Rep. Halbrook urges opposition to a possible gas tax hike

For Immediate Release                                                                                      Contact: Brad Halbrook

Dec. 17, 2018                                                                                                                        217-774-1306 

Shelbyville, IL – With the possibility of legislators being asked to vote on a gas tax increase during the upcoming lame duck session of the Legislature, State Representative Brad Halbrook is urging opposition to any tax hike proposal.

“We do not need a repeat of what happened in 2011 when the Democrat majority pushed through a massive income tax increase during the lame duck session as dozens of lawmakers who were leaving office the next day cast votes to raise taxes,” Halbrook said. “That vote occurred in the middle of the night while most people were asleep. There was strong opposition to how that tax increase became law. We should not go down that road again.”

There have been several ideas floated to raise the gas tax in Illinois. The most recent proposal from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is to raise the gas tax 20 – 30 cents in Illinois. The average tax on motor fuel in Illinois is 37.32 cents per gallon. Raising the tax by 30 cents per gallon would mean Illinois would have the highest gas in the nation at 67.32 cents per gallon – nearly 9 cents higher than the 58.7 cents per gallon tax in Pennsylvania.

Halbrook said what is needed is a comprehensive approach to transportation – not a knee jerk reaction to raise taxes just because gas prices are low.

“The political battles between Gov. Rauner and Speaker Madigan has made it impossible to get a Capital bill done and so we have not done any major road improvement plans in a very long time,” Halbrook said. “But we do not need to sneak tax increases through in the middle of the night and allow lame duck legislators to set major policies for the state. We need to take a comprehensive approach to transportation funding and we also need to see what is going to happen at the federal level as Democrats and Republicans both are wanting a major transportation funding initiative. We should wait and see what happens at the federal level before raising taxes here in Illinois.”

For more information, log onto www.rephalbrook.com/.

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The voice of Illinois business, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee has endorsed Brad Halbrook for State Representative in the 102nd District.

Governor Bruce Rauner officially endorsed Brad Halbrook in the 102nd Representative District Republican Primary.

“As a small businessman and farmer, Brad has the experience Illinois needs in Springfield," said Rauner. "During his previous service in the General Assembly, Brad established a strong conservative record by advocating for much needed reforms, economic growth and lower taxes. We need leaders like Brad Halbrook who will bring real-world business experience to the General Assembly. Career politicians and the special interests have stifled business for too long."

Halbrook Calls for Presidential Nomination Procedure Changes to Expedite Absentee Voting, Protect Military Voting Rights

Brad Halbrook, candidate for State Representative in the 102nd district, called for changes to Illinois law to ensure timely absentee balloting, especially for overseas military personnel.

“It will surprise no one that Illinois is behind almost every other state in the nation in how we select delegates to the National Conventions,” said Halbrook.  “Now, our backward system is threatening the right to vote for those who are serving our country overseas.”  

Champaign News-Gazette reports Governor Rauner's support for Brad Halbrook.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has jumped into the 102nd House District Republican primary, endorsing former state Rep. Brad Halbrook in what for now is a three-way race.

Halbrook, of Shelbyville, is running with Jim Acklin of Ogden and Randy Peterson of Paris to replace retiring state Rep. Adam Brown, who announced this summer that he would not try for a fourth term in 2016.

"The governor is supporting Brad because he's the right fit for the district and supports the governor's Turnaround Agenda," said Rauner spokesman Lance Trover.

Saying that transparency and accountability were cornerstones of good government, Republican State Representative candidate Brad Halbrook put his support behind a bill allowing Chicago citizens to petition to recall their mayor.

“Accountability for our elected officials is critical. When they use their governmental power to hide important information from the public to help their election, the public deserves a method to remove that official.”

House Bill 4356 has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly and would provide a mechanism to have Rahm Emanuel removed as mayor of Chicago.

Emanuel has been under criticism for withholding video evidence of the shooting of Laquan McDonald during his reelection campaign for Mayor earlier this year.  The City of Chicago settled with the McDonald family out of court and only a lawsuit was able to uncover the video.

Halbrook is a small businessman and farmer from Shelbyville running in the March 15, 2016 Republican primary election for State Representative in the 102nd District.

Former State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) announced his candidacy Thursday for State Representative in the 102nd District. “My service in the Illinois House of Representatives was the highlight of my public service. I’m looking forward to serving again and helping to turn Illinois around.”