West Cook News

One way for citizens to express their disapproval of high gas prices is at the voting booth, said Sean Morrison, Cook County commissioner and Cook County GOP chairman.

"And at the pump this week in Chicago, if skyrocketing gas prices are unacceptable then make your vote count this year," Morrison said on Facebook Thursday.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Illinois reached a record-high $5.550 on Thursday, according to AAA, up from $3.348 one year ago. In Cook County, gas prices average $5.969.

On Thursday, the national average cost of a gallon of gas surpassed $5, ABC reported. Americans have little faith in President Joe Biden to defuse skyrocketing prices, with only 37% of Americans saying they approve of Biden's approach to economic recovery, according to a recent ABC/Ipsos poll.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubled Illinois' gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Pritzker also instituted an annual gas tax increase. Illinois Democrats have passed legislation that will postpone this year's scheduled gas tax increase of 2.2 cents from July to January, the station reported. The bill will require gas stations to put stickers on gas pumps notifying Illinoisans of the postponement. Gas stations will be fined $500 per day if they refuse to display the stickers. Josh Sharp, president and CEO of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, called the mandatory stickers "free election year advertising for the governor."

The gas tax increase delay is part of a bundle of tax rebates and delays in the record $46.5 billion FY 23 budget, according to the nonprofit organization lllinois Policy. The tax rebates and delays will save the average Illinois family $556. The 2.2 cents increase to the gas tax will take effect January 2023, and will be followed by another increase in July 2023, likely of 3.8 cents per gallon, bringing Illinois' total gasoline tax up to 45.2 cents per gallon.