Posted on 04/02/2022 5:33:53 PM PDT by simpson96
Chicago businessman and philanthropist Dr. Willie Wilson, who recently gave away $1.2 million in gas to area residents, has dismissed a new plan unveiled by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to provide $12.5 million in prepaid gas and transit cards as a “political stunt.”
Wilson, who will announce in April whether or not he will challenge Lightfoot in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, released a statement Thursday arguing that the gas card giveaway will not do enough to help city residents deal with soaring gas prices, and called on state officials to waive taxes on fuel.
“This plan is tone deaf and does not begin to address the needs of those struggling from historic highs in gas prices and taxes added on by the city, state and county,” he said. “Mayor Lightfoot’s actions are reflective of her being out of touch with the citizens of Chicago.”
Wilson urged lawmakers in Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois to suspend taxes on fuel, which add up to nearly $.78 per gallon.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has not called for a suspension of the state’s 39-cent-per-gallon gas tax, but has proposed that the state halt an expected increase of more than two cents per gallon, which would take effect July 1 as a result of inflation.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcchicago.com ...
His name is Willie? Are you surprised 😳
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