MOORE’S SUMMARY: With just two session days left before the scheduled end of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session, several major topics remain unresolved, including the state budget and a megaprojects bill that would pave the way for the Chicago Bears to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights.
Friday was a “hurry up and wait” kind of day in the Capitol as supermajority House Democrats and Senate Democrats spent much of it behind closed doors in private caucus meetings. Similarly, Gov. JB Pritzker and his top staff were holed up in his office on the second floor of the Capitol.
The Big 3 – Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside – met at least twice in the governor’s office.
FOCUS: Harmon told reporters leaving Pritzker’s office that his caucus had “a full discussion of the budget” and that was their focus. For a second consecutive day, the megaprojects legislation — which passed the House last month but is expected to be amended in the upper chamber — was not addressed in caucus.
“We’ll talk when there’s something to talk about,” Harmon said.
Leaving his office a few minutes later, Pritzker confirmed, “we’re focused on the budget. That is the number one thing we’re going to get done.”
Pritzker said they’re “making progress,” but that it’s “one of the hardest things to do,” adding that it was “especially” so this year, “when you’ve got Donald Trump attacking states and Illinois and our budgets.”
The governor did not offer an update on the megaprojects bill or his Building Up Illinois Developments housing plan.
BUDGET: Meanwhile, budget negotiations are coming along, with some revenue options coming into clearer focus.
Sources confirmed to us that options likely to be added to the budget include a digital advertising tax once proposed by Pritzker and long sought by progressive legislators; a tax on predictions markets like Kalshi and Polymarket; and decoupling from a federal tax break for business owners selling stocks. But the spending plan would not bank on revenue from the new sources due to the likelihood of litigation.
A tax on social media companies like Facebook and X that Pritzker proposed in his budget address in February would be included, bringing in an estimated $200 million.
A few other options under consideration and the revenue they could bring in:
- Tweaking the Net Operating Loss Deduction – $300 million
- Deposit surplus sales tax on motor fuel – $150 million
- Railroad hazardous materials impact fee – $85 million
- Sales tax on candy and soda – $78 million
- A tax on cryptocurrency and fantasy sports – $65 million
- Tobacco sales tax – $5 million
OTHER ISSUES: We’re also keeping tabs on a cannabis omnibus bill and Pritzker’sBUILD, which have yet to receive floor votes in either chamber.
CAUTION: Everything is fluid and things can change. The Senate gavels in at 1 p.m. Saturday and the House not until 5 p.m.
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