West Central Reporter

Former Sawyerville resident Christopher Hicks is blaming Democrats and at least one Republican in particular for rising gas prices.

"Clearly Democrats and RINOs who supported (Gov. J.B.) Pritzker's gas tax hike like (Rep.) Avery Bourne (R-Litchfield), are responsible for the ever-rising gas prices in Illinois. Voters got sold out by their elected officials," Hicks told West Central Reporter. 

He said he would want to see a measure that would counter "these devastating tax increases that are only driving residents out of Illinois."

"Due to the language of the legislation, the gas tax would double in addition to being tied to inflation," Hicks said. "Not only did the gas tax increase, but so did taxes on cigarettes, e-cigarettes, parking and real-estate transfers in addition to new casinos and legalized sport betting."  

Bourne, the lieutenant governor running mate to Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, has been a favorite target of conservatives. The Republican from Pawnee wrote an op-ed in 2019 explaining her vote to double the state’s gas tax.  

"As a conservative Republican, I have never voted for a tax increase, but 1990s-level gas tax revenue was no longer sufficient for 2020 infrastructure needs," she wrote, explaining her vote for the tax hike. 

Hicks called for the restoration of a better state by removing those who he claims are causing a burden to Illinoisans.

"It is time to end the control Democrats have aggressively asserted over Illinois and the country. It's time to take back Illinois and America!" Hicks said.

The burden on each taxpayer statewide is heavy. "The average Illinoisan will pay $11.55 in taxes for 15 gallons of gas. During the course of a year, the average gasoline tax is $408 per driver — $105 a year more than before Illinois doubled the gas tax in 2019," Illinois Policy wrote of the tax in 2021. The gas tax is also set to increase automatically with inflation.

Illinois has the country's second-highest gas tax. Pritzker, who has recently discussed cutting the state's gas tax has not made any movement toward such a plan. He has cited the Ukrainian conflict for causing oil prices to have "gone through the roof." 

The governor has also proposed a freeze in February but has yet to act on this suggestion. Pritzker had signed the bill doubling the gas tax in 2019. 

Taxes alone cost Illinoisans 77.96 cents a gallon, according to Illinois Policy. This includes both federal and state taxes. Missouri, just across the border to the west, has the second-lowest gas tax in the country. A gallon of gas costs 42 cents more in Illinois than it does in neighboring Missouri.