Yes, the kirpan—a sacred, article of faith for initiated Sikhs—is legal to carry in the U.S.However, because it resembles a knife or sword, it is highly regulated. Specific rules depend strictly on where you are:
General Public: Public accommodation laws protect your right to wear it, provided it is not intended to be used as a weapon. It is best worn discreetly under clothing.
Commercial Flights:Never allowed past TSA security checkpoints in your carry-on or on your person. You must pack your kirpan securely in your checked luggage. Department of Transportation (.gov) +1
Federal Buildings: Permitted with strict size accommodations. Kirpans with blades under 2.5 inches are allowed in most federal facilities, while those 2.5 inches or longer require formal exceptions through facility security.
Schools & Workplaces: Many schools and large employers grant religious accommodations. However, because state and local laws vary, you may need to register your request with the school’s administration or your HR department.
The kirpan is a sacred, curved, single-edged blade or miniature sword that initiated (Amritdhari) Sikhs are religiously required to wear at all times. It is one of the five articles of faith, known as the “Five Ks” (or Kakaars), mandated by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 when he established the Khalsa order. [1, 2]
1. Spiritual and Symbolic Meaning
Duty and Protection: The kirpan symbolizes a Sikh’s duty to protect the weak, fight against oppression, and uphold righteousness and justice. It is not a weapon of aggression, but rather a tool for self-defense and the defense of others. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Reminder of Principles: Wearing it serves as a constant physical reminder to live a life of morality, humility, compassion, and courage. [1, 2]
2. Physical Characteristics
Appearance: It is a curved blade, typically housed in a sheath or scabbard, and is normally between 3 to 12 inches long.
How It Is Worn: The kirpan is held by a strap called a gatra and is traditionally worn diagonally across the torso, over the right shoulder and resting at the hip. It can be worn visibly over clothing or tucked underneath, depending on the circumstances.
Material: Traditionally, Sikhs prefer it to be made of iron or steel (known as sarbloh). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
3. Legal and Social Context
Because it is a bladed article, carrying a kirpan has sometimes sparked discussions in secular societies and institutions regarding public safety and religious freedom. [1]
Accommodations: In many countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, public accommodation and anti-discrimination laws legally recognize and protect the right of practicing Sikhs to wear the kirpan for religious purposes, provided it is treated with respect and not used as a weapon. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Guidelines: Many schools, courthouses, and airlines have specific security policies in place—often requiring the kirpan to be of a certain size, securely sheathed, or worn under clothing—to balance religious accommodation with public security. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Toll free in’73″…a promise by Illinois politicians. Anybody remember that slogan? JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats are now guaranteeing that Illinois tollway roads will ‘not’ toll-free by 2073, either.
JB Pritzker actually said there’s “no guarantees” your taxes won’t change at any moment.
In fact, Illinois tolls will increase by 45 cents to $1.20 a toll starting on Jan 1, 2027…and then ‘automatically increase very year afterwards starting in 2029. By increasing tolls automatically, Democrats will avoid having to vote to approve the a new toll increase which is politically awkward and embarrassing (as it should be)
Commercial vehicles will see a 30% toll hike.
In July, the tollway Authority will hold public hearings each of the 12 counties the tollway serves, and in August the tollway board, appointed by Gov Pritzker, will rubber stamp the increase anyway. The decision has already been made, the public hearing is just a formality.
Fifty years ago, Illinois politicians made a promise to taxpayers:
The tollway system would eventually become free.
Instead, it’s become a permanent, multi-billion-dollar cash cow. And now, they want even more.
Here is what the @GovPritzker-appointed @ILTollway is pushing for 2026:
A massive 45-cent hike on passenger tolls, driving the average to $1.24 per toll.
A 30% rate hike on commercial vehicles, which already sit at an all-time high.
An extra $1 billion extracted from drivers every single year to fund a $26.5 billion capital plan.
A permanent inflation escalator starting in 2029 to keep costs rising automatically.
The worst part? The Illinois Tollway is taking in more toll revenue than ever before. They are collecting far more than they need to operate and maintain the roads, with net revenues peaking in 2024.
Since 1973, Illinois taxpayers have poured at least $27 billion into these plazas.
Why are we paying for infrastructure that was supposed to be paid off decades ago?
June 9: JB Pritzker: “Do people in Illinois want tolls raised to pay for the Bears? I don’t think they do.”
Two weeks later: He’s defending the biggest toll hike in state history.
JB Pritzker is a slimy politician who talks out of both sides of his mouth.
JB Pritzker says a 30% toll hike will only hurt out-of-state truckers.
Really?
Illinois businesses use those same tollways every day. Higher tolls mean higher shipping costs—and those costs don’t disappear. They get passed on to Illinois families every time they buy groceries, supplies, or everyday goods.
Once again, working people end up paying the bill.
The 30% toll increase takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Toll increase [watch]JB Pritzker says that you don’t need to worry because “tolls haven’t been raised in quite some time“.. this ridiculous statement ahead of the largest toll increase in the history of the state of Illinois!
Affordability my A#S JB!
The tolls are being raised because toll revenue that were in reserves is being shifted to the city of Chicago as a result of the transit bill passed by Illinois Democrats … Now the toll Authority wants their money back, and to do that they have to raise tolls.
Bad News: Starting July 1st, 85% of Illinois Road fund dollars will be shifted away from local roads in order to fund Chicago mass transit.
Your local roads will not get repaired, because the money previously allocated, will instead be redirected to Chicago under legislation approved by Illinois Democrats and signed by JB Pritzker.
Many local road projects in areas outside of the City of Chicago are expected to be cancelled or significantly delayed.
Illinois Senate Bill 2111, approved by Illinois Democrats and signed into law in December 2025 by JB Pritzker, redirects approximately $1.5 billion in annual funding from the state’s Road Fund to public transportation, primarily aiding Chicago transit. The new formula takes effect on Wednesday.
The shift of funding stems from a major legislative overhaul passed to bail out and reorganize Chicago-area public transportation. This legislation altered how the state’s motor fuel tax and Road Fund interest are distributed, fundamentally changing the state infrastructure allocation formula.
Before the weekend ends and America moves on to the next headline, we need to pause and look at a story that matters more than almost any other—the collapse of Venezuela, and what it warns us about if the last democratic superpower ever falls the same way.
