During a City Club of Chicago event in January, Speaker Welch declared, "Everything is about affordability and that's going to be our focus." But Illinois families struggling with rising costs may find that hard to believe after Democrats approved a record-setting $55.9 billion state budget packed with new taxes, spending, and political giveaways.
Rather than providing relief for working families, Democrats chose to:
- Impose a $200 million social media tax, a failed idea borrowed from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
- Sweep $150 million from the sales tax on motor fuel to support their excessive spending.
- Set aside at least $220 million for pork projects and special spending priorities.
- Spend $40 million on welcoming centers for illegal immigrants, continuing Illinois' costly sanctuary-state policies.
- Allocate $110 million for healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants over the age of 65.
Democrats are also pursuing additional tax hikes, including a digital advertising tax, a tax on prediction markets, and efforts to decouple Illinois from federal tax provisions. Many of these proposals face significant legal questions, yet Democrats continue searching for new ways to extract more money from Illinois taxpayers for the fun of it.
These latest tax increases come on top of the 57 tax and fee hikes enacted under Governor JB Pritzker, which have cost Illinois taxpayers an estimated $77 billion.
While Democrats promised affordability, they delivered higher taxes, higher spending, and a larger government. House Republicans unanimously opposed the budget and will continue fighting for lower taxes, responsible spending, and real relief for Illinois families struggling with the rising cost of living.