Senator Balkema Condemns Statewide Delivery Tax to Fund Chicago Transit Bailout
State Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon) strongly criticized the recent approval of House Bill 3438, which introduces a new $1.50 delivery tax on nearly every online purchase in Illinois. The revenue from this measure is intended to help fund a bailout of the Chicago transit system.
In a statement following the bill’s passage in the Senate, Senator Balkema voiced concern over the impact of the tax on everyday families across the state. He argued that the new levy targets essential services such as medication, groceries, and household supplies — items increasingly delivered to residents’ doorsteps due to busy work schedules and family commitments.
“This tax doesn’t improve roads or expand transit access statewide — it simply shifts the burden of mismanagement in Chicago onto families in communities that may never use the system,” Balkema said.
He further contended that the measure unfairly penalizes working families in non-Chicago areas, forcing them to subsidize a struggling urban transit network. “It’s not just misguided policy — it’s a matter of fairness. We cannot keep asking Illinoisans to pay more to cover the failures of political leadership in Chicago,” he added.
Senator Balkema’s remarks reflect growing opposition among lawmakers who view the new tax as an undue financial burden on Illinois residents, particularly those outside the Chicago metro area.
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