Tax Raisers Ready For MASSIVE Gas Tax Increase

By on December 19, 2018   /   Illinois, Items of Interest, Latest, News Releases  

View as PDF

CHICAGO— In an urgent press conference at the Illinois State building the Illinois Representatives Allen Skillicorn (R) and Jeanne Ives (R) warned of an impending fuel tax hike. According to Representative Skillicorn, “There is a horrible rumor going around Springfield. Actually this is the worst kept secret in Springfield right now. Because there is a talk of a 25 cent to 30 cent gas tax increase. This is a massive increase.”

The warning was issued after the Democrat mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel and a slew of his allied mayors called for increasing the total gas taxes in Illinois by 71%. Such a move would give Illinois the highest gas taxes in the nation.

The Republican representatives and their supporters wore yellow vests in solidarity with the protesters in France. In France the Yellow Vest protesters won a major victory over their president with a repeal of a similar gas tax. The original tax increase in France would have raised the price of fuel by about 30 cents per gallon and would have elevated the price over the next few years. Gas already costs over $7 per gallon in France when including current taxes.

The plan by Springfield Tax Raisers to spike fuel prices will be devastating for Illinois. The gas tax will also disproportionally effect poor taxpayers and the middle class. This is a complete heel turn from recent propaganda by pro-high tax politicians who promised not to raise taxes on the poor and middle class.

“I’m completely unsurprised,” remarked Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America. Jim Tobin was present at the press conference and spoke briefly on the ongoing Illinois Pension Crisis. “The greedy politicians in Springfield only know how to tax and spend. It doesn’t really matter who takes the hit, so long as their government buddies receive lavish, gold plated government pensions.”

Back to Top

TAXPAYERS SAY NO TO ANY INCREASE IN THE ILLINOIS GASOLINE TAX

By on December 17, 2018   /   Illinois, Items of Interest, Latest, News Releases, Press  

View as PDF

CHICAGO—The president of Illinois’ largest taxpayer organization today condemned the huge proposed increase in the state tax on gasoline put forth by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, calling the proposed increase unconscionable and obscene.

The outgoing mayor of Chicago and the mayors of Park Forest, Hazel Crest, Oswego, Fox River Grove, Joliet, Batavia, Broadview and Ford Heights called for the current 19 cent Illinois state gas tax to be raised to anywhere between an additional 20 cents to 30 cents. In other words these mayors are asking for a 105% to 157% gas tax increase for what has been described as “infrastructure” projects. The possible gas tax increase could be higher than the one passed by the 86th general assembly. The 86th general assembly presided over the great Tax Massacre of ‘89 where the gas tax was raised by 46%.

Mayor Emanuel was quoted as saying, “Our state can’t wait any longer” for the gas tax increase. According to Rahm Emanuel, “Over the last four years, we’ve been stuck in neutral and the states in the surrounding area — Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa just to name a few — have passed transportation bills with gas tax increases.” What Emanuel failed to mention was Illinois already pays higher gas taxes than most of its neighbors. If the 157% gas tax increase is passed, based on Tax Foundation research Illinois could rank in the top five U.S. states for highest gas taxes surpassing all of its neighbors.

“Rahm Emanuel, who presides over the most corrupt city in the country, located in the most corrupt state in the country, has the gall to propose a 20 to 30 cent per gallon increase in the state’s gas tax,” said Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “The city is technically bankrupt, and the state also is bankrupt, but he expects taxpayers to accept this back-breaking gasoline tax increase because they should trust him to spend the money on transportation projects.”

“80 percent of spending by local governments is for salaries and benefits of employees. To saddle Illinois taxpayers with more taxes is totally unacceptable.”

“At least 19,481 retired government-employee pensioners are receiving $100,000 or more in annual pension payments. That level of payout has increased about 15% over the 2017 pension payments. At this rate of increase, the number of pensions over $100,000 will far exceed 21,000 in 2019.”

“So many billions of dollars of state resources have been poured into these failing state pension funds, to no avail, that there is not very much left for other areas. Passing this harsh, regressive gasoline state tax increase only would encourage state politicians to continue their incompetent management of precious state resources.”

Back to Top

TAXPAYER ALERT!

By on November 20, 2018   /   Illinois, Items of Interest, Latest, News Releases, Taxpayer Alert  

View as PDF

Dear Taxpayer,

The Springfield tax-raisers—of both political parties—are planning to hit taxpayers with another tax increase, and this one is a cowardly sneak-attack that you must fight immediately in order to stop it.

As you are reading this, the state’s car rental companies are working with Illinois lawmakers to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that would tax and regulate the promising peer-to-peer car sharing industry. The Chicago Tribune and the Sun Times have already reported on this anti free market bill, but pro bureaucracy lawmakers seem hellbent on pushing it through.

The state’s car rental companies, which are facing competition from startups, are behind this proposed legislation in order to crush competition.

Peer-to-peer car rental companies allow individuals to rent their car out. Currently, there are more than 6,100 car owners in Illinois who rent their vehicles out to others.

Lawmakers want to override Rauner’s veto to Senate Bill 2641, by passing requirements for companies like Turo and their members to provide detailed cost estimates, abide by stricter vehicle recall requirements, and pay an additional 5 percent state tax with the possibility of additional local taxes.

Lobbyists for rental companies said this money goes to infrastructure and that rideshare companies should have to pay the same tax. However, rental companies are exempt from paying sales tax on the vehicles they buy, a break worth an estimated $200 million a year.

The Illinois State Senate took one step closer to eliminating peer-to-peer car sharing in Illinois by overriding a bill vetoed by Governor Rauner. Prodded by Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, the Senate passed a bill that would regulate individual car owners using a company like Turo as a rental car company.

The Senate acted without a single hearing regarding this stealthy tax increase. Now the battle moves to the Illinois House of Representatives.

Please contact your Illinois House Representative and tell him or her to vote NO on Senate Bill 2641. It’s urgent that you call your legislator today. The Springfield office switchboard is 217-782-2000.

Thanks for helping stop this sneaky tax hike!

Back to Top