SPRINGFIELD – Twelve Republican senators voted to raise Illinois' gas tax to be the 3rd highest in the nation – almost as high as California and Pennsylvania's. The hike will go to fund Governor Pritzker's $45 Billion capital improvement program – the majority of which will be going to Democrat districts.
The 19 cents per gallon gas tax hike will take effect Monday, July 1st – and there's a lot of interest in who exactly is responsible for this painful additional tax burden on Illinois drivers. The Democrat leadership really, really wanted the vote to be bi-partisan – so they wouldn't take the blame for it as a party.
HOW DID YOUR STATE REP VOTE ON THE GAS TAX HIKE?
The Democrat leadership pushed the vote on Pritzker's capital improvement bill past midnight May 31st so a super-majority would be required in both chambers. That put the pressure on the super-minority Republican Senate Caucus to come up with some votes so they could get some crumbs from the $45 billion capital improvement feast about to take place.
Indeed, the Democrats awarded themselves twice as much per district as they're giving the poor sap voters that put Republicans into office – $6 million per Democrat district versus $3 million per Republican district.
So, twelve Republican senators – Anderson, Barickman, Brady, Curran, DeWitte, Fowler, McClure, McConchie, Rezin, Rose, Syverson and Tracy voted "yes" on SB 1939 that raises the gas tax to 38 cents a gallon, and one – Jim Oberweis – voted present. Those 12 votes allowed four Democrats to vote "no" – Bennett, Crowe, Glowiak and Villivalam – and be able to say to angry voters at the next election, "Hey, I voted no on the gas tax hike!"
Oberweis' present vote, he says, was recommended to him by the Senate ethics advisor since Oberweis Dairy will be affected by the gas tax hike. Oberweis has been pointing out his potential opponent in the upcoming 14th CD GOP primary race Sen. Sue Rezin's "yes" vote on SB 1939.
So are Republicans really the "anti-tax" party in Illinois? Or are they anti-tax only when it's convenient?
Will Illinois conservatives care at all? We can assume they will be paying attention when they fill up their tanks after July 1.
The vote for reference – Red circles GOP senators that voted "yes" and blue circles are Democrat senators that voted "no" -
Since you brought up the 14th congressional district Republican primary, let’s make sure you include everything the candidates in that primary said about the state senate vote on SB 1939. Jim Oberweis included the following when talking to McHenry County Blog about his “present” vote:
“A present vote works the same as a no vote because the bill needs 30 yes votes to pass regardless of how many people vote.”
Obviously, Oberweis forgot that this vote needed 40 for passage given it was cast on June 2. Now, Sue Rezin’s defense of her vote can be heard here:
http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/local-sen-talks-gas-tax-hike-in-effect-july/article_f2048156-98da-11e9-a348-f7a467507616.html
Finally, 14th district candidate James Marter referenced his 2 opponents, Oberweis and Rezin, but without naming names in the following excerpt from a Facebook post on June 25:
“DEMOCRATS hitting Working Class People the HARDEST taxing them again & again ! ++ a few bad Republicans voting yes or lacking courage and voting ‘present’”.
Looks like Oberweis’ explanation for his “present” vote was found not valid by Marter.
Marter has run almost as many times as Oberweis.
He is unproven in higher office.
Certainly there MUST be “someone” more qualified to run?
LOL! Marter hated Mark Kirk and ran against him. NOW you can see a picture of James Mater buttering up Mark Kirk. James Marter is nothing more that a POLITICAL OPPORTUNIST and a PERENNIAL CANDIDATE. He is about as interesting as a PIECE OF WHITE BREAD!! IF THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO,,,,,We deserve to lose!!
Also note Oberweis has received campaign donations from the paving company Ozinga. There’s your conflict of interest behind the Present vote.