This didn’t happen overnight. It happened step by step, over one generation.
VENEZUELA: HOW A PROSPEROUS NATION COLLAPSED
1992 Venezuela is the 3rd richest country in the Western Hemisphere, powered by oil and a growing middle class.
1997 Venezuelans become the 2nd largest buyers of Ford F-150s—a sign of widespread prosperity.
1998 Hugo Chávez is elected, promising to “redistribute wealth” and fix inequality.
2001 The country votes again for socialism, framed as compassion and fairness.
2003 The government imposes price controls and currency controls. Black markets appear. Shortages begin.
2004 Private healthcare is fully socialized.
2006 Inflation rises sharply as massive welfare programs expand without real economic backing.
2007 All higher education becomes “free.”
2008 Key industries—oil services, steel, cement, telecom—are nationalized. Production drops almost immediately.
2009 Private gun ownership is banned.
2010 The currency is devalued by 50%, crushing savings and accelerating inflation.
2011 Oil production begins a steady decline due to mismanagement and lack of investment.
2012 American politicians, like Bernie Sanders, publicly praise Venezuela’s model.
2013 Chávez dies. Nicolás Maduro takes power and tightens state control.
2014 Opposition leaders are arrested or silenced.
2015 GDP collapses. Hyperinflation begins.
2016 Severe food and medical shortages spread nationwide.
2017 The constitution is suspended. Elections are no longer meaningful.
2018 Inflation exceeds 1,000,000%. Maduro “wins” a widely fraudulent election.
2019 Unarmed civilians are killed by their own government.
2020 More than 8 million people flee the country to escape hunger and repression.
2023 Minor economic improvements fail to relieve mass poverty.
2024 Disputed elections trigger protests and global isolation.
2026 Maduro is removed by force. Venezuela is liberated after decades of ruin.
THE HARD TRUTH
It took one generation of “progressive” leadership to turn one of the richest countries on Earth into a nation defined by hunger, fear, mass graves, and mass migration.
This is the lesson history keeps teaching:
You can vote your way into socialism. But history shows people only escape it through collapse, violence, or foreign intervention.
And here is the part Americans must understand clearly:
If this happens in the United States, there will be nobody coming to save us.
No outside superpower. No rescue force. No second chance.
Freedom is fragile. Prosperity is not guaranteed. And once lost, they are brutally hard to recover.
Venezuela’s people paid the price. America cannot afford to learn this lesson the same way.
More Money, Fewer Students: What the State Pays Per Student Is Soaring
Here’s a number every Illinois taxpayer should sit with: in 2019, the state of Illinois put about $6,700 per student into education. Today that figure is roughly $9,700. In just seven years, the amount the state pays toward each student has jumped about 44 percent.
You might assume an increase like that means we’re teaching more kids. We’re not. We’re teaching fewer.
Since 2019, total state education spending — counting the teacher and university pensions the state pays — has climbed from $16.4 billion to $22.4 billion, a 36 percent increase. Over that same stretch, the number of students across our schools, community colleges, and universities fell by about 130,000. More than four of every ten dollars in the entire state budget now goes to education, and that slice keeps growing even as the classrooms empty out.
So where is the state’s money going, if not to more students? A growing share of it isn’t reaching classrooms at all — it’s going to pensions. The bill for retired educators’ benefits climbs every year, crowding out the dollars meant for the kids actually sitting in desks today. We are, increasingly, paying for the education system of the past rather than investing in the students of the present.
And no one is louder in demanding those ever-bigger checks than the teachers’ unions. Year after year, the IEA, the IFT, and the Chicago Teachers Union march into Springfield insisting on more spending and richer pensions, and just as reliably, they fight nearly every attempt to measure whether students are actually better off for it, or to give a parent any choice when a school is failing their child. They have perfected a tidy trick: every new dollar is treated as a floor, never a ceiling, and every question about results is branded an attack on teachers. The children make the perfect talking point. The institution cashes the check.
None of this is an argument against funding schools, or against the good teachers who show up every day and do the work. But taxpayers are entitled to a simple question: what are we getting for nearly 44 percent more in state dollars per student? If the state’s spending has surged while enrollment has shrunk, those dollars should be buying dramatically better results. Illinois families deserve to see that return, in plain numbers, before the next budget asks for more.
Lawmakers approved the state budget early Monday morning after slogging through the night, enacting new taxes on businesses and authorizing less spending than what Gov. JB Pritzker proposed in February.
Illinois’ newly passed FY27 budget, at $55.9 billion, is being marketed as a democrat victory for affordability and fiscal responsibility.
State is choosing short-term political optics over long-term fiscal health, relying on temporary tax pauses and one-time relief while deferring hard choices about spending and revenue. Temporary Fixes, Not Real Solutions The so-called “affordability” measures are largely temporary:
Motor Fuel Tax Pause: Delaying a scheduled gas tax hike for six months doesn’t reduce costs—it merely postpones them. When the pause ends, families will face the same increases, now potentially compounded by inflation.
Sales Tax Holiday: A 10-day sales tax break benefits those who shop for school supplies during a narrow window, but does nothing for families struggling year-round with rent, utilities, or groceries.
$400 One-Time SNAP Replacement: This emergency payment is a stopgap, not a strategy. It punishes families for federal policy changes while offering no path to sustainable income support or job creation. These are political band-aids, not structural reforms. Spending Growth Without Accountability The budget continues a trajectory of aggressive spending growth:
K–12 Education: Another $350 million poured into the Evidence-Based Funding formula, bringing total annual spending to $9.2 billion. While education is vital, there’s little public evidence that continued funding increases correlate with improved student outcomes in Illinois.
Housing Programs: $250 million is allocated for new housing initiatives, but Illinois already has a crowded array of affordable housing programs with mixed results. Without accountability measures, this risks becoming another layer of bureaucracy rather than real housing production.
