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 Illinois lawmakers are considering forcing gas
stations to post a 4-inch by 8-inch, boldly lettered sign on gas pumps
highlighting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s temporary suspension of the upcoming automatic
gas tax hike.
Failing to comply would come with $500-a-day fines.
Nope, says Josh Sharp of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association.
“This industry won’t be forced into offering free election year advertising for
the Governor. Ordering businesses to take part in speech that is compelled by
the government under the threat of fines and criminal penalties is unwise and
unconstitutional,” said Sharp, who threatened a lawsuit unless the language is
removed.
The gas pump signs are part of an amendment to House Bill 1497, which contains
state lawmakers’ budget proposals and Pritzker’s temporary tax cuts. Pritzker is
pushing a six-month delay in the automatic state gas tax increase – a measure
passed in 2019 when Pritzker and lawmakers doubled the state gas tax from 19
cents to 38 cents a gallon and included automatic annual increases so lawmakers
would no longer be forced to take public votes on the unpopular tax hikes.
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Suspending the penny increase has been roundly criticized as an election-year
gimmick that offers no real relief.
Amendment 1 of HB 1497 would require gas stations to post signs on pumps that
read: “As of July 1, 2022, the State of Illinois has suspended the inflation
adjustment to the motor fuel tax through December 31, 2022. The price on this
pump should reflect the suspension of the tax increase.”
Any gas station that doesn’t comply would be guilty of a “petty offense” and
fined $500 per day until the sign is visible on the premises.
Illinoisans pay the second-highest gas taxes in the nation since the gas tax was
doubled in 2019. Those taxes were intended to support $45 billion in
infrastructure spending, but the projects were riddled with pork including dog
parks, pickleball courts and money for political cronies who never sought the
funds.
Illinois would be better served if all that went onto a sign at the pumps.
Dylan Sharkey recently graduated from the University of Iowa with
a bachelor’s degree in political science. He’s a life-long resident of St.
Charles, Illinois, and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in public
policy from Northwestern University. |
