CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says we can’t pick the ways the pandemic has affected our lives, but the state can do something to help lessen the impact.
That’s why Pritzker says he’s proposing a one-year suspension of the state’s sales tax on groceries.
“The grocery tax is really one of the most regressive taxes, and because we have balanced our budget, and we have a surplus in Illinois, this is a straightforward way for us to help residents who need it most,” said Pritzker, speaking Friday at a grocery store in Chicago.
Pritzker is also wanting to cancel a scheduled increase in the state gasoline tax, provide a one-time property tax rebate, and make a larger-than-required state pension payment.
Is the grocery tax proposal an election year gimmick? Pritzker says no, and a Republican candidate for Governor and his running mate should know that.
“This wasn’t a gimmick when Richard Irvin’s running mate proposed precisely this…last year,” said Pritzker. “This is real relief for families across Illinois. If we can do more, we will do more. When we can do more, we will do more.”
Irvin is the mayor of Aurora, and his running made is downstate State Representative Avery Bourne.
Republicans said after the Governor’s State of the State speech Wednesday they would rather have more long-term relief, and that the revenue surplus helping pay for this is only temporary.
The grocery tax suspension would essentially cost the state $360 million.
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