SPRINGFIIELD – Illinois Senate Republicans held a press conference Tuesday which asked the question: “Should Illinois’ collar counties and downstate Illinois help bailout the state’s largest city?”
Click here to view the news conference: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BwaZESREG/
Suburban State Senators Seth Lewis and Don DeWitte, along with the Senate Republican’s Chief Budget Negotiator and central Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose comment on Chicago Mayor Brandon’s Johnson’s anticipated visit to meet with lawmakers to discuss state funding.
A recent Chicago Tribune article indicated Johnson would seek funding for, “Chicago’s public schools and transit systems; “creating additional revenue, or sustaining revenue” from the prepaid cellphone and personal property replacement taxes; and investing in the joint city-state shelter system for migrants and homeless people.” (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/22/mayor-brandon-johnson-springfield-chicago-just-due/)
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is once again heading to Springfield this week, renewing his push for increased state funding for the city despite ongoing criticism from Republican lawmakers who say suburban and downstate taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for the City’s poor financial decisions.
At a news conference last week, Johnson announced his plan to meet with Governor Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch, and Senate President Don Harmon. He is expected to continue lobbying the General Assembly for additional funding to support Chicago’s public schools, transit systems, and other city priorities.
Senate Republicans argue that Johnson’s return to Springfield is a political distraction from the real issues facing his city. Instead of tackling problems at home, they argue, the mayor is trying to shift the burden to the rest of the state.
Senate Republicans say that taxpayers should not be left to once again bail out Chicago for years of financial mismanagement. Rather, the Mayor should focus on implementing real reforms instead of asking overtaxed Illinoisans to take on additional burdens that benefit only Chicago.
The Senators also took questions from Capitol media.