Medical Debt Relief: Adding $5 million to a program that has already erased over $1 billion in debt sounds impressive, but the program’s long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness remain unclear. Illinois is spending more, but not necessarily spending smarter. No Tax Reform, Just Tax Delays Leaders boast that no income or sales tax rates were raised. True—but that’s a low bar. The state is still relying on existing high tax rates to fund expanding programs, discouraging business investment and prompting outmigration. Delaying a gas tax increase is not tax reform; it’s tax avoidance. Illinois remains one of the highest-taxed states in the nation, with a regressive flat income tax, high property taxes, and a complex web of fees. Until the state tackles its overall tax burden, “affordability” will remain a slogan, not a reality. Blaming Washington, Avoiding Responsibility The budget release repeatedly blames the Trump Administration and federal cuts for economic uncertainty. While federal policy impacts the state, Illinois has its own structural challenges:
Chronic pension underfunding (even with current contributions)
Cumbersome regulatory environment
High business taxes driving companies out of state
Inefficient government operations Blaming Washington let state leaders off the hook for decades of poor fiscal management. The Real Test: Sustainability and Results The eighth consecutive “balanced” budget sounds impressive—until you ask:
Are pension liabilities actually declining meaningfully?
Are students achieving better outcomes with billions more in education spending?
Is housing actually becoming more available and affordable?
Are businesses choosing Illinois over neighboring states? If the answer to these questions is no, then this budget is a balancing act of accounting, not a blueprint for prosperity.
Bottom Line Illinois’ FY27 budget prioritizes political messaging over fiscal discipline. It offers temporary relief instead of permanent reform, expands spending without clear accountability, and blames federal policy for problems that are largely homegrown. Working families deserve more than one-time payments and sales tax holidays—they deserve a state that lowers taxes, reduces bureaucracy, and creates real economic opportunity.
Legislators’ pay was not frozen, so base pay rises by about $1,600+.
For now, Illinois has chosen spending over savings, slogans over solutions, and blame over accountability. That’s not leadership—that’s political theater.
Legislature fails to get @ChicagoBears deal into the endzone. But, Illinois has an official state bee, the largest state budget in Illinois history that includes all kinds of new taxes and rideshare drivers can unionize — if the governor signs these bills, among 395 total bills that passed both chambers this spring session. See them all in their tens of thousands of pages of legalese and legislative speak here: ilga.gov/Reports/Previe…)
No Republicans voted for the plan, though some House lawmakers said they were at least more involved in budget negotiations than in recent years.
Lawmakers incorporated a pair of the tax changes that Pritzker had proposed in February. One would lower the cap on corporate net operating loss deductions for business. Another would impose a tax on social media companies based on the number of users the platform has in Illinois. Combined, those would generate $500 million in new revenue.
In the 11th Hour of the General Assembly session, the Senate advanced a Bill that would mean that the village of Arlington Heights would own the land the Bears Stadium is on, so the land would not be Property Taxable, meaning the City, the Schools, NONE of the property taxing bodies would receive any funding from the land. Which basically means all of the property tax payers would be Fucked.
Congratulations Springfield! Another Disaster.
YAY, Crazy unbearable traffic coupled with ZERO property tax assistance… WHAT COULD GO WRONG?!
“Once again, Illinois Democrats jammed through a massive, nearly $56 billion state budget in the dead of night, giving taxpayers and legislators little to no time to review what’s actually in it. Worse yet, House Rules were suspended to fast-track this legislation, preventing the thorough debate and transparency Illinois families expect and deserve.
“At a time when working families are struggling with rising costs, this budget grows government instead of delivering real relief. A $55.9 billion spending plan, the largest in state history, should demand careful review and bipartisan input, not backroom deals and last-minute votes.
“The people of Illinois expect honesty, transparency, and fiscal responsibility from their government. I voted ‘No’ on HB 111 because Illinois deserves a better budget process—one that respects taxpayers, lawmakers, and the principles of open government.”
The Senate just passed legislation allowing out-of-state illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates at all Illinois public universities.
You can’t make this stuff up.
The university bureaucracies love it because it means more revenue. Illinois families get the bill. At a time when tuition is already too high, Springfield is once again putting everyone else ahead of the taxpayers who actually live here.
Today, I voted NO on the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget. This budget spends $55.9 billion, the largest budget in Illinois history. It also includes nearly $800 million in new taxes and fees.
Illinois does not have a revenue problem. The problem is with spending. Since Governor Pritzker took office, state spending has increased by nearly 40% while taxpayers continue to hear the same excuses and see the same results.
This is what’s in the new budget:
Nearly $800 million in new taxes and fees.
At least $220 million in pork projects and political earmarks.
Approximately $410 million in spending on illegal immigrant programs and services.
No meaningful property tax relief.
No increase in the Local Government Distributive Fund, leaving communities with the same 6.47% share they received last year.
The people I represent expect government to focus on public safety, affordability, and responsible spending. Instead, Illinois Democrats have produced another record-breaking budget and simply handed taxpayers the bill.
The process was just as disappointing as the product. Republicans were largely shut out of negotiations, leaving millions of Illinois residents without the voice of their elected representative during budget discussions.
Illinois families have already absorbed 57 tax and fee increases under Governor Pritzker, costing taxpayers more than $77 billion. This budget continues that trend. Taxpayers deserve better stewardship of their money
The Illinois general assembly passed a $55 billion budget without a Bears stadium bill.
The Illinois Senate overnight passed last-ditch effort aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois, that essentially creates the chance for municipalities to own stadiums. That would mean the Bears would pay $0 in property taxes, but pay taxes on the development around a stadium.
The Illinois House did not take up a vote on the bill, and the general assembly adjourned.
In a statement early Monday, the Bears said “We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated. We will provide an update when we have a decision to share.”
The budget, without a Bears’ stadium bill, now heads to Gov. JB Pritkzers desk.
Let’s breakdown the facts. Eight years under Governor Pritzker:
📈State spending up $16 billion (+40%) 💰Illinois families paying $1,700 more in taxes 💼Highest unemployment rate in the Midwest (4th in the nation) 🏡Highest property taxes in America ✂️Cut the Property Tax Relief Fund 🚌School transportation funding reduced ⚡️Energy bills soaring across the state
And that’s just scratching the surface. Illinois families are paying more and getting less.
Senator Cristina Castro-led ban on cellphones in schools heads to governor.
They’re not cutting your gas taxes. They’re not even pausing them.
They’re postponing the next automatic gas tax increase for six months.
The increase is roughly a penny per gallon.
