Illinois Senate Democrats Hit the Road to Fight for Progressive Revenue

On Saturday, April 27, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus launched a dynamic Progressive Revenue Bus Tour across Chicagoland. The tour highlighted the urgent need to modernize Illinois' tax structure and create a fairer system that lifts the burden off working families.

Cook County College Teachers Union’s Legislative Chair, Dr. Troy Swanson, joined the two Chicago stops to ensure that the voices of community colleges — and the students and workers they serve — were part of this crucial conversation about Illinois' future. (For more information on community colleges, watch this YouTube Video: Illinois' Revenue Crisis.)

Why Progressive Revenue?

Illinois' economy has changed dramatically over the past few decades, but our tax system hasn’t kept pace. The Caucus’ tour emphasized two major reforms:

1. Modernizing the Tax Code to Include High-End Services: Illinois is one of the only states that does not tax high-end professional services. As our economy has shifted from manufacturing to a service-based economy, the failure to update the tax structure has placed a heavier burden on middle- and working-class families. Updating this system is essential for a fairer, more sustainable future.

   
   

2. Supporting a Middle Class Tax Cut through a Progressive Income Tax:Illinois' flat income tax forces the middle class to pay a higher percentage of their income than billionaires. A progressive income tax — where billionaires pay a higher rate — would allow for a middle-class tax cut, ensuring that everyday Illinoisans aren't subsidizing the ultra-wealthy. Quite simply, we pay more because billionaires pay less — and it’s time to change that.

   
   

The Tour in Action

Senators visited several locations throughout the day, drawing energetic crowds ready to demand change:

• Chicago (SEIU Healthcare) – 10:00 a.m. Senators Javier Cervantes, Celina Villanueva, Robert Peters, Robert Martwick, Graciela Guzmán, Karina Villa, Adrianne Johnson, and Mark Walker kicked off the day with a rally at SEIU Healthcare, focusing on tax fairness and community investments.

• Buffalo Grove (Mike Rylko Community Park) – 12:00 p.m. Senators Mary Edly-Allen, Adrianne Johnson, and Mark Walker met with residents to discuss the burden the current tax structure places on suburban families.

• Joliet (Joliet Junior College) – 3:00 p.m. Senators Rachel Ventura, Karina Villa, and Christopher Belt gathered at Joliet Junior College, emphasizing how reinvesting in education and infrastructure requires a more equitable revenue system.

• Chicago (Hairpin Arts Center) – 4:45 p.m. Senators Graciela Guzmán, Ram Villivalam, Omar Aquino, and Robert Martwick closed the day with a passionate call to action at the Hairpin Arts Center in Logan Square.

  
  

At both Chicago stops, Dr. Troy Swanson represented the vital voice of community colleges. He emphasized that without progressive revenue reforms, institutions like Illinois' community colleges, which educate nearly half of all higher education students in the state, will continue to face funding challenges that limit opportunity and weaken our workforce.

The Path Forward

The Progressive Revenue Bus Tour demonstrated the strong public support for a tax system that works for all Illinoisans, not just the wealthy few. Community colleges, working families, and students are counting on real reforms that modernize our economy, strengthen public services, and build a future where everyone has a fair shot.

The fight is far from over, but the energy and commitment shown on April 27 show that real change is possible — if we keep pushing.