Illinois’ state gas tax doubled from 19 cents per gallon to 38 cents on July 1, leapfrogging the state from the number 10 position to the third-highest gas tax in the nation.

Illinois House Bill 2495, otherwise known as the Reproductive Health Act, which would allow unrestricted access to abortions, is being hotly debated throughout the state.

A year after lawmakers hiked individual tax rates by 32 percent, Herbert Hebein, who is running for the state House in the 35th District against incumbent Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-Mount Greenwood), is disappointed with the lack of responsibility from state leaders.

The state of Illinois has been short on money in the past few years, and recently, a Chicago-based think tank suggested that taxing retirement income could bring the state an extra $2.7 billion in revenue if taxed at the same 4.95 percent rate that wage income is taxed.