Dan Ugaste calls the gas tax increase approved as part of the record-setting state budget a case of adding insult to injury for Illinois taxpayers.
“It’s insulting to everyone that this tax was cloaked as part of the budget,” Ugaste, who recently launched his 2018 campaign to replace retiring Rep. Steve Andersson (R-Geneva) in the 65th District, told the Kane County Reporter. “How can you justify this coming on the heels of a 32-percent income tax hike?”
Illinois gas prices are expected to rise by as much as 5 cents per gallon after the expiration of a 20-percent sales tax credit that was granted to wholesalers for unleaded gas mixed with ethanol.
Dan Ugaste
In Chicago, gas prices are already 44 cents higher than the national average.
Overall, the new tax is expected to generate approximately $95 million for the state, though none of that money is earmarked for much-needed repairs to crumbling roads.
With the tax officially being considered a sales tax, the money will instead be deposited into the state's general fund.
“Whoever they shift responsibility to for the tax is irrelevant because the consumer will end up paying for it in the end,” Ugaste said. “People have to stand up for themselves; it’s the only thing they respect in Springfield.”
Ugaste said Cook County residents recently coming together to force a repeal of the penny-per-ounce sweetened beverage tax is a perfect example of that.
“I thought the way residents came together was fantastic, and I would like to see more of it,” he said.
Beyond that, Ugaste said the answer to changing things is in sending enough like-minded leaders to Springfield who are committed to ending the status quo.
“We have to get enough no-nonsense-about-the-budget-and-taxes leaders to Springfield,” he said. “If the status quo is allowed to remain the same, nothing will really change. We have to let lawmakers know something has to and we won’t tolerate anything less.”
The 65th District includes Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Pingree Grove, Gilberts, Wayne, Elgin, South Elgin, Hampshire and Huntley.