Peoria Standard

Rep. Mark Luft (R-Pekin) joined House Republican colleagues Reps. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg), Amy Elik (R-Alton), Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) at a news conference March 16 to stress the need for tax relief for Illinois families.

Luft sees inflation's effects as a state representative and as mayor of Pekin.

"Every mayor in Illinois is having to look at these numbers and make tough choices. Do we cut services? Do we raise taxes? I don't think the people in my town would be too happy if I told them we were going to make up the difference by cutting back on police patrols or cutting back on fixing their streets," Luft said. "How do we meet the needs of our communities when the cost to meet those needs goes up so much so quickly? Again I stand here with my colleagues for answers to resolve this situation."

Dozens of Republicans are sponsoring House Bill 5723, which would cap the motor fuel tax at 18 cents a gallon.

The bill was introduced on March 11 and had its first reading on March 15 before being referred to the Rules Committee.

Another Republican-back bill, House Bill 5481, which is sponsored by Windhorst, Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora), Elik and Tom Weber (R-Fox Lake), was introduced on Jan. 28 and was referred to the Rules Committee, but has not been called or scheduled since. It would amend the Use Tax Act, as well as other tax laws, so as to suspend the gas tax if the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index is more than 3% over the previous year.