In Springfield, delaying a tax hike by one penny is considered tax relief. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
JB Pritzker is lying to us.
He and his administration worked to ram through a megaprojects bill that would’ve given billionaire developers a 40-year property tax freeze.
The numbers for the Bears were brutal: a $39 million annual handout — $1.5 billion over 40 years — shifted straight onto the backs of Illinois homeowners already crushed by some of the highest property taxes in America.
JB called this “a pretty good deal.” His team negotiated until the final hours because they wanted it done.
Then taxpayers and lawmakers started asking the obvious question:
Why are we giving a 40-year tax freeze to billionaires while families drown in property taxes?
And just like that, the votes vanished. The deal died. And suddenly — magically — JB Pritzker opposed it all along.
He says he “wasn’t willing to give up billions of dollars of taxpayer money” for a billionaire-owned team and that protecting taxpayers was always his “North Star.”
What a shameless liar.
Until this deal collapsed, Pritzker was perfectly willing to sell Illinois taxpayers down the river.
Friends, Democrats control Illinois, and JB Pritzker is their king. He doesn’t get to rewrite history and pretend he wasn’t in on this corporate giveaway the second it became politically toxic.
Just Awful!! 9:45 PM Saturday night Illinois Democrats just dumped their budget off to Republicans…on paper….3600+ pages.
🤦♂️ what a mess !!!
Not a document…not a PDF, but on paper. Republicans in the IL House and Senate have to read it overnight and analyze all the tax increases and find out how much more Illinois taxpayers will be on the hook for.. Democrats are poised to pass the budget by 11:59pm Sunday night!
It’s official. The #Bears megaprojects bill has died in the Senate.
The Illinois government won’t pass it before the legislature adjourns.
This has forced lawmakers to consider a Hail Mary option to prevent the team from bolting for Indiana
Other huge takeaway on the Bears : According to Bill Cunningham, the Bears have “REPEATEDLY” met with Chicago officials in recent months. That is not what the Bears have publicly portrayed
Kakistocracy (pronounced kak-ist-AH-kruh-see) refers to a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens. It describes a political system characterized by extreme incompetence, corruption, and a total lack of integrity, where leaders are driven by personal gain rather than the public good. AKA Illinois.
JB pritzker’s also trying to implement a fine for moving out of Illinois, You will pay a certain amount to move out of Illinois, this is just one of his bills he will be passing on Sunday night while we’re all sleeping again,
The budget is likely to contain a buffet of tax and fee increases.
Here’s what the budget does NOT contain:
-Property tax Relief -Suspension of the gas tax
Democrats refuse to put it on-line for the public to see. Republicans and staffers will have to dig through the budget, page by page on paper.
Illinois lawmakers recently navigated a tense, late-night scramble to pass a massive record-setting \(\approx \$56\) billion state budget by the May 31 constitutional deadline. The final days of the spring session were defined by deep partisan gridlock, multi-thousand-page spending plans dropped with only hours to review, and the usual “antics” of trying to plug budget holes. [1, 2, 3]
NOW we are into the last day of Illinois regular session and a gun ban for polling places has appeared in the election omnibus bill Amendment 3 to House Bill 1832
The primary clashes and budget actions centered around the following:
Revenue Shortfalls & Tax Hikes: Lawmakers scrambled to close an approximately \(\$150\) million to \(\$800\) million budget deficit. To balance the books, lawmakers debated various revenue streams, ranging from tax adjustments on corporate net operating losses, table games, and electronic gambling, to controversial propositions like fees on large social media platforms. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Gas Tax Debate: Governor JB Pritzker’s administration and legislative Democrats largely favored keeping the scheduled inflationary gas tax increase (which pushes the rate close to 50 cents per gallon), while House Republicans fiercely pushed for a sales tax freeze on motor fuel to offer immediate relief to drivers. [1]
Bears Stadium Incentives: Property tax-incentive legislation aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears at a renovated Soldier Field—or building a new stadium in Arlington Heights rather than moving to Indiana—turned into a last-minute legislative football. The package stalled, leaving key stadium funding mechanisms and team officials weighing their options. [1, 2]
General Assembly Spending: Progressive Democrats pushed for more taxes on billionaires and large corporations, while Republicans decried what they called out-of-control spending and sought to reign in the bloated budget. [1, 2]
State Senator Li Arellano, Jr posted this update:
“The budget legislation (there will actually multiple bills) was filed as an amendment to HB0111. We expect another amendment tomorrow, one with more ugly details. This is by design, to limit public input, journalism, and input from other legislators. It is also done to push rank-and-file Democrats into a corner, crank up tie pressure, and make it harder to vote no. It puts legislators’ backs against a deadline”
Alert: Starting July 1, you may no longer be able to pay at the pump when filling up with gas in Illinois.
JB Pritzker’s new credit card law will make buying gas in Illinois a major headache. This is due to legislation passed by Democrats that will force separate transactions when using a credit or debit card.
❌ Pay at the pump for the gas, then go inside to pay the gas taxes in cash.
The New Democrat law, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) creates significant potential problems for consumers by threatening to disrupt everyday point-of-sale transactions.
You will not be able to swipe your credit card or debit card to pay the “sales tax“, or Illinois notorious 50 cent “per gallon“ tax on gasoline along with other purchases you use your credit or debit card for to include the sales tax portion of the transaction.
While intended to save money for retailers by banning credit and debit card “swipe” fees on the sales tax and tip portions of a bill, the law faces severe implementation hurdles.
Thanks, JB.
*** 2026 end of session cheat sheet *** dlvr.it/TSpDsH
The Illinois State Senate just voted to grant in-state tuition to huge numbers of students from other countries – here legally or not – as well as other states.
We currently are 45/50 in costs, which is a big reason why more than 50% of our college-bound youth choose to leave Illinois. This will only drive up costs for Illinois citizens and push more of our high school students out of Illinois – likely to a place where they will gain a career and build a family, never to return to the Land of Lincoln.
It’s far past time we get serious in Springfield about prioritizing Illinois families and Illinois youth.
💥 $900 million in surprise last minute tax hikes likely coming soon!
