Rock Island Today

Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), a GOP gubernatorial candidate, urges the state government to act against inflation and help families with surging prices.

The senator said, "Inflation continues to hurt working families."

“Gas prices may not be as high as they were earlier this summer, but they are still high and Illinois residents continue to pay more for gas than the people in neighboring states – something Rock Island and Moline residents know all too well,” Bailey said.

One way to address this, he said, is to repeal the tax hike on fuel products.

“It’s been more than 60 days since I called on Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker to call a special session of the legislature to repeal his disastrous gas tax hike and address economic hardships in Illinois,” Bailey said. "What has been the response from Pritzker? Nothing. He’s either too busy running for president or doesn’t care that Illinois families are struggling under his failed leadership."

Bailey, who is seeking to replace Pritzker as governor, is calling out Pritzker for being unresponsive to his request.

“Pritzker had a chance to do what’s right, and remove or suspend this tax,” Bailey said in a report by radio station WDBR. “Instead, billionaire JB decided to merely freeze the increase and throw a couple of pennies at struggling families here in Illinois. That’s a disgrace. That’s unacceptable.”

In 2019, Pritzker signed a bill that doubled the state's gas tax, with Illinois achieving the second-highest gas tax in the United States, according to the Sangamon Sun. Before that, the state’s fuel tax stood at 19 cents per gallon for almost 30 years, according to the Associated Press.

Lawmakers are debating whether to repeal the tax hike, the Sangamon Sun reported.

Illinois Policy reported Aug. 3 that Illinois’ total state and local tax burden on gasoline purchases is up from 10th highest a few years ago.