“In west suburban Bensenville, which straddles Cook and DuPage counties, in the April 1 municipal election, voters rejected any proposed tax hike by 91 percent. That display of sentiment hasn’t stopped more than 160 Illinois towns from moving to restore the grocery tax at the local level. Mayors, village managers and city council members moan they need that dependable revenue, yet never take into consideration cutting expenses.”

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s “non-profit security grant program” has been awarding funds to organizations since at least 2023 to support “active shooter trainings, the purchase and installation of security equipment… and the hiring of contracted security personnel.” In 2023, the program was allocated $20 million.

The Illinois bill is modeled after a New York policy signed into law in December.

The allegedly discriminatory scholarships include the African-American Achievement Scholarship, the Black Undergrad Education Scholarship, the Hispanic-American Fund, the SIUC Minority Scholarship Fund and the Inspiring Women Scholarship.