North Cook News

As gas prices continue to rise across the country and here in Illinois, Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison is telling voters to pay attention to who they're voting for when they head to the polls. 

As of June 9, the average cost for a gallon of gas in Illinois was $5.55 which is up from $3.34 a year ago, according to AAA. Cook County's gas average was recorded at $5.96 per gallon.

"And at the pump this week in Chicago," Morrison, who also serves as Cook County's GOP Chairman, wrote in a Facebook post where he shared a picture showing the cost of a gallon of regular, unleaded fuel at $6.29. "If skyrocketing gas prices are unacceptable then make your vote count this year."

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas was $4.97 on June 9. According to ABC News, Americans have little faith President Joe Biden will be able to curb the rising prices, with only 37% of Americans approving of Biden's approach to economic recovery as reported in a recent ABC/Ipsos poll. 

Three years ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) doubled the state gas tax bringing it up to 38 cents a gallon, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Pritzker also established an annual gas tax increase. Because of the current economic climate, Illinois Democrats passed legislation to postpone this year's scheduled 2.2-cent gas tax increase moving it from July to January. The bill also required gas stations to display informational stickers about the postponement on gas pumps or face a hefty fine. It's a move Josh Sharp, President and CEO of The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, called "free election year advertising for the Governor."

The delayed gas tax was part of a bundle of tax rebates and postponements in the record $46.5 billion FY23 budget, according to Illinois Policy. The legislations will save about $556 for the average Illinois family. However, it is only temporary with gas taxes expected to rise in July of 2023 by another 3.8 cents which would bring the state's gas tax up to 45.2 cents a gallon.