revenue
- SwSider - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:29 am:
You gotta love the billionaires, typical flex to get tax dollars but refuse to give any thing back.
- Lee Elia - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:30 am:
44 states impose a corporate income tax.
Rates range from 2% flat rate in North Carolina to an 11.5% top marginal rate in New Jersey.
3 states reduced their rates last year, none have raised them.
The average top marginal rate is 6.6%
Four states, New Jersey 11.5% , Minnesota 9.8% , Illinois 9.5% and Alaska 9.4% levy top marginal rates above 9%.
Maine is at 8.93% and California is at 8.8%
Illinois companies should finally pay what they owe?
https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:30 am:
“The Bears staying in Chicago” and “progressive taxation” are at odds with one another. Not a dollar for any sports team, ever.
- Think Again - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:36 am:
=typical flex to push for more revenue=
Not just revenue, but revenue from certain tax brackets
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:42 am:
How about converting all GRF per unit taxes to ad valorem with an annual inflationary adjustment, like the gas tax?
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:44 am:
- I doubt there are anywhere near enough people in Arlington Heights who are looking for low wage seasonal jobs -
Where does it say this refers only to Arlington Heights residents and where does it say this is only about seasonal positions?
- Earnest - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:54 am:
Hearing the statement of the Senate Progressive Caucus makes me feel the same way I did when one of the Democratic US Senate candidates differentiated herself from the other two frontrunners by coming out in favor of Medicare for All. I’m beyond frustrated for the House handing billionaires a handout while fumbling new revenue that will be needed to avert very painful cuts in the coming years as the Big Beautiful Bill redirects federal dollars away from programs that support the non-wealthy.
- ChicagoVinny - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 10:28 am:
My humble messaging suggestion for the next time it comes up is stop calling it a Millionaire’s Tax and call it a Billionaire’s Tax instead.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 10:55 am:
===converting all GRF per unit taxes to ad valorem===
Those are outlawed by the state constitution.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:16 am:
===Those are outlawed by the state constitution.===
Does the Constitution use a term other than “ad valorem?” That expression appears only in relation to “property tax” (Article VII, Local Government, Sections 6,7, and 8 ) and “personal property tax” (Article IX, Revenue, Section 5) … .
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:18 am:
Personal property tax is an ad valorem.
- Steve - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:26 am:
The GOP isn’t popular in Illinois or nationally heading into 2026 midterms. The Democrats should have a big victories . I can’t figure out why in an off year election progressive income tax reform isn’t going to be put to the voters. If not now , when? When exactly will conditions look better for progressive revenue than now?
- Sue - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:27 am:
By all means lets chase successful people out of the State- that worked swell with Ken G sho most on here cheered when he moved- according to Gemini- Griffins 2024 and 2025 were both like 2.4 Billion- at 4.95 percent the state is out 120 million 2 years in a row and likely every year into the future- as california and MA are learning- people can readily move if you give them a reason and they take their income with
- Skokie Man - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:29 am:
“When Springfield decides something is urgent, it finds the time. Working families deserve to be treated as urgent too.”
Good messaging. It would be better messaging if Dems didn’t control the House, Senate, and Governor’s office. I’m not suggesting that the IL GOP would do better on this topic.
- Tom - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:40 am:
If the progressives want to be fair, increase taxes on everyone.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:43 am:
Tom, are you being daft on purpose?
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:44 am:
@Sue
How much longer are you going to be permitted to lie repeatedly and non stop here before your pists are suspended?
Massachusettes found out the hard way??? Is that why they have raised more revenue from their millionaire tax than they projected and continue to do so?
What about the numerous studies that show billionaires do not leave because of taxes despite their rhetoric and that the people most likely to move are lower income people in search of better jobs and cheaper housing?
You continue to parrot GOP lies on here NON stop, just spewing the billionaire class’s non stop trash for them. It is time you betold to stop your lies or stop being allowed to post.
