Lake County Gazette

State Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) is calling out Democrats over a their $46.5 billion budget bill. 

The people of Illinois deserve "real relief instead of a bigger government," McConchie said. According to him, "Democrats are attempting to buy the people's votes" and would, later on, "abandon taxpayers after the election."

"This budget is nothing more than a campaign tool for Pritzker and the Democratic Party," McConchie said in a press release. "Providing one-time checks to people in the mail right before their names appear on the ballot and expire right after the election is a disgrace. And then, to also force gas stations and grocery stores to post signs that tout their short-term ‘tax relief’ just shows how desperate they are to win over Illinoisians. Nobody will be fooled by their gamesmanship." 

As part of the budget, Pritzker is forcing gas stations to post signs — in what many are calling an election year gimmick — noting the gas tax has been delayed. "As of July 1, 2022, the State of Illinois has suspended the inflation adjustment to the motor fuel tax through December 31, 2022. The price on this pump should reflect the suspension of the tax increase," the mandatory signage must read.

Retailers who fail to show such a sign face a $500 fine for each day they are out of compliance. The clause was included in House Bill 1497, which was passed together with the state budget this year. 

The state budget also mandates grocery businesses to put the following notation on receipts: "The State of Illinois sales tax on groceries is 0% from July 1, 2022 through July 1, 2023." If the grocery store is unable to put the notice on receipts, it must post it on a four-inch by eight-inch sign that must be displayed in the store. The tax was only suspended during the fiscal year.