Metro East Sun

Republican state Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) has thrown her full-throttled support behind House Resolution 706, a measure in stark opposition to the so-called “mileage tax” aimed at motorists across the state.

Bourne has signed on as chief co-sponsor of the resolution, which was formally filed at the beginning of the regular legislative session.

“Previous statements about this new tax by high-ranking Democrats and their candidate for Governor have prompted this resolution,” Bourne said on her website. “The vehicle miles traveled tax would bring financial burden to Illinoisans and make our state even less competitive. Rural residents, especially, would be hit hard because of the longer miles driven between home and work.”

Bourne added that privacy is another reason why the proposed legislation “is bad for Illinois.”

Among the specific plans proposed is a 1.5¢ per mile-driven tax that would be calculated by using a GPS tracking device to record the total miles traveled on public, nontolled Illinois roads. Another plan would impose a fee of 1.5¢ per mile driven based on monthly odometer readings and, finally, another measure proposed would impose a flat annual fee of $450.

Illinois drivers already pay more than 34 cents per gallon of gas in state and federal taxes.