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:48 am:
@tom
Do you get paid a dollar every time you promote pro billionaire speak, or do you do it willfully and for free?
- Sue - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:50 am:
B? Ask Gemini- MA has lost overall state income revenues - for CA- people can’t move out fast enough
- Stromsw7706 - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:53 am:
The Bears should move to Indiana. Illinois has greater needs than feathering the nest of the multi-billion dollar NFL. Any deals with the state for clawbacks, revenue sharing, etc., will get lost in escape clauses and exceptions for these rich owners. States will have neither the time or resources to contest breaches of the contracts and taxpayers will be gutted again. My local school district just cut 30 percent of their staff. No to the Bears !
- Just thinking'... - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 11:55 am:
I would guess that Ken Griffin, like most people, would not be taking much compensation in the form of salary, or any other way that is subject to taxation. And he probably wasn’t making any of his charitable donations purely for altruistic reasons (nor buying works of art purely out of love for art), but to shield his wealth from taxes. Jeff Bezos was taking home about $80,000 per year in salary as head of Amazon, back when he worked full-time. Paying income tax is for working stiffs. Your average dentist probably paid more state income tax than Griffin.
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo256019296.html
Now, property taxes on Griffin’s many expensive homes are another matter, but doubtful those are much cheaper in Miami or Aspen than they are here.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 12:24 pm:
It amazes me the number of people who defend millionaires and billionaires.
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 12:28 pm:
@sue
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/massachusetts-collected-2-billion-more-153147561.html
Keep trying to lie your way to being a billionaire.
California continues to be the economic emgine of the entire country and one of the most powerful economies in the world and that is your example of trying to make your point? LOL
- Steve Polite - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 12:37 pm:
“Ask Gemini” because we all know AI is 100% correct with every query it is asked. /s
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 12:47 pm:
=It is time you betold to stop your lies or stop being allowed to post.=
Isn’t it more fun to see how many times Sue is wrong? Julianna Stratton certainly thinks so.
- Sue #1 - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
Apparently there are two Sues posting here?
My original point is that it makes no sense for activists to demand that all megaprojects as a matter of state law must have community benefits provisions. Arlington Heights doesn’t care about the jobs. They want as much new tax revenue (being promised as added sales tax growth even if not new property taxes) with as few new residents coming in as possible, and AH just doesn’t perceive of itself as having an unemployment rate high enough to be worth considering in any development project.
- Lee Elia - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 1:19 pm:
Doubtful property taxes are lower elsewhere than they are here and your average dentist paid more income tax than Ken Griffin?
Effective property tax rate in Aspen is .22%
Miami is somewhere between .8 and 1.38%
National median is 1.02%
Effective property tax rate in Cook County is 1.98%
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income in Illinois.
You need to just think a little harder and not guess
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 1:40 pm:
@Lee Elia
And ken griffin and his ilk own more than the bottom 60% of the entire natiom and you think it is too much to ask for them to lose some of their tax loop holes. Good god Ill never understand how some of you are so easily fooled and lead to the slaughter.
- Sue - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 2:15 pm:
Well B-maybe we are sick of you- latest IRS data- top 1 percent of tax payers paid nearly 40 percent of all IRS individual taxes- top 5 percent paid 60 percent- bottom 50 paid under 3 percent - but it is never enough for you and the Sanders/ warren types- Illinois has I believe 2nd highest corp tax rates in the Country- perhaps had the governor not spent 2 billion on migrant health care the recent budget problems would not have materialized- people with wealth are usually pretty mobile and unless you don’t pay attention- Blue run states such as CA NY IL MA have been losing 10’s of billions of revenue to TX FL TN etc- it is not a coincidence
- 48th Ward Heel - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 2:22 pm:
Sue (#2), are you aware that Illinois currently has a flat tax, what conservatives used to call a “fair tax” and demand be implemented everywhere?
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 2:46 pm:
My humble messaging suggestion for the next time it comes up is stop calling it a Millionaire’s Tax and call it a Billionaire’s Tax instead.
