SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker launched a self-congratulatory media blitz June 30, touting his Family Relief Plan that he claims will provide $1.83 billion in tax relief.
State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) says the Governor is trying to trick consumers into thinking he is providing them relief at the gas pump, touting a temporary delay in the two-cent increase as tax relief, but she is reminding consumers that with the Governor’s plan they will be paying that delayed increase in January 2023, conveniently after the election. This means they will now be hit with two increases in 2023—one in January and another one in July.
Tracy says what the Governor does not mention is that he ignored several proposals by Republican lawmakers that could have provided much more tax relief, and on a permanent basis.
The 47th District Senator says much of Pritzker’s plan is based on election-year gimmicks. While Democrats legislative leaders this spring rammed through a last-minute budget full of new spending and temporary tax cuts, the Senate Republicans proposed real and permanent tax relief for working families across Illinois that includes:
- Capping the sales tax on gas at 18 cents per gallon, saving consumers up to 16 cents per gallon.
- Eliminating the 1 percent sales tax on groceries and prescription drugs/medical devices.
- Increasing the Illinois state income tax exemption seniors receive from $1,000 to $2,000.
“We are offering real tax relief, permanent tax relief, tax relief that does not involve raiding other state funds. They are offering temporary relief, which is rather ironic. Illinois has been flooded with billions in relief money from the federal government, but so much of that had been squandered. It would be nice to know where it was spent,” Tracy said. “The budget forced through by Democrat lawmakers and signed by the Governor this spring is right out of an election-year playbook. Bigger government, more spending, temporary tax relief.”
Tracy says lawmakers should return to Springfield to immediately cap the state’s sales tax on motor fuel at 18 cents per gallon, which is more in line with what consumers were paying last fall before prices started to climb dramatically. The General Assembly should repeal the Governor’s two-cent election-year gimmick and pass Senate Bill 4195, cosponsored by Tracy, which provides substantially more savings and relief to motorists and prevents state government from receiving a windfall of cash it was never expecting.
Adopted by the full Senate Republican Caucus, the plan would save consumers up to 16 cents per gallon or $1 billion in total over the next year. Additionally, the measure would continue to provide adequate funding for Illinois’ infrastructure projects.