Springfield….State Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) recently voted to support a proposed Illinois Constitutional Amendment that seeks to protect a funding mechanism for Illinois’ roads, highways, and transportation systems. HJRCA 36 passed the House overwhelmingly and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
“This Constitutional Amendment is meant to finally stop the misuse of taxpayer dollars intended for road repair and other transportation infrastructure projects,” Reis said. “We have been working on this issue for several years and I am relieved to join the bipartisan effort to finally place this amendment on the ballot in November for the people to decide how their road tax dollars are spent.”
House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 36 seeks to amend the Illinois Constitution to say that tax dollars collected via the motor fuel tax, vehicle registration fees, and license taxes will be used exclusively for transportation-related purposes.
“When we pay taxes at the pump, when we pay for our vehicle registrations, when our businesses pay taxes and fees to obtain special licenses and license plates, we expect that those dollars will be used to maintain and repair our roads and highways,” Reis said. “Unfortunately, in years past, the road fund has been swept and the money that is supposed to be set aside for road repair and transportation needs is used to fund other non-related projects.”
Reis says that the passage of the Amendment will help to ensure that motor fuel tax and other transportation related fees and taxes will actually go to adequately maintaining and improving Illinois’ transportation infrastructure.
“In my district, the men and women who build our roads and bridges and travel many miles to work and school every day depend on our share of transportation tax dollars returning to southern Illinois to maintain quality highways and bridges,” Reis said. “Residents count on reliable roads to travel and transport their products, this Constitutional Amendment will help provide assurance that Southern Illinois will continue to get its fair share of transportation funding.”
