Lake County Gazette

Former Republican state Senate candidate Christopher Kasperski is tired of all the fat in Springfield and believes it is time for a diet.

"Illinois taxpayers continue to leave, and this governor (J.B. Pritzker) doesn't get it," Kasperski told the Lake County Gazette. "The only solution is for our state to go on a diet. When our household bills get too high, we must cut our costs or lose the house."

Kasperski's outrage is sparked by the new gas tax that went into effect at the start of 2021. Illinois is now home to nine different taxes and fees on every gallon of gas, Illinois Policy reported.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | Courtesy Photo

"When our business overhead gets too high for our revenues, we must cut our costs or lose the business," Kasperski said. "Illinois must go on a diet to be a state of opportunity, job growth and property value growth."

With most gas tax revenues generated supporting rising pension costs, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot estimated the added windfall could net as much as $10 million, Illinois Policy reported. 

Kasperski argues there has to be another way, adding that residents are already forced to dole out more than their fair share.

"For once, consider a diet, J.B., a diet that slims down our record 7,000 units of government, our $420 billion of unfunded pension debt," he said. "A diet is never easy, but state bankruptcy and the continued outmigration at a record pace will only stop if we go on a diet."

For Chicago drivers, the hike marks the third gas tax increase during the last two years. In 2019, the raise doubled the tax to 38 cents after Pritzker signed legislation that allowed Chicago and other nearby counties to set their own gas tax rate.