Depending on where yo search……there are 16-17 “Billionaires” who reside in Illinois…..that’s a pretty narrow population to base a campaign for changing the Illinois Constitution Income tax requirements……probably why the referendum was pulled…..the key is to get the State Constitution Language altered…..so the tax brackets are all in play at some point…..really have to get it right the next time….or you live with what the constitution dictates….se pension Language
- Sue - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 2:52 pm:
48- of course- I said i was giving IRS federal tax data
- Lee Elia - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 3:58 pm:
Did you ever consider those of us who work in the private sector want our employers to stay and expand in Illinois?
Considering no other state raised its corporate tax last year and Illinois is already the 3rd highest rate, maybe you have it backwards about who is being fooled and led to the slaughter.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 4:16 pm:
==Did you ever consider those of us who work in the private sector want our employers to stay and expand in Illinois?==
I’m not a big fan of rich guys making threats and demanding to not be taxed or else they will take their ball and go home. I guess you think we should bend over backwards so as not to offend the rich. Treat them with kid gloves and all.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 4:17 pm:
==top 1 percent of tax payers paid nearly 40 percent of all IRS individual taxes-==
Good. That’s the way it should be. You’ve got money you are obligated to pay a greater percentage of your income in taxes. That’s how civilized societies work. Except in this country some of you think we should coddle the rich.
- Lee Elia - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 5:42 pm:
Sounds like you need a prescription for cognitive dissonance.
The top 1% pay 40% and top 5% pay 60% of all taxes but are somehow being coddled.
- @lee elia - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 6:08 pm:
And yet the amounts they pay as a percentage of their wealth is vastly lower than what orfinary people pay, a fact your type continues to ignore and run from.
How much are you paid to lick those boots?
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 6:09 pm:
@sue
Still waiting for you to respond on how it is Massachusettes is collecting more revenue than projected from its millionaire tax if they all left?
Or will you just run from that like always and go off and spout more lies with the boot in your mouth?
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 6:35 pm:
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/03/the-wealth-of-the-top-1percent-reaches-a-record-52-trillion.html
Imagine defending these people as paying enough. Everyone else scraping by should shoulder more even though they already pay way higher %s of their worth in taxes than the richest people in human history.
Yet these people like Sue and Elia go to bad for these robber barons who make the original robber barons look like todays lower middle class.
I just csnt fathom how someone can stump for these people.
- Lee Elia - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 6:40 pm:
Not running from anything.
Sorry but the tax policy center estimates that 39.6% of filers -the ordinary people, paid zero federal income taxes in 2025.
This is because of federal transfer payments and programs like the earned income tax and child tax credit.
Most of these people did pay payroll taxes which finance Medicare and social security.
https://taxpolicycenter.org/fiscal-facts/who-will-pay-no-federal-individual-income-tax-2025
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 7:47 pm:
==Sorry but the tax policy center estimates that 39.6% of filers -the ordinary people, paid zero federal income taxes in 2025.==
Imagine how little they earn in order to be in that bracket. Folks at that income level are pretty much living paycheck to paycheck. In the US, income inequality has been increasing for decades. The top earners have been steadily increasing their share of aggregate income (from 29% in 1970 to 50% in 2020) while the share for middle and lower earners has steadily declined.
Raise wages for lower income folks and they will start paying federal income taxes. I’m sure they would gladly pay some income tax if they could afford it.
Income inequality and the accumulation of wealth is a big problem in the US as is tax avoidance and rigging the system so the rich can keep more and pay less.
Illinois needs a graduated income tax. The U.S. needs a much higher tax on the wealthy, who benefit the most.
- B - Thursday, Apr 30, 26 @ 9:24 pm:
Sue forgot to switch accounts lol. Makes so much more sense now.
You also claimed to not run away feom the data then ignored it again.
Impressive how dedicated you are to looking foolish.