Metro East Sun

State House candidate and Foster Township Trustee Amy Elik wonders what state Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) was thinking when she came up with the Gas Station Attendant Act, which would ban Illinois motorists from pumping their own gas.

“I can't imagine this Democratic lawmaker's thought process,” Elik, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) in the 111th District, told the Macon Reporter. “We Illinoisans have been pumping our own gas for years and I don't see any legitimate reason to change that now. This will lead to much higher gas prices as stations are forced to hire additional help to meet this mandate. Legislators should be focusing their time on laws to alleviate some of our burden, instead of adding to it.”

House Bill 4571 would create the act, potentially saddling Illinois residents with even more costs at the pumps despite already paying some of the highest gas taxes and fees in the U.S.

“This proposal is yet another Illinois government mandate that burdens residents by increasing everyday expenses,” Elik said. “This will cause higher prices on top of the high gas taxes we already pay. Our communities border Missouri, where gas is already cheaper and drivers easily cross the bridge to save money. This hurts our families, our district and our entire state.”

New Jersey is currently the only state with such a law, which was adopted after growing concerns about fire safety were expressed. In the case of Illinois, Elik worries that the negatives from such an enactment easily outweigh any positives. 

“The tax and fee increases Gov. [J.B.] Pritzker and the Chicago Democrats pushed through last year are making this state unaffordable for families,” Elik said. “This legislation will only force our costs higher as gas stations are forced to increase gas prices to cover this dubious mandate.”

The bill is presently in the House rules committee. With passage, it could be enacted as soon as Jan. 1, 2021.