North Cook News

House candidate Katie Miller has heard enough.

Responding to the ABC News Chicago affiliate report “Gas Tax Hidden in Illinois Budget,” Miller said the hidden gas tax tucked inside the 583-page state budget is typical of what is killing Illinois.

“The state of Illinois government is not upfront and honest,” Miller told the North Cook News. “They don’t believe that people would notice and that they can get away with it. They don’t believe that people are paying attention. Our state needs to wake up and tell the politicians in Springfield: 'No.'”

The wife and mother who is hoping to replace retiring Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) in the 53rd District, which covers Prospect Heights and Mt. Prospect, said residents will start to see the negative impact of the levy increase sooner than later.

“Every time there is an increase in taxes, taxpayers need to readjust their family budgets,” Miller said. “When a family has an increase in one area like gas, they have to decrease spending in another. The cost of living in Illinois is very high, especially in Cook County and Chicago. That is what is driving people out of the state.”

The tax, which is expected to bring in approximately $95 million, is forcing people and business out of Illinois, Miller said.

“Increases in gas tax also increases the cost of goods due to transportation cost,” Miller said.

Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) called the gas tax exasperating.

"What's very frustrating is that normally people believe that when you pay your gas taxes, that that money is supposed to go to roads," Syverson said in the ABC News report. “Because this is a sales tax, not a gas tax, the money goes into the general fund and not for road repairs.”

Miller said Syverson's comments prove Illinois incumbent politicians deem taxpayers naive. 

“Our state believes that they can spend money better than taxpayers,” Miller said. “They don’t understand that people are mad. The state of Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.”

Since the extra money won't fix roads, more gas taxes are inevitable, Syverson contended. He told ABC News that he expected another gas tax hike to follow this one.

Miller said politicians are trying to get as much money out of taxpayers as possible.

“They are moving to increase gas taxes when our families across our state pay close to the highest in the nation and are higher than other states in the Midwest,” Miller said. “In Chicago, drivers pay 49.5 cents more per gallon when you add federal, state and local taxes. We also pay sales tax on top of it.”

It has to stop, she said.

“I am running to oppose this tax hike along with others like it that are being added to our families,” Miller said. “They are out to get every cent from us that they can. It is time for change.”