Illinois leaders move to raise their gas tax
From the Chicago Tribune:
The top two leaders of the Illinois House and Senate began paving the way Tuesday for increasing the state's gasoline tax to fund billions of dollars in highway and mass-transit projects.House Speaker Michael Madigan will support a proposal to raise the existing 19-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax to 27 cents—a boost that could raise $500 million a year to fund bond payments on a $5.9 billion transportation repair plan, a Madigan spokesman said.
Senate President John Cullerton also told the Chicago Tribune's editorial board that increased motor fuel taxes and higher vehicle fees should be considered "on the table" for what he called an Illinois "stimulus" package that would fund school construction as well as road and transit projects.
A spokesman for Gov. Pat Quinn said the governor is "keeping all options open as he works to get a clear idea of the state's finances." In one of his first appearances since replacing Rod Blagojevich as governor last week, Quinn called a statewide public works program a top priority.
Comments
If this is where my state is headed after Blago....Bring him back!!!! Each of the last two govenors have backed a new transportation bill that cost more money, yet none of it went to the roads. My idea---get the waste out of the tollway and force the company that runs the tollway to pay for the repairs to their road out of their profits....I expect they make over $3 million/day from the drivers, that ought to be able to pay for maintenence.
Posted by: Chris | February 12, 2009 3:31 PM