North Cook News

Former Chicago school teacher Amanda Biela is taking on John D’Amico (D-Chicago) in Illinois’ 15th District – and taking aim at practices that place more financial burdens on the average Illinoisan, including raising prices at the gas pump.

“Illinoisans already pay more for their gas than most Americans,” Biela told North Cook News. “In Chicago, drivers pay 49.5 cents a gallon in federal, state and local gas taxes – and that’s not even including the sales tax on top.”

In fact, Biela said, it’s this type of taxation and inattention to taxpayers’ financial situations that is a major part of why she chose to run in the first place.

“I’m running for office because the endless stream of taxes being forced upon Illinoisans must stop,” Biela said. “Too many families are on the verge of losing their homes as values go down and property taxes go up. They're struggling to make up for lost income from the most recent tax hike. Yet the state keeps reaching into their wallets again and again. It’s never enough.”

This shakedown of Illinois households is a bipartisan issue, she said.

“Both parties have been complicit in passing policies that protect their own power rather than serving the best interests of their constituents,” Biela said. “This needs to change. We need legislators with conviction to do what’s right by Illinois families, and the first step is to rein in state government and get serious about taxes.”

Biela called for a cap on property taxes of 1 percent of a home’s value, along with rescinding the 32 percent state income tax increase and holding the line on the price of commodities, such as gasoline.