CHICAGO - Surprise! It was all an experiment to get the discussion about road funding started!
About 15 days late for April Fool's Day, Democrat State President John Cullerton post on his Facebook page that the idea for Illinois drivers to pay a tax per mile they drive was all in fun.
"Thank you to everyone for weighing in on ideas for how to fund road construction in Illinois," he wrote.
Yes, Illinoisans "weighed in" alright. Evidently, they were furious and outraged.
"I filed legislation to start discussion and debate and get feedback on how the state could replace the gas tax," he said. "I've received a lot of constructive feedback that will help shape future policies."
Who's holding their breath to find out what those "future policies" will cost us?
SB 3267 will not move forward this session, the Senate President assured.
Still, SB 3267 wasn't a fluke or a pie-in-the-sky dream for lawmakers that truly believe we don't pay enough every year. SB 3267 has an array of specifics, including how exactly the taxes would be collected in the "I-RIDE" program, starting in July 2017.
Yes, Cullerton's even had a name, and three tax collection choices: the I-RIDE Smart Plan, the I-RIDE Convenient Plan, and the I-RIDE Flat Plan:
While those that voiced their opinion may feel relieved with Cullerton's post, too much was invested in coming up with this plan to allow it to be archived forever.
Keep an eye out - it was a weather balloon that could have been launched in order for Illinoisans to feel like they got a good deal with a less Big Brother approach to paying for roads.
For years and years, the Illinois treasury benefitted from high gas prices because Illinoisans pay taxes based on the gas price, not per gallon. Filling a 15 gallon tank at $4 per gallon rakes twice as much more into state gas tax coffers than filling that same tank with $2 per gallon gas.
That money was to go to pay for road repair and construction. While the Democrats demand a statewide prevailing wage for every pot hole fixed as well as every road constructed, they convey panic that the taxes we are paying is just not enough to keep up with the exorbitant costs of road construction.
Illinoisans would do well to hold Democrats accountable for every tax hike they demand.
