Nick's in Elgin helped Pearce family

Raise your hand if you're sick of taxes.

OK, you can pick the paper back up now.

Or grab that mouse again.

As you're probably aware, lawmakers (and that is a generous term) in Springfield cannot agree on a budget.

Shocker.

But this time around, they wanted to increase the state's income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent.

Thankfully, this was voted down.

So, how do we solve this problem? What to do?

Let's see, we have taxes on gasoline. There's real estate taxes. Sales taxes. Restaurant taxes. Food and beverage taxes. Photofinishing taxes. Federal income taxes. Phone taxes. Gambling taxes. Cable taxes.

And let's not forget taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.

Soon there will be a tax on the $100 ticket you can get for getting caught on camera running a red light. Remember, it's all about safety. It really, really is.

Some of these aren't necessarily taxes charged by our corrupt state. But I contend they are compounding the problem.

If I get taxed more on gas or alcohol or my phone, that's less money that I can spend as a consumer, which means there's less sales tax for the state to collect.

No wonder the economy is in the toilet.

To help solve the budget problem, or at least generate some more revenue that can be misappropriated, wasted or lost, I propose a tax on air.

Specifically, hot air.

There's a bunch of state representatives and state senators and other officeholders that could pay this tax.

Because all the talk and empty rhetoric about reform, opening up government and making lawmakers live within their means is a bunch of hot air until something gets done and lawmakers make sacrifices like the rest of us.

Helping hand: Nick's Pizza and Pub in Elgin recently helped to raise $2,373 for the Pearce family of South Elgin, donating 100 percent of their net profit on June 11 to the family of Justin Pearce.

Included in this amount are additional funds that were donated by patrons and Nick's team members, some of whom donated their wages or tips for the day.

Justin, a 17-year-old who was diagnosed at the age of 5 with a difficult-to-treat form of epilepsy, has suffered multiple daily seizures. The seizures have lessened through a trial medication, but it is not covered by his family's insurance.

"The compassion that Nick's has shown in seeking to support our son's medical need is tremendous. Nick's recognition and the community's support have directly improved our son's quality of life.

"The team members were friendly, energetic, engaging and motivated making Justin and our family feel welcomed," said Justin's mother, Charlotte Pearce, in a prepared statement.

For more information about the fundraiser or to make a donation, call Nick's Pizza and Pub Special Events Department at (815) 356-5559 or visit nickspizzapub.com.

Harry Hitzeman covers Elgin and South Elgin. E-mail him at hhitzeman@dailyherald.com.