South Central Reporter

Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour seethes there’s no way Illinois should find itself in the straits it does.

“Never ever in a state that is as blessed with people and resources as the state of Illinois should working families be having to make choices between groceries, food on the table, getting their kids to sporting events, doing the necessary things in their life and putting gas in their car,” Wilhour said. “That’s completely unacceptable and it is purely a result of the lack of action and the actions that have been taken by the General Assembly and by politicians all across this country.”

Wilhour views it all as just needless suffering.

“This isn't by accident, guys,” he added. “In 2019 when they were proposing this gas tax we sounded the alarm. We said all we're going to get out of this is higher prices and it's going to disproportionately affect working families, especially in our part of the state the people that have to drive to get to work. I think that it is very, very important to point out this isn't just a Democrat problem. This is a political problem. This is a political class problem in the state of Illinois.”

Wilhour argues the only way to change things is by sending more people to Springfield that are willing to put the interest of the people above special interests.

“Twenty Republicans, including Avery Bourne, who is running as the lieutenant governor for Richard Irvin’s failing campaign, supported this gas tax,” he added. “Nine Republicans supported the Illinois Green New Deal policy that is going to increase your utility rates by over $600 a year at a minimum. Working Families are getting failed by politicians in this state and that's why we need new leadership, bold leadership that is not going to be subjected to the special interest.”

In the end, Wilhour argues too many people are in Springfield for the wrong reason, namely standing for special interests.

“Too many people in Springfield are supported by special interests,” he added. “We need people that are actually going to go to Springfield and fight for the working people that are going to speak for the working people.”

As of June 13, Illinois Policy Institute reports the average gas prices broke the state record for two weeks running, having an 88-cent difference per gallon from neighboring states, and the state’s 39 cents gas tax, the most expensive in the Midwest, does little to help the situation.   

“The difference between gasoline prices in Illinois and the bordering states is significant: 60 cents to 70 cents a gallon higher in Illinois,” said Gary Meyer, owner of Friendly Fred’s Truck Stop in Gilman. “So, if you’re close to the border, why would you buy gasoline in Illinois?”

Back in 2019, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget added 24 new taxes and fees, including a doubling of the gas and diesel taxes and the addition of inflation-based automatic increases.

With Illinois gas prices now No. 2 in the nation,

This drove Illinois gas prices to No. 2 in the nation, and consumer prices also recently spiked to 8.6%, further squeezing already cash-strapped families across the state. Over the past year, gasoline is up 49%, energy services jumped by 16% and grocery bills are up 12% on average.