SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2027 budget:
“There are key initiatives in this package that combat food insecurity and provide tax relief to working families. I am supportive of policies that make sure that we’re holding big multinational corporations and big tech companies financially accountable. They’re out there every day mining our data, taking that data and selling it to advertisers for a profit. They should be paying their fair share into the state’s tax system. The digital ad tax and social media license fee will support a balanced budget without placing the burden on working people.”
“This is a populist issue. I represent a district that has a median income much lower than a lot of places in northeast Illinois and Chicago, and we’re being taken advantage of by big corporations. Alongside these commonsense revenue reforms, I fought for the release of needed funds for higher education. I fought for increasing funds for lunch programs at K-12 schools to feed our kids. I fought for supplemental food assistance programs to prevent hunger as the Administration in Washington DC ruthlessly cuts SNAP benefits. I am supporting the balanced and measured spending package that prioritizes Western Illinois families with a school sales tax holiday. At the same time, I sponsored a bill to prevent retailers from using data mining to gouge consumers at the checkout lane.
“Our local food banks and pantries have been under immense pressure since federal food aid has cut. We are responding with one-time payments to those who have unfairly been booted off SNAP. In the face of an affordability crisis and food insecurity in Western Illinois, these measures will go toward lifting pressure off of folks’ wallets.”
“Even with this plan, there is still much work to do bringing costs down for everyday Illinoisans and our higher education institutions need more support. I look forward to time back home in the district, to hear people’s ideas, questions and concerns as we move deeper into an uncertain time. My team is always ready to assist constituents the best we can.”
