Advocates demand $6 billion more in state spending to support low income communities

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A coalition of unions, grassroots organizations and lobbying groups gathered in the capitol Wednesday, demanding $6 billion more in state spending for the budget.

They want to increase funding for immigrant communities, schools, public transit, healthcare access, senior home care, improving the child tax credit, re-entry employment programs, violence prevention and affordable housing.

The Illinois Revenue Alliance said the state can gain the extra $6 billion in funds by taxing digital advertising, taxing offshore accounts from multinational corporations, tax billionaires based on net worth rather than the cash they have in their banks, increase the corporate income tax, increase estate tax on rich families and closing known corporate loopholes.

Gov. JB Pritzker said he would not accept an unbalanced budget, and wants lawmakers to not raise taxes to fix the budget deficit. Pritzker's budget currently stands at $55.2 billion, a 2.4% increase from financial year 2025's budget.

This is already the largest budget in Illinois history. State Rep. William Davis (D-East Hazel Crest) said Illinois lawmakers need to be bolder in state spending.

"What you see here is not just new taxes, particularly not new taxes on hard working families, corporate loopholes are not taxes," Davis said. "We're shutting those down."

While the advocates didn't support a particular bill at the conference, many are hopeful the governor will listen to their calls to increase the quality of living for low income communities.