Due to inflation, many Democratic governors have attempted to suspend their state's federal gas tax. | Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio
Due to inflation, many Democratic governors have attempted to suspend their state's federal gas tax. | Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio
Senator Dan McConchie took to Facebook to express how gas pumps are being used for political gain through 4” x 8” stickers by Governor J.B. Pritzker.
“Illinois families deserve better,” McConchie wrote on Facebook. “Republicans are serious about working to provide permanent relief at the pump instead of forcing businesses to advertise a blatant attempt to buy a few votes.”
Pritzker doubled Illinois’ gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, Fox News reported. Pritzker also instituted an annual gas tax increase. Illinois Democrats passed legislation that will postpone this year's scheduled gas tax increase of 2.2 cents from July to January. The bill will require gas stations to put stickers on gas pumps notifying Illinoisans of the postponement. Gas stations will be fined $500 per day if they refuse to display the stickers. Josh Sharp, President and CEO of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, called the mandatory stickers “free election-year advertising for the Governor.”
Illinois Policy reported 2012 Illinoisans saw the highest prices at the pump at $4.68 per gallon.
The gas tax increase delay is part of a bundle of tax rebates and delays in the record $46.5 billion FY 23 budget, Illinois Policy reported. The tax rebates and delays will save the average Illinois family $556. The 2.2 cents increase to the gas tax will take effect on Jan. 2023, and will be followed by another increase in July 2023, likely of 3.8 cents per gallon, bringing Illinois’ total gasoline tax up to 45.2 cents per gallon.
“Illinois is one of just seven states that charges a sales tax of 6.25% on top of the regular gas tax,” Senator Dave Syverson said on The Center Square Illinois. “As the price of fuel goes up, so does the tax. A state that used to be getting sales tax based on $2.80 a gallon, and now they're getting sales tax based on $5.00 or more a gallon. They're reaping an increased profit of 13 to 15 cents per gallon.”
The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association (IFRA) is suing over the sticker mandate, seeking a temporary restraining order for when the bill takes effect, Advantage News reported.
“At the end of the day, we hope to get the law permanently struck down but in the meantime, we’re looking for hopefully a temporary restraining order against the state from enforcing this law when it goes into effect July 1,” Josh Sharp, IFRA President and CEO, said in Advantage News.
The State Journal-Register reported that IFRA and two large fuel distributors sued the Illinois Department of Revenue to post posters alerting consumers about a six-month freeze on the state’s gas tax.
Illinois gas prices average $4.980 per gallon as of May 23, AAA said, up from $3.230 one year ago. In Kane County, gas prices average $5.405 per gallon.
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