Illinois Democrats are meeting behind closed doors to come up with way to find $900 million more tax dollars. The additional revenue is because the Governor’s budget spending will require almost a billion more in tax revenue to pay for all the new spending outlined
‘Possible’ Tax Hikes include:
Package delivery taxes (Amazon tax)
Social media tax
Exit tax (a new tax on people who leave Illinois)
Grocery Bag tax
Campfire/Firepit tax
Casino tax
Mileage tax (tax per mile on vehicles)
Retirement Tax
All the bipartisan softball games, bipartisan dinners, bipartisan cocktail hours, are all intended to get Republicans to believe they are all part of the team in Springfield until the last few days of session when they get completely blocked out and the Democrats cram the budget down their throats with no “bipartisanship.”
Watch how many Republicans come to social media talking about how unfair it is! Then it starts all over like the movie Groundhog Day!!
Surprise! a new 25% Illinois tax on stuff you already own is being proposed by Illinois Democrats!
The brand new tax is not an income tax, but a tax many Illinoisans would have to annually pay to the state annually based on the value of your property, assets and value of your bank accounts.
It was recently announced that Illinois is looking to collect an additional $900 million in tax dollars due to an “underestimate” revenue projections by Gov Pritzker’s budget office.
[Q: Should Illinois be able to tax you annually based on what you already worked for, paid for, and own?]
Illinois Senate Bill 3376, sponsored by Democrats, would create a new tax you would pay on assets you already own and money already have. This is ‘not’ an income based tax, but a tax on what some Illinoisians already own. Never before has this type of tax been approved in Illinois.
The Illinois Revenue Alliance, comprised on Illinois progressive Democrats, is seeking to pass what they are calling a “Billionaire’s Tax”
The Bill, introduced by Sen. Karina Villa (D), is backed by the Illinois Revenue Alliance. The law proposes the “Extremely High Wealth Mark-to-Market Tax Act.” It aims to tax residents with net assets based on annual asset appreciation (gains or losses) each year. Individuals identified the legislation would be required report the value of their holdings at the beginning and end of each year, and the increase would be subject to the same rate that everyday Illinoisans already pay on their income. This would be on top of income tax already paid on their assets and bank holdings.
Democrats say this tax, for now, would be intended for individuals with assets of over $1 billion, but that threshold of taxed assets could easily be reduced to $1 million or less in subsequent years.
This new tax is expected to generate nearly 1 billion annually in new revenue for the state. Money would be directed to the General Revenue Fund in the State treasury. The City of Chicago is already circling above, like vultures, waiting for the money!
This tax is different than the Millionaires tax that was proposed last month. The Millionaires tax was based on ‘income’, this tax would not be on income, but on assets.
Illinois is a state with strong communities, hard-working families, and people who genuinely want to do what’s right. Many voters who support Democratic leadership do so because they care about fairness, opportunity, and stability. Those are good intentions—and they deserve respect.
But good intentions should also be matched with honest results.
Over the past several years, Illinois has seen a steady increase in the cost of living—through higher taxes, rising fees, and growing financial pressure on families and small businesses. Whether it’s at the gas pump, on utility bills, or through property taxes, many residents are feeling stretched thinner than ever before. At the same time, confidence in how state government manages money and priorities has been tested.
This isn’t about party labels—it’s about outcomes. When one party holds near-total control of the governor’s office and the legislature, there are fewer internal checks and fewer competing ideas at the table. That can lead to policies that go unchallenged and burdens that grow over time without enough scrutiny.
Healthy government requires balance. It requires accountability. And it requires leaders who are willing to ask tough questions—not just follow the same path year after year.
If you’ve supported current leadership in the past, that doesn’t make you wrong—it means you made the best decision you could with the information you had. But every election is a new opportunity to reassess, to look at the direction of the state, and to decide whether it’s truly working for you, your family, and your community.
Change doesn’t have to mean abandoning your values. It can mean demanding better results, stronger accountability, and a more balanced approach to governing.
Illinois doesn’t have to stay on its current path. But it will take voters—across all parties being willing to take a fresh look and consider a different direction.
Below is a consolidated list of the key tax and fee hikes under Pritzker as of 2026, grouped by category.
This is not guaranteed to be exactly 57 items (that number comes from a specific advocacy count that includes many small fee changes and indirect cost increases), but it covers the major, clearly identifiable tax and fee increases. Individual income and property–related taxes
2021 income tax rate increase: raised the flat individual income tax rate from 3.75% to 4.95% via the 2021 income tax hike referendum and implementing legislation.
2021 corporate income tax rate increase: raised the corporate income tax rate temporarily, then made parts of it permanent.
2021 net operating loss (NOL) deduction cap: placed a $5 million cap on the net operating loss deduction for businesses, reducing a key tax break.
2021 decoupling from federal business tax cuts: Illinois decoupled from certain federal business tax relief provisions (e.g., bonus depreciation changes), effectively raising taxes on businesses.
Property tax increases: average property taxes in Illinois rose about 27% under Pritzker, driven by higher assessments, local levy decisions, and state policy pressures (e.g., pension funding changes).
Sales, excise, and consumer taxes
Gas tax increase: enacted a significant increase in the state motor fuel (gas) tax.
2025–2026 tobacco and vaping tax increase: higher taxes on cigarettes, cigars, and vaping products.
Telecom tax increase: raised the state telecommunications tax from 7% to 8.65%.
Sports betting tax: created a new tax on sports betting revenue.
Hotel/motel tax expansions: extended hotel operator’s tax treatment to more short-term rental arrangements (e.g., certain Airbnb/VRBO-type rentals).
Grocery tax: Illinois had a reduced grocery tax rate that was scheduled to phase out; while not always framed as a “hike,” its expiring reduction effectively raises taxes compared to the reduced rate.
Business and industry taxes
$750 million tax increase package (2024): signed a roughly $750 million tax increase package that included higher taxes on certain businesses and local government taxing authority expansions.
Business tax increases to fund migrant crisis: in 2024, Pritzker proposed and pursued about $1 billion in tax increases to cover migrant-related expenses, including business and potentially consumer-facing taxes.
Additional business tax increases included in the FY26 budget: more than $700 million in new taxes overall, including business-related measures.
Increased local government taxing authority: gave local governments more ability to raise taxes, indirectly increasing tax burdens statewide.
Fees and fee increases
Vehicle registration and driver’s license fee increases: various increases in vehicle registration fees, driver’s license fees, and related motor vehicle fees under Pritzker.
