Reclaim Chicago is proud to endorse Omar for reelection as Illinois State Senator of the 2nd District, which includes Humboldt Park, Belmont-Cragin and other neighborhoods on Chicago’s Northwest side, because Omar has taken the lead in fighting for the LaSalle Street Tax in Springfield. The LaSalle Street Tax is a tiny sales tax of ½ of one percent on Chicago’s version of Wall Street, where big banks and corporations trade futures and commodities.

It would generate approximately $10 billion per year and, paired with a progressive income tax on the rich and the closure of other corporate tax loopholes, would allow Illinois to repair it’s crumbling infrastructure, fully fund K-12 education, make public higher education free for Illinois students, fully fund social services and begin our transition to a green energy infrastructure. Omar first became interested in the impacts of public policy on people’s lives while working as a bilingual case manager to elderly clients in Illinois’ Community Care Program, a state program designed to assist low income elderly residents with basic needs so they can maintain their independence and avoid nursing homes.