Southern Illinois News

Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) joined his Republican colleagues in the House at a press conference March 16 to address spiking gas prices.

Windhorst, who represents a district that borders Kentucky, Indiana and Missouri, has seen significant differences between the states' gas prices.

“Taking into consideration our state's combined motor fuel tax, sales tax and federal taxes on gasoline, residents of Illinois are heading across the border to Kentucky Indiana and Missouri, not just to buy gas but to buy other products as well,” Windhorst said. “Our combined sales tax, property tax, and income taxes and fuel tax are ranked as the highest in the nation. Inflation is hitting record 40-year highs every single month.”

A way Illinois Republicans are working on the state’s gas prices is by addressing its tax on it.

Republicans are sponsoring House Bill 5723, which would cap the motor fuel retailers tax at 18 cents.

The bill was introduced on March 11 and had its first reading on March 15 before being referred to the Rules Committee.

Another Republican-backed bill, House Bill 5481 would amend the Use Tax Act, as well as other tax laws, to suspend the gas tax if the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index is more than 3% over the previous year. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg), Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora), Amy Elik (R-Alton) and Tom Weber, (R-Fox Lake).

The bill was introduced on Jan. 28 and was referred to the Rules Committee, but has not been called or scheduled since.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported motorists are paying 15% in taxes at the pump.