Gas SWAT strategy for Illinois, ignores the real issue: Cutting the Gas Tax!

by Neal Boyd

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wants consumers in his state to have protection at the pump. I give the Governor two points for his good intentions, but I’m taking three away for his methodology. The Gas S.W.A.T. team (Yes, this is actually what the Governor has named this new government agency) has been busy this holiday weekend going from gas station to gas station making sure that fuel retailers are giving consumers a full gallon of bang for their buck, or four bucks as the case is in many places. The mission of the Gas S.W.A.T (State Wide Action Team) is to ensure that consumers are getting a full gallon of gas at the proper Octane levels.

“The S.W.A.T. will aggressively look for gas stations that are breaking the rules, and they will pay a fine,” Said the Governor.

Shame on the Governor for doing once again what he does best, using he srong arm of big Government to interfere where the free market would do a much better job. The very name of his new gang of bureaucrats, which is now part of the State’s Department of Agriculture, is indicative of Governor Blagojevich’s police State mentality.

If governor Blagojevich wants to help Illinoisans at the pump, only one thing comes to mind. Do something about the State’s 19 cent per gallon tax on gasoline. Certainly fuel tax relief would provide an immediate, widespread benefit to gas consumers, unlike this type of government meddling which may find one or two gas stations ripping off motorists, and even then taking days or weeks to follow through with any meaningful enforcement. And with enforcement being in the form of fines anyways, the only beneficiary of this nonsense is the Department of Agriculture, a bastion of unelected bureaucrats who’s incentive to grow comes from its ever increasing budget and ability to assess fines.

A hotline has now been established for Illinois consumers to report motor fuel fraud. I encourage everyone to call the number below and complain about this phony effort to help consumers.

If you do call, you won't even have to wade through a complex automated phone system. Unlike any other State of Illlinois phone numer I have ever called, a real person picked up after two rings. At least the State is efficient at something.

1-800-582-0468

http://www.illinois.gov/gasprices/