Bryant Leads Opposition to Per-Mile Tax Hike Plans

Murphysboro – State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is sponsoring a House Resolution that would officially put the Illinois House on the record opposing a per-mile tax on Illinois motorists.

“In my opinion, the per-mile tax idea is offensive in many ways,” Bryant said. “Chicago Democrats that control the legislature and even some of the candidates that they have running for Governor are floating a per-mile tax plan. I’m strongly advocating for against these tax hike proposals to spare Southern Illinois’ motorists from being unfairly whacked through a variety of bad plans.”

Bryant pointed specifically to prior Chicago Democrat sponsored proposals as evidence that the idea of a per-mile tax is unfortunately still alive and well in Springfield. One such plan under consideration is a fee of 1.5¢ per mile driven on public, non-tolled Illinois roads using GPS tracking technology and the GPS tracking would be in a smartphone app or a tracking device similar to the I-Pass (or EZ-Pass) and would monitor the location of each driver to calculate how many miles were driven in Illinois each month.

Another scheme would impose a fee of 1.5¢ per mile driven, but based on monthly odometer readings instead of GPS tracking technology. An additional plan would be a Flat Rate Plan of an annual fee of $450.

“I’m sponsoring HR 766 as part of my efforts to support Southern Illinois first,” Bryant said. “Thousands of Southern Illinoisans drive long-distances to work, to visit family, and to tour attractions in other parts of our state. Families and hard-working men and women drive tens of thousands of miles per year in some cases. I’m sponsoring HR 766 to stop this foolishness before the idea gains any further traction in Springfield.”

Bryant has joined several of her House Republican colleagues in launching a “Stop the Per-Mile Tax” online petition. Constituents opposed to the various per-mile tax plans can sign the petition by visiting www.ilhousegop.org/opposeilmileagetax

“I’m calling on all Southern Illinois drivers to sign our online petition, and when we return to Springfield next week, I will be urging every member of the House to join me and vote to stop these per-mile tax hike plans.”