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The average price of fuel in Illinois has remained steadily
above the national average as the costs of oil have sharply
increased since the conflict between the U.S. and Iran began
late last month.
The average price per gallon in Illinois on Friday was $4.12,
nearly 20 cents higher than the national average. At 48 cents a
gallon, Illinois has one of the highest gas tax in the country,
trailing only California’s 70-cents a gallon.
Both the state average and national average have skyrocketed by
more than a dollar a gallon in the last month, fueled by the
ongoing conflict with Iran.
State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, called on Democrats to
address the issue.
“I would encourage the majority party, let’s follow the lead of
our esteemed colleagues in the great state of Georgia. Let’s
suspend the gas tax for a 60-day period to provide true relief
for the great citizens of Illinois” Davis said.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill hours earlier Friday,
temporarily suspending fuel taxes of his state in the short
term.
Illinois residents are currently taxed 48 cents per gallon of
regular gasoline and nearly 56 cents per gallon of diesel, on
top of additional federal and local tax rates. The state tax
rate is set to increase in July.
State Rep. Blaire Sherlock, D-Villa Park, said the shock to fuel
prices is a result of unnecessary actions by the Trump
Administration.
“I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to
reach out to their president and ask him to get us out of a war
we never wanted to get into and bring gas prices down,” Sherlock
said.
Sherlock also said the military actions in Iran are causing
outsized pain for her constituents compared to the pain felt by
the wealthy.
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