SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois House Democrats hope to pass a $1.5 billion Chicago transit funding and reform plan during the final days of session, but the measure faces a tough road ahead with Gov. JB Pritzker opposing some of the new taxes included in the legislation.
The proposal would create a 7% amusement tax on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, live shows and ticketed events to generate roughly $700 million. It also calls for a $5 surcharge on tickets to events at venues with more than 10,000 seats.
Sponsors also hope to include new speed cameras in safety zones to bring in roughly $265 million.
"What we're talking about here is a long-term structural issue with transit not just in northeastern Illinois, but the state of Illinois," said Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago). "So, we have to come up with a funding solution that is going to go beyond 2026. It's got to be in perpetuity. 2027, 2028, 2029."
However, Pritzker came out in strong opposition to the revenue package during an unrelated press conference Wednesday. Pritzker said additional speed cameras are a bad idea given the state's past history with political corruption involving cameras. He also opposes the idea of a billionaire's tax on unrealized capital gains as it has never been imposed in the United States.
"As it is, it's not going forward," Pritzker told reporters in Taylorville. "There's got to be a lot of discussion between the House and Senate in order to come up with a final bill because it isn't going to look like what the House has put forward."
Delgado and Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) stressed that the legislation will include roughly $220 million for downstate transit needs. Delgado told WAND News there is already a transit fund for downstate agencies within the Illinois Department of Transportation.
"This would just be increasing the amount of funding that's available for those agencies to access to be able to expand their systems," Delgado said.
Illinois labor leaders said lawmakers must pass a transit reform and funding plan before they adjourn Thursday. Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea told reporters Wednesday afternoon the time for talk is over.
"We have been working on this issue for 18 months," Drea said. "This is such an issue that cannot be ignored any longer. Labor is here to stand up and say to the legislature, the governor and everybody get this done. There's so much at stake for so many people. It's gotta get done."
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