State Reps. Renew Push for Tax Relief Amid Legislature Deadlines

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Republicans are pressing Illinois Democrats to take up a package of proposals they say would lower costs for families before the General Assembly’s session ends, arguing that political disagreements should not delay action on affordability measures.

State Reps. Bill Hauter, Mike Coffey and Brad Fritts held a Capitol news conference Thursday to renew what they described as House Republicans’ push for Democrats to consider “affordability plans” that include removing taxes on tips and suspending the gas sales tax.

“Illinois families need relief. Politics shouldn't get in the way of providing that,” the statement said. “By removing taxes on tips and suspending the gas sales tax, we can help Illinoisans immediately while we continue to work toward long-term solutions to Illinois' affordability crisis.”

The push comes as Republicans criticize Gov. JB Pritzker’s approach to governing. The statement said, “As Governor Pritzker continues to prioritize partisan politics over good public policy, House Republicans are demanding action on proposals to help families and make Illinois more affordable.”

Separately, Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, pointed to concerns about gas prices and said he discussed a proposal aimed at providing “some relief at the pumps” during an appearance last Friday on WMAY’s “PM Springfield” program.

Republicans are also raising alarms about gun-related legislation pending in Springfield.

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House Bill 4471, described in the provided materials as “a de facto ban on Glock pistols in Illinois,” has resurfaced and “will likely be put to a vote in the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee next Wednesday, May 20th,” according to the statement. Davidsmeyer said he argued against the measure earlier this year, saying “Glock switches are already illegal and criminals don’t follow existing gun laws anyway,” and adding, “Banning the sale of Glocks will do nothing to stop crime.”

In another firearms debate, House Bill 34 would ban carrying a gun “at any building, property or parking area of polling locations,” according to reporting from The Center Square cited in the materials. The proposal has drawn pushback from gun rights advocates, including Ed Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the Illinois State Rifle Association.

“So it says ‘any building, real property, or parking area.’ So any building – think about the areas that are not governmental buildings,” Sullivan said. “Think about your communities where you might have a condo association that has a community center within that condo building, and they’re having a polling place. On that day of polling, I’m not allowed to have a firearm in that building.”

Davidsmeyer also criticized the polling place proposal.

“If they’re going to do this, they’re going to do this without a concealed carry,” Davidsmeyer said. “I think that we’re doing something here to make us – to make government feel better while taking the wrong precaution.”

Davidsmeyer said additional rules for polling locations could make private sites less willing to provide space for elections, according to The Center Square.

On criminal justice, Davidsmeyer cited Cook County data indicating that 246 of 3,048 defendants released pretrial and placed on ankle monitoring were missing and “aren't actively wearing their ankle monitor,” according to the materials. The same data set said hundreds of defendants in the program were accused of violent crimes, including 13 charged with attempted murder, 103 charged with sexual assault, 21 charged with murder and 173 charged with aggravated battery.

Davidsmeyer said he is sponsoring House Bill 5757, which “proposes a mandatory revocation of pre-trial release if offenders commit a new felony while out on electronic monitoring.”