GUEST VIEWPOINT: REPEAL ILLINOIS GAS TAX AND DRILL UP ALASKAN OIL FIELD

 

Skyrocketing gas prices have hit everyone hard, but especially those in rural areas. My concrete company uses 4 million gallons of diesel fuel each year, so when prices go up, we feel the pinch. But when people are forced to choose between putting gas in the car and meat on the table, there's a serious problem in our country. According to the New York Times, Americans in some rural counties are spending about 13 percent of their take-home pay on gasoline. That's 9 percent more than the national average. With the average cost per gallon recently rising well over $4, the impact is going to be felt even more.

 

Energy is a huge issue in the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, as is evident by the number of voters that bring it up with me every day. Everyone I met while pumping gas at a local Mokena gas station earlier this month was very concerned about the price of gas, which is why I have introduced an energy plan that will not only lower prices, but also help the United States to achieve energy independence. My plan includes both short- and long- term measures that will relieve the burden of filling up.

 

I encourage the state of Illinois to repeal the 6.25 percent state sales tax on gas, which is the third layer of taxation on gasoline in addition to the state and federal "gas tax." This third tax, which is not dedicated toward road funding and rises proportionally with the price of gas, needs to be permanently abolished. This could mean an immediate savings of 25 cents per gallon if prices stay at $4 per gallon. Eliminating the "Boutique Fuels" mandate -- a needless government regulation since Illinois gas is already required to include ethanol -- would also save consumers another 10 cents per gallon.

 

But if we truly want to bring about more lasting solutions to energy concerns, we must begin to utilize the resources our nation already has, such as the million barrels of oil per day that could be recovered from the national wildlife refuge in Alaska. Environmental concerns that have stalled drilling in the past are now moot because of new technology that makes it possible to dig for oil without harming the natural environment. And since experts believe oil is located in only 2,000 of ANWR's 20,000 acres, why not take this opportunity to make the United States less dependent on foreign oil in an environmentally responsible way?

 

However, this increase in oil will mean nothing if we do not increase U.S. refining capacity. There has not been a new refinery built in the United States in more than 30 years -- yet the demand for oil during that time has soared. We must streamline the permitting process for new refineries and provide incentives for existing refineries to expand.

 

While we work to expand our oil production, we must also encourage the development of alternative fuels and vehicles. We need to find new ways of making ethanol and encourage environmentally friendly consumer behavior. Biofuels not only help our environment -- because their source is in the Midwest instead of the Middle East, they also help our local economy.