Walsh-Sponsored Amendment to Safeguard Road Construction Jobs Passes House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To protect road construction jobs, state Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, supported a measure requiring tax dollars collected on the purchase of gas to be used only for transportation-related purposes.

“As Chairman of the Intermodal Infrastructure Committee, I have been working on this constitutional amendment with my fellow legislators to protect Motor Fuel Tax funds from being misused,” Walsh said. “We owe it to the drivers who pay these fees to ensure their hard earned dollars are going towards the maintenance of Illinois’ roadways.”

Walsh’s House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 36 would require that tax dollars collected on the sale of gas be used exclusively for transportation-related purposes. This would guarantee that the money collected will actually go toward adequately maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure. Walsh’ amendment is supported by both labor unions and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

“Repairing and enhancing our state’s infrastructure is critical to Illinois’ future growth,” Walsh said. “Safeguarding these motor fuel funds also has the added benefit of protecting and expanding road construction jobs across the state.”