Lake County Gazette

A new bill that would ban state motorists from pumping their own gas illustrates why Illinois House candidate Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) wants so much to go to Springfield to represent the 51st District.

“It is a 100-percent overreach and abuse of power in terms of what government should be doing,” Bos, running against incumbent Rep. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville), told the Lake County Gazette of the so-called Gas Station Attendant Act. “There is no logic to the bill, no logical reasoning for it other than the potential of promised jobs. When you look at how gas stations would have to hire attendants at the minimum-wage increase of $15 an hour, it strikes me as re-election drive legislation.”

Proposed by Illinois state Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park), HB 4571 would establish that "no gas may be pumped at a gas station in Illinois unless it is pumped by a gas station attendant." The proposed legislation, which is now in the House rules committee, comes at a time when Illinois motorists already pay some of the highest gas taxes and fees in the U.S.

Illinois state Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) | http://state-representative-camille-y-lilly.webflow.io/

“I hope it never even makes it out of committee,” Bos said. “The fact that [Lilly] would even consider proposing this bill tells you that there is this culture in Springfield where government now thinks it gets to dictate everything that happens instead of simply serving the needs of constituents. We’re wasting far too much time on something that is inconsequential, has no real meaning and won’t solve any of the problems of any of the people of Illinois.”

Currently, New Jersey is the only state with such a law on the books and it was only adopted after growing concerns about fire safety were expressed.