Illinois Valley Times

Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) joined House Republican colleagues Reps. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg), Amy Elik (R-Alton), and Mark Luft (R-Pekin) at a news conference March 16 to push for tax relief for Illinois families.

"As we consider the state's budget process, as we consider where the state's prioritizing our dollars and our investments, we need to think long and hard about what we can do to deliver meaningful relief to Illinois families in the face of unprecedented growth, in inflation, and unprecedented price increases on many everyday staple goods," said Demmer. "We've been actively pushing for that kind of release here in the state of Illinois. And we think it should be a priority in this year's budget-making process to think first about Illinois families and taxpayers and not just think about the state bureaucracy and the state budget."

Demmer brought up a recent proposal calling for a refundable tax credit for Illinois families making under $150,000. 

"This refundable tax credit for families would provide up to $400 of immediate economic relief to help them put those dollars toward things that are important and are priorities for them, places where they've felt an additional pinch or places where their budget has an unexpected hole in it," Demmer said.

State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), introduced House Bill 5723,  which would cap the gas sales tax at 18 cents per gallon for motor fuel and 80% of that amount for gasohol and biodiesel. 

"The state should not experience this bump in revenue on the backs of consumers, particularly middle and lower-income consumers who are already suffering financially from inflation and high gas prices," Batinick said.

The bill has received much support from Republican lawmakers.

"Runaway inflation and the high price of oil is driving gas prices to levels not seen in years," Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Litchfield) said. "Illinois is one of the rare states that has a sales tax on gas, so as gas prices increase, the price per gallon becomes even more costly for family budgets and small businesses across Illinois. People need relief and this legislation provides real relief to limit the pain at the pump."

HB 5723 was introduced on March 11 and had its first reading on March 15 before being referred to the Rules Committee.

Another Republican-backed effort, House Bill 5481 would amend the Use Tax Act, as well as other tax laws, to suspend the gas tax if the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index is more than 3% over the previous year. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg), Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora), Amy Elik (R-Alton) and Tom Weber, (R-Fox Lake).

The bill was introduced on Jan. 28 and was referred to the Rules Committee, but has not been called or scheduled since.