Professional and business license fee increases: fees for many professional licenses (e.g., contractors, real estate, health professionals) were raised.
Environmental and utility fees: increases in fees related to environmental programs, waste management, and utility regulation.
Court and administrative fees: various court filing fees, administrative fees, and regulatory fees were increased.
Higher education fee increases: public universities in Illinois raised tuition and fees under state policy pressures during Pritzker’s tenure (though these are tuition/fees rather than state taxes).
Gaming and gambling fees: expanded gambling (casinos, online gaming, sports betting) brought new fees and taxes on operators and players. One-time and structural revenue measures that function like tax hikes
Fund sweeps: the FY26 budget relied on sweeping money from 57 different funds, effectively using one-time revenue shifts that can lead to future tax pressure.
Delayed payments and transfers: delayed payments to local governments and other entities to improve the state’s cash flow, which can lead to higher future taxes or fees.Two draft budgets and one BIMP are out in Illinois. It is the end of session day. Looks like they are going home today. Not looking great for the Hawthorne bailout and a Decatur racino. But anything can happen when the legislature is in town. Anything.
🔴 Major Taxpayer Concerns from Illinois’ 2026 Legislative Session.
Illinois families are once again left footing the bill after a legislative session that prioritized spending over real reform.
Here are the key concerns:
Property taxes continue to climb. Illinois already has the highest effective property tax rate in the nation at 1.83%, with some Cook County suburbs exceeding 20%. Yet this session delivered no meaningful relief—especially for seniors on fixed incomes whose tax bills rise even when their income does not.
Record spending passed without bipartisan support. Lawmakers approved the largest budget in state history—$55.2 billion—with zero Republican votes. Spending increased nearly 4% without addressing the structural issues driving long-term costs.
Over $1 billion in stealth tax hikes were quietly included in the budget: – A new tax on sports betting (25–50 cents per wager) – Increased tobacco and vaping taxes (from 36% to 45%) – A “throwback rule” taxing out-of-state corporate sales – Higher corporate taxes on overseas income
The Bears stadium megaproject raises concerns for homeowners. The proposal allows developers to lock in property tax payments for 25–40 years, potentially shifting the burden onto surrounding homeowners with no guarantee the Bears will remain long-term.
Pension debt remains unaddressed. Illinois carries roughly $240 billion in pension debt, yet the budget underfunds required payments by $5.1 billion—pushing even greater costs onto future taxpayers.
The rainy-day fund is dangerously low. Current reserves cover just 15 days of operations, far below the recommended 60 days, leaving the state exposed during an economic downturn.
The transit funding crisis was ignored. Lawmakers failed to resolve the $770 million shortfall facing Chicago-area transit, setting the stage for future tax hikes or service cuts.
School funding changes may increase property taxes. A $43 million reduction in property tax relief funding shifts more burden onto local taxpayers—even as Illinois already ranks among the highest in per-pupil spending. This session reflects a troubling pattern: spend now, squeeze taxpayers later. Without structural reform, Illinois families will continue to face rising taxes and growing financial uncertainty.
$900 million in surprise last minute tax hikes could be coming by Sunday – 8 New taxes Democrats are considering
🚨 Tax hikes look increasingly likely as state lawmakers race to pass a budget ➡️ illin.is/tax-threat
🚨 Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed budget would short pensions by more than $5 billion ➡️ illin.is/short-pensions
Republican senators this week warned that Democrats are meeting behind closed doors to come up with way to find $900 million more tax dollars. The additional revenue is because the Governor’s budget spending will require almost a billion more in tax revenue to pay for all the new spending outlined
‘Possible’ Tax Hikes:
-Package delivery taxes (Amazon tax) -Social media tax -Exit tax (a new tax on people who leave Illinois) -Grocery Bag tax -Campfire/Firepit tax -Casino tax -Mileage tax (tax per mile on vehicles) -Retirement Tax
“We’re looking at pretty massive massive tax hikes by this time next week.” – State Senator Li Arellano, Jr and State Senator Chapin Rose issued an alert from Springfield on Tuesday evening warning that JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats will be introducing “surprise” new tax increases that haven’t even been publicly discussed yet.
Tax increases will ‘drop’ late this weekend, just before the budget deadline of May 31st. The reason, a surprise budget shortfall due to increased Democrat state spending. JB Pritzker’s Illinois budget is $900 million upside down.
New tax Alert: A New Insurance tax is being considered in Springfield.
Republicans have been warning about last-minute “new taxes“ that Democrats are considering to help fill the $900 million budget gap in Governor Pritzker‘s proposed budget.
One new tax being discussed behind closed doors this weekend in Springfield is the possibility of instituting a new tax on insurance companies.
If you get auto insurance from State Farm, Allstate, GEICO, etc., you could see a new line item added to your auto insurance bill. If you receive health coverage from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, etc., you could also see a tax added to your monthly premiums.
The Democrat plan in Springfield is to tax the insurance companies directly, but the taxes would then be passed along to customers through premiums that are paid.
This tax is in discussion, but has not been officially proposed as of Saturday morning.
🚨 ALERT 🚨 Illinois Democrats are advancing legislation that would allow convicted felons to vote while incarcerated. It is wrong to give inmates the same voting privileges as the law-abiding citizens impacted by those crimes.
Illinois lawmakers are racing towards the end of the legislative session Sunday night, with no resolution yet on a state budget or a bill aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears from moving across state lines.
Gas tax Relief in Illinois? …Uh not a chance in He*l! JB Pritzker.
JB Pritzker was asked by a reporter on Tuesday about the prospects of reducing the gas tax in Illinois . JB said:
It’s Trump’s fault
Suspend his planned gas tax increase.
Force More Illinoisan into using E15 gas, which is bad for your vehicle’s engine
Relief on Illinois gas prices?….Nothing! You are out of luck unless you fill up in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri or Kentucky.
💪 Chicago teachers defeated the Chicago Teachers Union’s proposed dues hike to fund political activities ➡️ illin.is/defeat
Illinois House Democrats want you to pay a Campfire Tax.
HB4469 is still under consideration by Illinois Democrats. The question is will Democrats pass the Campfire tax by the Sunday deadline. Tell your State Rep to vote ‘NO’ on The Campfire/Firepit tax!
