South Central Reporter

State Senator Jason Plummer has expressed strong opposition to House Bill 3438, recently approved by the Senate. The bill includes a provision for a $1.50 delivery tax on nearly all online orders, intended to help fund a bailout for the Chicago transit system.

Plummer criticized the decision, stating, "Illinois Democrats are once again digging into the pockets of hardworking families to subsidize their failures." He argued that despite previous assurances of no new broad-based taxes and commitments to fairness, the new tax places an undue burden on downstate families.

The senator accused Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration of mismanaging the transit system and using funds from communities outside Chicago to cover these shortcomings. "This money doesn’t go to fix roads or improve access to services," Plummer said. "Instead, it forces people in communities like ours to pay for Chicago mismanagement."

He further criticized the approach taken by those in power, suggesting that they are disconnected from everyday concerns and resorting to taxing online orders as a desperate measure. "While the people in charge reward failure and mismanagement, hardworking Illinois families continue to be stuck paying the price," he stated.