Illinois state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is fighting to shield motorists in her community from yet another attack stemming from the recently imposed state gas tax.
“This is just another hidden tax,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal of the Parking Excise Tax Act that allows garages owned or operated by a municipality, county or township to charge a parking fee. "Why should we be sending back to the state for something like this?”
Grant said she is now working with Wheaton Mayor Phil Seuss to demand answers, not to mention craft legislation that wipes out the tax.
“The Mayor brought it to my attention, and like him I am outraged that this is yet another tax being enforced that people don’t know about,” she said. “We’ve already got enough taxes in Illinois and they’re already driving enough people out of this state. It’s one thing to tax commercial for-profit parking amenities, which are small businesses, but we should not be levying fees from public parking areas–especially given that they likely were constructed using taxpayer money.”
Back in Springfield, Grant said she plans to co-sponsor a bill designed to amend the tax.
“Right now, the state is just taking money and that will only mean higher fees for motorists, especially in some of these suburbs. Whenever you see things like this, you have to be willing to step forward and expose these people for their wrongdoing.”
In a statement posted to her website, Seuss applauded Grant for her actions and fighting for her constituents.
“I appreciate Rep. Grant’s work on making sure that the state’s excise tax does not apply to city-owned or leased parking,” he said.
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