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CHICAGO—Illinois taxpayers defeated the plan of downstate and Cook County Democrats to give the state of Illinois the highest gasoline tax in the country during the Illinois 100^th General Assembly lame duck session.

The Democrat mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel, showing how out-of-touch he was with taxpayers, had called for a 30 cent-per-gallon increase on the state gasoline tax. In response, taxpayers protested inside the Illinois Capitol Building against this two billion dollar tax hike. The January 7 protest featured many prominent anti-gasoline-tax speakers, including St. Rep. Allen Skillicorn, St. Rep. Jeanne Ives, and Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America.

When the protesters went to confront their state representatives over this proposed gasoline tax increase, the tax raisers gaveled out and fled to caucus. They refused to leave their rooms until protesters and their signs were thrown out!

“It must have been two minutes,” commented Val, a concerned taxpayer who was waiting in line to speak to his state representative about the gas tax. “They were in session for two minutes and ran. It’s like they didn’t want to talk to us.”

Illinois lawmakers were so shaken by the outpouring of opposition they did not amend any bills to include a tax increase.

“I bet those tax-raising cowards have never seen so many taxpayers gathered together in one place before,” said Tobin. “It’s too bad we taxpayers need to work for a living. Otherwise we could protest and stop every tax increase in its tracks.”

When asked about the possibility of the new general assembly passing a gas tax increase, Tobin responded, “I think they will try to pass it again. But now Springfield Democrats and the newly elected Governor Pritzker will have to take responsibility for any tax increase. They own it now. They wanted to pass it in the 100^th so they could blame Gov. Rauner, and not look like hypocrites when they throw poor and middle class taxpayers under the bus.”

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CHICAGO— In an urgent press conference at the Illinois State building the Illinois Representatives Allen Skillicorn (R) and Jeanne Ives (R) warned of an impending fuel tax hike. According to Representative Skillicorn, “There is a horrible rumor going around Springfield. Actually this is the worst kept secret in Springfield right now. Because there is a talk of a 25 cent to 30 cent gas tax increase. This is a massive increase.”

The warning was issued after the Democrat mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel and a slew of his allied mayors called for increasing the total gas taxes in Illinois by 71%. Such a move would give Illinois the highest gas taxes in the nation.

The Republican representatives and their supporters wore yellow vests in solidarity with the protesters in France. In France the Yellow Vest protesters won a major victory over their president with a repeal of a similar gas tax. The original tax increase in France would have raised the price of fuel by about 30 cents per gallon and would have elevated the price over the next few years. Gas already costs over $7 per gallon in France when including current taxes.

The plan by Springfield Tax Raisers to spike fuel prices will be devastating for Illinois. The gas tax will also disproportionally effect poor taxpayers and the middle class. This is a complete heel turn from recent propaganda by pro-high tax politicians who promised not to raise taxes on the poor and middle class.

“I’m completely unsurprised,” remarked Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America. Jim Tobin was present at the press conference and spoke briefly on the ongoing Illinois Pension Crisis. “The greedy politicians in Springfield only know how to tax and spend. It doesn’t really matter who takes the hit, so long as their government buddies receive lavish, gold plated government pensions.”