SPRINGFIELD—In solidarity with home health workers, teachers, homelessness advocates, and other state officials, State Senator Graciela Guzmán advocated for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to utilize progressive revenue measures, ensuring essential programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid do not face cuts from a shortage of federal dollars.

“Parents are anxious about being able to afford food on the table while billionaires are ordering catering to their fleet of yachts,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This gross disparity between our lived experiences is not okay. We need to make sure our most wealthy are paying their fair share, because cutting essential programs for the working families that make up the heart of Illinois isn’t an option. We cannot balance this budget by cuts to working class people that are already hurting.”

The most recent federal budget could gut funding for several essential state programs, including Medicaid, support for home care workers, SNAP, education funding and more, unless alternative revenue sources are found. In response, several state senators have introduced legislation that would secure funds by taxing the most wealthy individuals or corporations. These officials joined advocates and front line workers at a press conference Wednesday to discuss the importance of these measures and to call for broader support.

Guzmán, who recently made headlines for her initiatives aiming to hold corporations accountable, joined the press conference to speak to the injustices corporations and wealthy individuals commit to working-class families when they opt out of investing in state programs for their own profits.

“It is unfair that large corporations can utilize tax loopholes to avoid paying for essential state programs while also paying their employees so little that they need these programs to be funded in order to survive,” said Guzmán. “It is long past time that we hold our most wealthy accountable, and require them to pay their fair share, just like every other Illinoisan does. In a time of unprecedented attacks by the Trump administration, progressive revenue will allow us to protect the services our constituents depend on.”

Guzmán will continue to push for these proposals throughout the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process.