State asks court to keep taxes, fees in place

SPRINGFIELD — The Attorney General's office Friday asked the Illinois Supreme Court to leave higher alcohol taxes, vehicle fees and other provisions in place until the final decision on whether the state's major construction plan is constitutional.

This week, a lower court struck down a plan approved by lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn in 2009 that raised several taxes and fees, as well as allowed for video gambling in bars, to pay for $31 billion in road, bridge and school construction.

The state will appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, but asked the justices to leave the plan in place until their final decision.

“That decision has far-reaching consequences and, if not stayed, will have serious adverse effects on the state's operations and finances,” the filing reads.

The suit was originally brought by Rocky Wirtz, the Chicago Blackhawks owner whose family also owns a Schaumburg-based liquor distributor.

There's no timetable for a decision from the court.

If the court eventually strikes down the plan, some lawmakers have suggested it might be tough to approve it again. Officials already taking heat for the recent income tax increase might be wary of re-raising other taxes and fees, too.