South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) is calling for relief for Illinoisans from the nation’s second-highest gas tax. 

“About two-thirds of Illinois’ population lives within a 40-minute drive of a bordering state," Wilbur told South Central Reporter. "Raising gas taxes in Illinois was an ill-conceived idea from the start. Our gas tax was already high in comparison to other states. Now, we have the second-highest gas tax in the nation, and it is only going up. Our state is one of the worst-run states in the country and we are all paying the price as a result.” 

Wihour attributes the "skyrocketing gas taxes" to the "failed policies of the political elites who run state government."

“The bottom line is we are punishing Illinois residents for the terrible mismanagement of our state," he said. "Because the leaders in the House and the Senate have failed to address the pension crisis and have failed to enact meaningful spending reforms, their only option to improve Illinois roads is to raise taxes."

He highlighted the need for tax relief.

“We need to get spending under control and look at ways to provide real tax relief to Illinois residents. We don’t need gimmicks. We need permanent tax relief and the only way we can accomplish this is by reducing spending and enacting serious anti-corruption laws to shed our image as a pay-to-play state once and for all. More jobs mean more tax revenue, but we can’t attract new jobs and new opportunities until we root out corruption in state government.”

After signing a bill doubling the state tax on gasoline, Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave Illinois the distinction of having the second-highest gas tax in the country.

In February Pritzker suggested a freeze, but has not acted on the proposal. 

With federal and state taxes combined, the people of Illinois are spending nearly 80 cents per gallon for taxes alone—far higher than what the people of Missouri are spending, they pay the second-lowest gas tax. In Illinois, a gallon of gas costs 42 cents more than Missouri due to differing tax policies.