Illinois legislators usually get nothing but grief when they raise taxes, but this summer a group is touring the state to say "thanks" for raising the gas tax. Wednesday the Transportation for Illinois Coalition visited the Quad Cities to recognize two members of the General Assembly who voted "yes."
Managing Director, Jennifer Morrison, says the Coalition has 45 members - businesses, labor unions, local governments, and transit agencies. And they believe using the gas tax increase to raise money for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure will be critically important for the state's economy.
"Protecting taxpayers' interests by requiring and strengthening the lockbox provisions in the constitutions so that the money for this program is protected, strongly protected, and can only be used to improve the transportation infrastructure."
Along with other members from both parties, Democrat Representative Mike Halpin from Rock Island and Republican Senator Neal Anderson from Andulusia supported doubling the state gas tax, from 19 to 38 cents.
Morrison says she learned first-hand this year how important this investment in transportation will be - she suffered some flat tires due to potholes, and paid 1,700 dollars to replace her windshield after a piece of interstate highway pavement got loose, flew up in the air, and hit her car.
