Will County Gazette

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) believes Democrats in Springfield always have the same tunnel vision approach no matter what the issue.

“It’s always tax, tax, tax,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “They’re never willing to make cuts, never look at what’s not working or how to be more efficient in what the government already provides. It’s always about more money and never about making government work better for all those it’s supposed to help.”

Batinick points to the push for a mileage tax that has gained at least a measure of approval from Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker as the latest example of such action.  

Mica Freeman

Illinois News Network (INN) reports that the plan would force motorists to track the miles they drive by using a device placed in their vehicle. They would then be assessed a tax based on mileage. All the funds generated from the tax would be earmarked for state infrastructure projects, which are estimated at around $21 billion, according to INN.

“It’s just something that hasn’t been well thought out,” said Batinick, who is running for re-election against Democrat Mica Freeman in the 97th District. “Think about how unfair it would be to rural and suburban residents that routinely have to drive greater distances and don’t have many options. Also, how do you handle someone using our roads to drive out of town or makes their living as a driver?”

In the end, Batinick said the enactment of such a law would only serve to cause more people to give up on Illinois in disgust.

“Not only will it increase the stream of outmigration, for the most part, we’d be talking about hard workers, higher earners that would be leaving because they feel they have more options,” Batinick said. “It’s like everyone's on edge and this will only push more of them out the door.”

The 97th District includes all or parts of Oswego, Plainfield, Troy and Wheatland.