The number one job of Mayor is to keep Chicago citizens safe and yet the second summer violence season began Johnson jumped on an all expense paid luxury vacation to Rome! Doesn’t Chicago deserve a real Mayor?
JB Pritzker wants 1.8M Cook County homeowners drowning in property taxes to bankroll a 40-year, $1.5B tax break for his billionaire developer friends.
It’s Saturday of budget week, and there are still far too many important issues left unresolved.
We should be focused on delivering meaningful property tax relief, supporting local communities through full LGDF restoration, and addressing concerns surrounding proposals like the BUILD Act that could impact local control and taxpayers.
Instead, we’re nearing the end of session without answers on many of the issues that matter most to the people we represent. The people of Illinois sent us here to solve problems, lower costs, and strengthen our communities. Time is running short, and it’s time to get to work.
You can follow along live at noon today at ILGA.gov
Illinois Democrats have started the process of pushing for a ban on gas appliances, including stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and dryers.
The proposed “Appliance Standards Act” would give the state more power to set efficiency rules for appliances sold in Illinois.
Republicans argue families — not the government — should decide how they cook, heat their homes, and dry their clothes.
Critics say these policies could:
Raise appliance and construction costs
Force homeowners to switch from gas to electric
Reduce consumer choice
A statewide gas appliance ban is not in effect yet, but many believe this is the direction Democrats want to go as they push green energy policies.
“Leave my gas stove alone.”
Awful! After this weekend, your neighborhood may soon look a lot different. Democrats are on the verge of passing JB Pritzker’s Build Up Illinois plan that will replace single-family homes with multifamily dwellings. Democrats are poised to approve the plan by Sunday May 31st!
JB Pritzker’s plan to eliminates local zoning ordinances to force the construction of multifamily high density housing in areas zoned for single-family housing. High density high rises could be moving into your residential single family home neighborhoods
[Q: Should the state be allowed to force high density housing in areas of Illinois currently zoned for single family housing?]
The governor’s plan will transform traditional single-family housing dominance in Illinois by imposing statewide zoning reforms that preempt local authority to restrict multifamily development on residential land.
Democrats, who favor high density housing instead of single-family homes, are firmly behind this plan. According to data from the governor’s office, Gov. Pritzker is aiming to take over residential zoning laws to address a statewide housing shortage of roughly 142,000 units and meet a demand of 225,000 units over the next five years.
The measure would take away local authority to decide what kind of housing is built in your town and the Illinois Municipal League along with almost all mayors and town presidents opposing the legislation.
The plan would mandate the allowance of multi-unit “middle housing”—such as duplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, and courtyard buildings—on lots larger than 5,000 square feet.
Single-family homes will soon become quite scarce in Illinois under the governor’s new plan.
💰 Governor JB Pritzker could unlock $1 billion for Illinois students by opting into the new federal school choice program ➡️
This weekend marked the start of the annual Summer Shooting Season. Similar to last year, we’ll expect to see around 250 homicides and an additional 1,000 shot and wounded between now and Labor Day weekend. Final Shoot-o-Rahm-a Tally: 8 killed, 31 wounded 2017 Memorial Day tally: 7 killed, 44 wounded 2016 Memorial Day tally: 10…
— Read on royfmc.com/2018/05/29/chicagos-annual-summer-shooting-season-begins/
Free Health Insurance for ‘non-citizens’ in Illinois.
An Illinois lawmaker is proposing legislation that would offer taxpayer funded Free Health Insurance for ‘non-citizens’ in Illinois.
HB4824, introduced by Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D) would amend the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. It would expand medical assistance coverage to non-citizens.
[Q: Should your tax dollars pay for free health insurance for non-citizens?]
The text of the legislation includes the following language: “Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Expands medical assistance coverage to certain categories of lawfully present noncitizens. “
Analysis: The legislation does not specify how much taxes would have to increase to pay for the free health insurance. The legislation currently sits in rules committee and could advance by the end of the week, as the spring legislative session ends on May 31st, if called for a vote by Democrats.
The legislation mentions ‘lawfully present noncitizens’, this remains particularly troublesome as many people who are legal citizens are seeing their insurance premiums skyrocket and cannot afford insurance. Many taxpayers feel legal citizens of our country should be prioritized over noncitizens (lawfully present or not)
Democrat Rep. Dagmara Avelar is the Assistant Majority Leader and represents the 85th District.
Roy F. McCampbell's Blog 
Illinois Passes $56 Billion Budget While Enacting New Taxes
Illinois passes $56B budget –
Lawmakers approved the state budget early Monday morning after slogging through the night, enacting new taxes on businesses and authorizing less spending than what Gov. JB Pritzker proposed in February.
Illinois’ newly passed FY27 budget, at $55.9 billion, is being marketed as a democrat victory for affordability and fiscal responsibility.
State is choosing short-term political optics over long-term fiscal health, relying on temporary tax pauses and one-time relief while deferring hard choices about spending and revenue.
Temporary Fixes, Not Real Solutions
The so-called “affordability” measures are largely temporary:
These are political band-aids, not structural reforms.
Spending Growth Without Accountability
The budget continues a trajectory of aggressive spending growth:
Illinois is spending more, but not necessarily spending smarter.
No Tax Reform, Just Tax Delays
Leaders boast that no income or sales tax rates were raised. True—but that’s a low bar. The state is still relying on existing high tax rates to fund expanding programs, discouraging business investment and prompting outmigration. Delaying a gas tax increase is not tax reform; it’s tax avoidance.
Illinois remains one of the highest-taxed states in the nation, with a regressive flat income tax, high property taxes, and a complex web of fees. Until the state tackles its overall tax burden, “affordability” will remain a slogan, not a reality.
Blaming Washington, Avoiding Responsibility
The budget release repeatedly blames the Trump Administration and federal cuts for economic uncertainty. While federal policy impacts the state, Illinois has its own structural challenges:
Blaming Washington let state leaders off the hook for decades of poor fiscal management.
The Real Test: Sustainability and Results
The eighth consecutive “balanced” budget sounds impressive—until you ask:
If the answer to these questions is no, then this budget is a balancing act of accounting, not a blueprint for prosperity.
