North Cook News

Chapin Rose, a state senator for Illinois, said that Democratic lawmakers are advocating for unnecessary tax increases on working families to fund a Chicago transit bailout. He argued that Illinois' issue is overspending rather than a lack of revenue. This statement was made in a press release.

"Just when we thought there couldn't be any more tax proposals — BOOM!! They throw out more," said Thomas Chapin Rose. "Taxing our groceries? Haircuts? Deliveries? And now Netflix? You have to be joking. Democrats are pushing a plan to raise taxes on working families to fund a $2 billion bailout for Chicago's transit system. Illinois doesn't have a revenue problem — it has a spending problem."

During Illinois’ 2025 veto session, lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion transit rescue bill aimed at stabilizing the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace systems while creating a new regional oversight authority to improve long-term funding. According to NBC Chicago, the measure passed after heated debate over potential new taxes on digital services and event tickets. Governor Pritzker indicated he will sign it into law to prevent major service cuts in Chicago’s transit network.

Illinois currently levies a 1% state grocery tax that will be repealed effective January 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Chicago imposes separate local taxes including an 11% Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax (covering software-as-a-service) and a 10.25% Amusement Tax on streaming platforms and digital entertainment. These rates have positioned Chicago as one of the highest-taxed digital markets in the United States, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue and the City of Chicago.

Illinois ranks in the lower third of U.S. states for overall tax competitiveness, placed 38th in the 2025 Tax Foundation Business Tax Climate Index, trailing neighbors like Indiana (9th) and Missouri (14th). The Civic Federation reports that Illinois allocates about 11% of its operating budget to pensions—among the highest in the Midwest—constraining spending on public services.

Rose, a Republican from Mahomet, has represented Illinois’ 51st Senate District since 2013 after ten years in the House. As reported by the Illinois General Assembly, he serves as Minority Spokesperson on Appropriations and Judiciary Committees and is a vocal critic of tax increases, advocating for spending cuts and economic growth through regulatory reform.