Taxes Crippling Chicago Drivers! Woe to Chicago Drivers and Gas Prices!

Being a native Chicagoan, high gas prices are not a new thing to me, but this week, I pumped $69.53 in my tank and felt my stomach drop. Since I drive to work, it's been a brutal depletion of my funds and relief does not seem close at all.

This morning I was reading through the news and came across this article from CNNMoney. Basically, the article talks about how Chicago has some of the worst gas prices in the country, and how, after all is said and done, it's all because of taxes. I could not agree more.

Taxes in Illinois have been steadily rising over the years, but in Cook County, where the city and its surrounding suburbs is located, it's been atrocious. I love walking into a gas station where customers not only complain about the gas, but everything else in the store: water, cigarettes, you name it, because of the high taxes. My favorite is when someone out of town, or simply out of county, buys cigarettes and to their utter disbelief, their Marlboros cost $8. Jaws drop.

The national average gas price is $3.87, but in Chicago, the average gas price yesterday was $4.32, higher than Los Angeles, $4.22, and New York City, $4.20, (CNNMoney). This has to be hurting commuters everywhere in Chicago and the suburbs. It's a recession and things are tight as is, people don't need another reason to look at their bank accounts and want to cry a little.

But I can understand why Illinois legislators have done very little to make it easier on us "commonfolk". After all, the budget is almost bankrupt and if they don't tax us, where will they get their funds?!

My Plea

What I ask of Illinois legislators is this: Let's be fair, or at least REASONABLE. There are taxes on gas that the majority of the nation does not charge, so how about starting there and taking off those taxes? Yeah, maybe it'd add up to 5 cents, but 5 cents is better than none at all at this point. I'd sure rather pay $4.27 than $4.32 and I'm certain others will agree. But I'm relatively certain it could add up to a lot more than saving 5 cents. Besides, a little proactive effort to relieve the financial burden of citizens would be helpful no? Especially in re-election years yeah?

So let's break it down. Based on the article:

Every state pays a federal excise tax of 18.4 cents. Ok, I can live with that, but only because the rest of the country is paying that tax. I wish they could lower it at the federal level, but that's another fight to pick on a different day.

Every state has a tax of its own, the state tax, which, for Illinois is 19 cents, right in the middle (State taxes range from 4 cents to 32 cents). Ok, I could live with that too.

Most states have a underground storage tank tax, which is a couple of cents, so there's 2 cents right there.

Ok that adds up to about 39.4 cents already.

Here's where things start to really bother me....

"Illinois is one of a few states where sales tax also applies to purchases of gasoline. That means there's an additional 6.5% tacked on to the price per gallon." (CNNMoney)

So the majority of the country doesn't charge sales tax, but Illinois does. LET'S GET RID OF THIS. I mean the rest of the country isn't keen on it, so why are we?

Cook County charges 6 cents per gallon. Why? Because we're in Cook County. They love their taxes.

Lastly, the city of Chicago is apparently the only major city in the country that charges an additional 5 cents per gallon just for getting gas in the city. Amazing. Apparently the gas in Chicago is SO special we need to spend 5 more cents on it.

Wow, that's 11 cents right there (Cook County & City of Chicago tax) that are tacked onto an already expensive on top of taking off the sales tax. How nice.

Seriously, you're getting the picture right? It's ridiculous. Taxes are financially crippling Chicago drivers and legislators CAN do something about it. Can you at least get us closer to the national average? Please?!

Please, Illinois, stop taking what little money I have by gouging me through taxes. Plus, I'd really like to drive my car more often. Thank you.