News From

State Representative Ron Stephens

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2008

Contact: Rep. Stephens

618-651-0405

Stephens is disappointed House Democrats will not debate gas tax suspension

Springfield…. A proposal to suspend the state sales tax on gasoline continues to be held up in the House Rules Committee because House Democrats refuse to debate the idea according to Representative Ron Stephens (R-Highland).

House Bill 6318 was filed on March 14 and given to the Rules Committee on March 18, and since that time, it has sat un-debated. Meanwhile, gas prices in Illinois have continued to soar upward, reaching a statewide average of $3.60 a gallon.

On Thursday, Republican lawmakers pleaded with Democrat leadership to move the bill from the Rules Committee and onto the House Floor for a debate, with no success.

“Democrats across the state should be embarrassed today,” Rep. Stephens said. “They have the opportunity to help working families across Illinois and they won’t even debate the issue.”

House Bill 6318 would suspend the state gasoline tax from May 1 through September 15. Previously, Illinois successfully suspended the state gasoline sales tax in 2000 when gas prices were nearing $2.00 per gallon. Stephens feels the time has come to do it again.

“This idea is not a long-term solution, but it will temporarily bring a little bit of relief to Illinois residents,” Stephens said. “At the very least, the people deserve a debate on this subject, but the Democrat leadership will not even approach the idea.”

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