Illinois families are being squeezed from every direction, and Springfield is not making it any easier.
At the grocery store, opening utility bills, paying property taxes, and filling up at the gas pump, the pressure is constant. The cost of living continues to rise, yet meaningful relief remains out of reach for hardworking families.
Take Illinois’ gas tax as one example. It is among the highest in the nation, having risen to 48.3 cents per gallon last July. And Illinois is one of only three states that apply sales taxes to the price of gas, charging taxes on top of taxes. At a time when families are already struggling, double-taxing drivers only makes matters worse.
These policies hit working families the hardest, especially in downstate Illinois, where driving is not optional and public transportation is not available. Commuting to work, getting kids to school, and running daily errands all come with unavoidable costs.
The impact doesn’t stop at the pump. Higher fuel costs drive up the price of food, household goods, and other necessities. When energy costs rise, families feel it in nearly every part of their lives.
Meanwhile, state spending continues to grow. Earlier this year, Governor Pritzker proposed increasing the state budget by nearly another $1 billion, money that ultimately comes from taxpayers who are already stretched thin.
Illinoisans are not asking for excuses. They are asking for relief.
House Republicans have proposed solutions, including eliminating the state tax on tips, creating a gas sales tax holiday, and providing targeted relief on home utility bills. These are practical steps that would help families keep more of their hard-earned money.
Illinois families deserve better. The choice is clear: more taxes, or real relief.