Bottom Line
Illinois’ FY27 budget prioritizes political messaging over fiscal discipline. It offers temporary relief instead of permanent reform, expands spending without clear accountability, and blames federal policy for problems that are largely homegrown. Working families deserve more than one-time payments and sales tax holidays—they deserve a state that lowers taxes, reduces bureaucracy, and creates real economic opportunity.
Legislators’ pay was not frozen, so base pay rises by about $1,600+.
For now, Illinois has chosen spending over savings, slogans over solutions, and blame over accountability. That’s not leadership—that’s political theater.
Legislature fails to get @ChicagoBears deal into the endzone. But, Illinois has an official state bee, the largest state budget in Illinois history that includes all kinds of new taxes and rideshare drivers can unionize — if the governor signs these bills, among 395 total bills that passed both chambers this spring session. See them all in their tens of thousands of pages of legalese and legislative speak here: ilga.gov/Reports/Previe…)
No Republicans voted for the plan, though some House lawmakers said they were at least more involved in budget negotiations than in recent years.
Lawmakers incorporated a pair of the tax changes that Pritzker had proposed in February. One would lower the cap on corporate net operating loss deductions for business. Another would impose a tax on social media companies based on the number of users the platform has in Illinois. Combined, those would generate $500 million in new revenue.
Read more: https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-lawmakers-pass-59b-budget-new-taxes-social-media-companies-crypto-fantasy-sports/19210755/
In the 11th Hour of the General Assembly session, the Senate advanced a Bill that would mean that the village of Arlington Heights would own the land the Bears Stadium is on, so the land would not be Property Taxable, meaning the City, the Schools, NONE of the property taxing bodies would receive any funding from the land. Which basically means all of the property tax payers would be Fucked.
Congratulations Springfield! Another Disaster.
YAY, Crazy unbearable traffic coupled with ZERO property tax assistance… WHAT COULD GO WRONG?!
“Once again, Illinois Democrats jammed through a massive, nearly $56 billion state budget in the dead of night, giving taxpayers and legislators little to no time to review what’s actually in it. Worse yet, House Rules were suspended to fast-track this legislation, preventing the thorough debate and transparency Illinois families expect and deserve.
“At a time when working families are struggling with rising costs, this budget grows government instead of delivering real relief. A $55.9 billion spending plan, the largest in state history, should demand careful review and bipartisan input, not backroom deals and last-minute votes.
“The people of Illinois expect honesty, transparency, and fiscal responsibility from their government. I voted ‘No’ on HB 111 because Illinois deserves a better budget process—one that respects taxpayers, lawmakers, and the principles of open government.”
The Senate just passed legislation allowing out-of-state illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates at all Illinois public universities.
You can’t make this stuff up.
The university bureaucracies love it because it means more revenue. Illinois families get the bill. At a time when tuition is already too high, Springfield is once again putting everyone else ahead of the taxpayers who actually live here.
Today, I voted NO on the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget. This budget spends $55.9 billion, the largest budget in Illinois history. It also includes nearly $800 million in new taxes and fees.
Illinois does not have a revenue problem. The problem is with spending. Since Governor Pritzker took office, state spending has increased by nearly 40% while taxpayers continue to hear the same excuses and see the same results.
This is what’s in the new budget:
The people I represent expect government to focus on public safety, affordability, and responsible spending. Instead, Illinois Democrats have produced another record-breaking budget and simply handed taxpayers the bill.
The process was just as disappointing as the product. Republicans were largely shut out of negotiations, leaving millions of Illinois residents without the voice of their elected representative during budget discussions.
Illinois families have already absorbed 57 tax and fee increases under Governor Pritzker, costing taxpayers more than $77 billion. This budget continues that trend. Taxpayers deserve better stewardship of their money
The Illinois general assembly passed a $55 billion budget without a Bears stadium bill.
The Illinois Senate overnight passed last-ditch effort aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois, that essentially creates the chance for municipalities to own stadiums. That would mean the Bears would pay $0 in property taxes, but pay taxes on the development around a stadium.
The Illinois House did not take up a vote on the bill, and the general assembly adjourned.
In a statement early Monday, the Bears said “We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated. We will provide an update when we have a decision to share.”
The budget, without a Bears’ stadium bill, now heads to Gov. JB Pritkzers desk.
Let’s breakdown the facts. Eight years under Governor Pritzker:
📈State spending up $16 billion (+40%)
💰Illinois families paying $1,700 more in taxes
💼Highest unemployment rate in the Midwest (4th in the nation)
🏡Highest property taxes in America
✂️Cut the Property Tax Relief Fund
🚌School transportation funding reduced
⚡️Energy bills soaring across the state
And that’s just scratching the surface.
Illinois families are paying more and getting less.
Senator Cristina Castro-led ban on cellphones in schools heads to governor.
http://ilsenatedems.co/Ei3i50Z5Yks
Springfield is celebrating a “gas tax freeze.”
Reality?
They’re not cutting your gas taxes.
They’re not even pausing them.
They’re postponing the next automatic gas tax increase for six months.
The increase is roughly a penny per gallon.
In Springfield, delaying a tax hike by one penny is considered tax relief. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
JB Pritzker is lying to us.
He and his administration worked to ram through a megaprojects bill that would’ve given billionaire developers a 40-year property tax freeze.
The numbers for the Bears were brutal: a $39 million annual handout — $1.5 billion over 40 years — shifted straight onto the backs of Illinois homeowners already crushed by some of the highest property taxes in America.
JB called this “a pretty good deal.” His team negotiated until the final hours because they wanted it done.
Then taxpayers and lawmakers started asking the obvious question:
Why are we giving a 40-year tax freeze to billionaires while families drown in property taxes?
And just like that, the votes vanished. The deal died. And suddenly — magically — JB Pritzker opposed it all along.
He says he “wasn’t willing to give up billions of dollars of taxpayer money” for a billionaire-owned team and that protecting taxpayers was always his “North Star.”
What a shameless liar.
Until this deal collapsed, Pritzker was perfectly willing to sell Illinois taxpayers down the river.
Friends, Democrats control Illinois, and JB Pritzker is their king. He doesn’t get to rewrite history and pretend he wasn’t in on this corporate giveaway the second it became politically toxic.
He owns this.
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