As the General Assembly returns to Springfield for the second week of the fall veto session, Democrats in Springfield are pushing a plan that could cost Illinois families up to $1.5 billion more each year to bail out Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago transit system, which faces a looming budget shortfall due to long-term financial mismanagement.

Among other items, some of the ideas proposed in the new wish list include:

· $1 Delivery Tax on Orders over $100: Makes it more expensive for families to order baby formula and diapers, school supplies, and other household essentials online.

· Service Taxes: Raises the cost of routine needs families can’t go without like haircuts, car repairs, and childcare.

· $1 Toll Surcharge: Adds up quickly for commuters, taking more money out of every paycheck just to get to work.

· 10% Rideshare Tax: Increases the cost of getting to work, appointments, or school, especially for families without easy access to public transit.

· Real Estate Transfer Tax: Makes buying or selling a home more expensive for working families and first-time homebuyers.

· New Vehicle Tax: Makes it harder for families to afford or replace a reliable car.

· Payroll (Head) Tax: Raises costs for employers in Chicago, which could mean fewer jobs and lower wages for workers.

· More Speed Cameras: Means more costly fines for parents and workers driving to their jobs or running family errands.

· Higher RTA Sales Tax: Raises the price of nearly everything families buy, from school supplies to clothing to household goods for families in the suburbs.

The plan doesn’t just raise taxes, it raises the cost of daily life. Families would pay more for the basics they rely on every day, from getting to work and buying groceries to caring for their kids.

Republican lawmakers warn that these taxes would hit suburban and downstate families hardest, forcing them to subsidize Mayor Brandon Johnson’s financial mismanagement. For many downstate families who never ride Chicago’s buses or trains, this plan means paying more for a service they may never use. State Senate Republicans say Illinois families are already paying more for utilities, daily necessities, and property taxes, and they cannot afford another round of tax hikes.

Every extra dollar matters for working parents trying to put food on the table and keep the lights on. The last thing Illinois families need is another tax making life harder. It is time for Springfield to start helping families get ahead instead of holding them back.