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A global issue is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries, or OPEC limiting their production. Illinois U.S. Sen.
Dick Durbin said he’ll put pressure on them where he can, but
didn’t say whether the U.S. should stop exporting U.S. oil.
“That debate goes back and forth as to whether or not what we’re
exporting is something we can use and what impact that would
have on our economy,” said Durbin, D-Springfield.
Illinois’ gas taxes are the highest in the Midwest, driving the
cost to the consumer nearly a dollar more a gallon than
neighboring Missouri’s average. AAA has Illinois’ gas average
for regular at $4.402. Missouri’s is $3.466.
During Thursday’s gubernatorial debate with his Republican rival
state Sen. Darren Bailey, Gov. J.B. Pritzker heralded his
administration’s plan to give taxpayers rebates and his freezing
of the annual gas tax increase.
“I’ve provided $1.8 billion in gas, grocery and property tax
relief,” Pritzker said when asked if he’d consider rolling back
any taxes due to inflation.
In 2019, lawmakers approved a doubling of the state’s gas tax
from 19 cents a gallon to 38 cents a gallon with annual
increases tied to inflation. The freeze on the 2.2-cent annual
motor fuel tax increase that was supposed to take effect this
past July lifts on Jan. 1.
State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, said his constituents aren’t
feeling the relief and said all of the state’s motor fuel tax
and sales tax on top should be zeroed out temporarily.
“Our road fund is in great shape,” Caulkins told WMAY. “The
federal government is looking at pumping billions of dollars
into infrastructure projects around the country and I think we
owe it to the working families. We’re getting killed everywhere
else, at the grocery store and you name it. The prices are going
up and I think this is one way to address that issue.”
With inflation at historic levels across the consumer landscape,
Caulkins is urging leaders to call lawmakers back to session
before the November election to find relief on state gas taxes.
“If we suspended all of the gas taxes for four months, five
months, six months, it’s not going to have a substantial impact
on our budget,” Caulkins said.
As of Friday, the Illinois Road Fund had around $1.5 billion.
Illinois drivers paid more than $2.5 billion in motor fuel taxes
last fiscal year.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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