SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, representing Illinois gas stations and convenience stores, today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate and House approving the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan:
“These latest actions out of Washington are good news for so many small businesses and families in Illinois and across the country who have been devastated by job loss and a lack of economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. I encourage Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his team to move quickly to ensure these funds reach the people they were designed to help.
But I also call on the Governor to use this good news for Illinois to officially end any policies that would punish the very people the federal aid is supposed to support.
In his budget speech last month, the Governor called for millions of dollars in tax increases on businesses across Illinois. The most troubling of these for our members is more quickly ending the sales tax exemption for selling biodiesel at the gas pump, which would have been a net tax increase of $107 million.
This change would add approximately 20 cents per gallon sold of diesel fuel, adding to Illinois’ already high prices as one of just six states that already have a sales tax on motor fuels on top of traditional motor fuel taxes. It will hurt our agriculture community and small businesses, and send consumers across state lines to fill up.
The federal aid coming to Illinois should ensure we can end policies that punish small businesses and pass a state budget this spring that supports our recovery, not slows it.”
Statement from Josh Sharp, CEO of Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, Springfield
