WATCH: Expect tax and fee increases for veto; Democrats want more sanctuary policies

WATCH: Expect tax and fee increases for veto; Democrats want more sanctuary policies

October 29, 2025/
Spread the love

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the prospects of increased taxes and fees expected to come from Illinois legislators in the final days of fall veto session. Democrats are looking to increase taxes to pay for mass transit and an energy bill to support battery storage. Republicans say both policies are bad for Illinois families and businesses.

Bishop also airs some of the latest debate between Republicans and Democrats over public safety and immigration reform. Democrats are looking to expand the state’s migrant sanctuary policies as Republicans blame such laws for a recent fatal crash involving a county board member, his wife and two illegal immigrants.

Subscribe to Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the Illinois in Focus podcast to get the entire show uninterrupted.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Screenshot 2026-05-23 at 7.23.02 PM

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 for May 21, 2026

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | May 21, 2026 The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education held its regular meeting Thursday, May 21, 2026, at...
Canadians, Brits stress U.S., Texas are key to shipbuilding

Canadians, Brits stress U.S., Texas are key to shipbuilding

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Canadian and British shipbuilding entrepreneurs on Monday explained why the U.S. and Texas are critical to national defense. The leaders of Davie Defense, Gulf Copper...
Tariff litigation expands as federal court weighs next move

Tariff litigation expands as federal court weighs next move

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Two new businesses have sued to block President Donald Trump's 10% tariffs, even as a federal appeals court considers whether to lift an injunction already...
Democrats dissatisfied by DOJ's pause on 'anti-weaponization fund'

Democrats dissatisfied by DOJ’s pause on ‘anti-weaponization fund’

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice is temporarily backing down from its plan to launch a $1.77 billion “anti-weaponization fund” after a federal judge issued a...
Hegseth calls allied defense 'bad deal for taxpayers' in budget push

Hegseth calls allied defense ‘bad deal for taxpayers’ in budget push

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Pentagon wants the largest nominal military budget in American history despite failing eight consecutive financial audits and continuing to face longstanding financial management challenges....
Pritzker touts state spending to cover federal cuts in passed budget

Pritzker touts state spending to cover federal cuts in passed budget

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Just hours after the state’s General Assembly wrapped its spring session, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appeared along...
I-95 quintuple fatal: Federal agency subpoenas state of New York

I-95 quintuple fatal: Federal agency subpoenas state of New York

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Failure to willingly cooperate by the state of New York has led to a subpoena for documents related to Jing Dong. The U.S Department of...
Illinois lawmakers give raises to diversity commissioners they criticized

Illinois lawmakers give raises to diversity commissioners they criticized

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) -- State lawmakers failed to reform the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion this legislative session despite bipartisan...
Report: Credit card debt projected to decrease $61B

Report: Credit card debt projected to decrease $61B

By Christine JohnsonThe Center Square It is predicted that there will be a $61 billion decrease in credit card debt based on new data set to be released on Friday...
Taxpayer risk cited after Bears stadium bill stalls

Taxpayer risk cited after Bears stadium bill stalls

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Bears stadium legislation is stalled after questions arose about a potentially unpopular tax structure and financial...
Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill

Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A bill offering career technical education classes as an alternative to Illinois’ foreign language mandate is headed...
Amended scooter, e-bike bill heads to governor

Amended scooter, e-bike bill heads to governor

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill to regulate e-bikes, scooters and other micromobility devices, but...
Washington insiders: Social media more influential than traditional media, but few trust it

Washington insiders: Social media more influential than traditional media, but few trust it

By ByTom JoyceThe Center Square Social media has passed traditional media in influence among Washington policy and political insiders, according to a new survey. However, few of those insiders trust...
Ceasefire being tested as U.S., Iran continue to exchange fire

Ceasefire being tested as U.S., Iran continue to exchange fire

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square For the third time in a little over a week, the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire, adding more strain to the nearly two-month-long ceasefire. U.S....
Supreme Court declines to hear COVID-19 vaccine case

Supreme Court declines to hear COVID-19 vaccine case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case challenging Washington state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The case, Curtis v. Inslee,...