SPRINGFIELD – The 12 Republican Senate members and 20 GOP state reps that climbed on board the Democrats' 2019 gas tax hike train would be happy if Illinois taxpayers focused their angst towards the Democrat governor, House speaker and Senate president. But despite the President's efforts to boost US fuel independence and make pump prices more bearable, Illinois lawmakers from both parties supported the 19 cent per gallon tax hike and hoped taxpayers would ignore or forget.
What is that money supposed to go towards? Better roads – at least that's what Illinoisans are being told. More of their hard-earned paychecks are going to improve travel in Illinois and fill those gut-wrenching potholes we veer around during our trips to and from work every day.
But, that's not exactly what your gas tax hike will be spent upon, the Illinois Policy Institute found. Instead of making our trips easier, the capital bill has plenty of pork:
Here are just a few examples of pork in the new capital plan:
The state will spend $98 million on noise abatement at the Chicago Belt Railway Yard in Bedford Park, which happens to be in the suburban portion of House Speaker Mike Madigan’s district.
The Illinois Arts Council, chaired by Madigan’s wife Shirley, will get $50 million in capital plan funds.
Rush University Medical Center, part of a private health system with annual revenues of $2.4 billion, will receive a $14 million grant from Illinois taxpayers.
The state will send $50 million in capital plan grants to parks and recreational units for improvements, such as pickleball courts. The Chicago Park District will receive $15 million for a new field house at Jackie Robinson Park.
Taxpayers will float $5 million to Northwestern University to purchase new science equipment. The private university boasts an endowment of $11 billion.
In a state with solid fiscal footing, some of these projects might make sense. But Illinois’ debt problem is the worst in the nation. Leaders have to make tough choices about nice-to-haves versus need-to-haves.
Republicans supported this ridiculous measure?
Yes – 20 Republican state reps – including Minority Leader Jim Durkin — voted "yes" on SB 1939 that raises the gas tax to 38 cents a gallon, and one – Keith Wheeler – voted present. The House members that voted to hike Illinois gas tax were: Bennett, Bourne, (Dan) Brady, Bryant, Butler, Demmer, Durkin, Frese Keicher, Marron, Mazzochi, McAuliffe, McDermed, Meier, Murphy, Reick, Severin, Sosnowski and Welter.
And twelve Republican senators – Anderson, Barickman, (Bill) 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!"
