Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) has called out her Democratic colleagues for not doing enough to bring meaningful tax relief to the people of Illinois as inflation and high gas prices continue to take their toll on families.

Grant took to social media to criticize lawmakers on the other side of the aisle for delivering only temporary relief.

"After driving up taxes across the state for decades, Democrats now expect praise for temporarily delaying a 2-cent gas tax increase," Grant wrote in a May 27 Facebook post. 

Gov. Pritzker (D-IL) doubled the state's gas tax in 2019, bringing it up to 38 cents, Fox 32 Chicago reported. Pritzker also established an annual gas tax increase. Illinois Democrats passed legislation that will postpone this year's scheduled gas tax increase from July to January.

Under the legislation, gas stations are required to put stickers on the pumps informing ousters of the postponement or face a $500 fine per day if they refuse to do so, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Josh Sharp, President and CEO of The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, called the sticker mandate a campaign stunt. 

"If our colleagues on the other side of the aisle really want to make a difference, they should join us in fighting for responsible state budgets and lasting tax relief for Illinois families," Grant wrote in the post. 

The gas tax delay was included in a package of tax rebates and postponements in the FY 23 budget which set a record at $46.5 billion, Illinois Policy noted. The average Illinois family will save $556 under the plan, but the 2.2-cent gas tax increase will take effect in January with another increase scheduled for the following July which is expected to bring the state's total gas tax up to 45.2 cents a gallon. 

According to Advantage News, the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association has brought the issue over the informational sticker mandate on the tax postponement to court. Sharp told the news outlet the IFRA is hoping to get the law permanently banned, but at the very least hopes to stop enforcement of the mandate when the law takes effect next month. 

As of June 1, the average cost of a gallon of gas in Illinois was 46 cents above the national average at $5.13 a gallon compared to last year's average of $3.27, according to AAA. DuPage County's June 1 average measured at $5.37 a gallon.