Though U.S. gas prices have dropped to near all-time lows, Illinois’ state and local taxes make gas costlier in the Land of Lincoln than in neighboring states.

Gov. Bruce Rauner issued an amendatory veto nixing fee hikes from a 911 service reauthorization bill lawmakers sent to his desk, noting Illinoisans already pay some of the nation’s highest taxes on their cellphones. But those fee hikes will become law, as lawmakers have voted to override the governor’s veto.

More than a dozen Republicans joined House Democrats in passing a budget that includes a massive tax hike and no structural spending reforms. Gov. Bruce Rauner said he would veto the plan.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 9 would permanently increase the individual income tax rate to 4.95 percent and the corporate income tax rate to 7 percent, but would not expand the state sales tax to services.

Nine days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $450,000 for just over two hours of work.

Much like other plans in the General Assembly before it, the House Democrats’ budget plan does nothing to structurally reform state government and bring down costs, but instead increases the burden on Illinois taxpayers.

On June 28 the Illinois House of Representatives failed to pass Senate Bill 484, an illusory property tax freeze that did not offer real reform, left Chicago homeowners out in the cold, and would have left in place an opaque and expensive property tax system that benefits special interests over taxpayers.

Eight days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $400,000 for just over two hours of work.

Senate Bill 484 would offer a freeze in name only, as it fails to address the very costs that drive up Illinois homeowners’ property tax bills.

Seven days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $350,000 for less than 2 hours of work.