South Central Reporter

Illinois Senate Democrats have proposed a $1.8 billion tax relief plan to fight back against inflation, which would send residents $50 per person and $100 per child for up to three children per household, a recent KHQA.com news release said.

Republicans are opposed to the plan, as it is not permanent relief, the release said. Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) noted that the plan is deceptive because it only lasts until after the election is over. 

Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) also spoke out against the strategy.

"This Governor, this General Assembly has done nothing but destroy economic opportunity for working people in this state," Wilhour told the South Central Reporter recently. "They've destroyed it in the rural areas and they've destroyed it in the urban areas. The blue-collar areas of this state that I represent, and that a lot of you are supposed to represent, they’re like ghost towns. They are a shell of what they once were and what they should be."

Wilhour did not feel like the policy should be used to score political points.

"You got the audacity to come in here and brag about fiscal responsibility because revenues are being temporarily boosted on the backs of the working families of this state," he said. "They're paying more for everything that they need." 

The congressman felt like these actions could have dire political consequences for Democrats.

"They get it, they're tired of it," Wilhour said. "And they're going to clean this chamber out come November."

The proposal sets out to suspend the gas tax and the state's grocery tax for only six months.