Metro East Sun

Republican candidate for the 112th House District Jennifer Korte is calling out the state’s Democrats for the nation’s second-highest gas tax. 

“The gas tax was increased at a time when gas prices were the lowest they had been in a long time," Korte told the Metro East Sun. "The timing was deliberate to avoid strong public outcry against the idea of raising motor fuel taxes. What makes the 2019 gas tax so egregious, though, is not only was the motor fuel tax doubled, but written into the law was a provision to mandate permanent Consumer Price Index increases every year, which essentially means the gas tax in Illinois will go up every single year in perpetuity.”

Korte stressed that Illinoisans deserve more than what they are currently experiencing and suggests an urgent reform. 

“The architects of the gas tax hike knew the price of gas would increase and Illinois would be at a competitive disadvantage as a result, but they passed it anyway," she said. "It was [a] bad policy in 2019 but given the price of gas in 2022 — it is even worse. The citizens of Illinois deserve better. Pritzker raised the gas tax because the only thing far-left Democrats know how to do is raise taxes and spend money. We would not need to raise taxes if we made spending reform a priority.”

Illinoisans need help and temporary assistance will not provide this, according to Korte.

“There are a number of temporary tax relief measures on the table but what we need is a permanent solution, not a Band-Aid," she continued. "We need to permanently lower not just the gas tax but other taxes in Illinois. We have the highest combination of state and local taxes in the country. We need to reduce spending and lower taxes. If we do this, we can help current Illinois residents and make our state a destination instead of [a] place people are trying to escape.”

The governor has suggested last month to freeze the gas tax but it has remained a proposal. Illinoisans are still paying far more than citizens of other states. Missourians pay the second-lowest gas tax. Illinoisans pay 77.96 cents per gallon for combined federal and state taxes, alone and spend 42 cents more on a gallon of gas compared to Missourians due to differing tax policies.

The 112th district is currently represented by State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville). It includes parts of Madison and St. Clair counties and the communities of Edwardsville and Collinsville.