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Coalition Proposes Illinois Gas Tax

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Illinois transit advocates are proposing a plan to fix the state's deteriorating roads through a new tax that would raise the price at the gas pump.

The Transportation for Illinois Coalition says the $800-million-a-year plan is necessary to fund needed repairs to roads, bridges and rails. The influential group is pushing legislation to replace the current 19-cents-a-gallon motor fuel tax with a 9.5 percent wholesale tax.

It would add about 19 cents to today's price of a gallon of gas.

Coalition co-chairman Doug Whitley said the proposal would also increase vehicle licensing fees.

Bill Fleishli of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association counters that the fuel tax would hurt business.

John Null is the host and creator of Left of the Dial. From 2013-2016, he also served as a reporter in the WKMS newsroom.
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