Finding common ground on three issues in Illinois

At a time in life when it feels like an overemphasis on partisan political identity is driving a wedge between communities, it's nice to find things we can all come together on. (Yes, they still exist.)

Thanks to the Lincoln Poll, a survey launched in partnership with industry leader Echelon Insights, we've uncovered common ground on three key public policy issues in Illinois - and they're found in the grocery aisle, at the gas pump and in the classroom.

First, Illinoisans of all ideologies agree the state should stop taxing groceries. Grocery costs have increased 16.8% over the past two years, with prices predicted to rise through 2024. Tacking a tax on top of these inflated prices causes Illinois consumers and businesses more financial pain. Illinois is just one of 13 states that apply a state-level tax to groceries, making us an outlier.

There's also agreement that Illinois needs to reduce pain at the pump. Gas costs roughly 40 cents more per gallon in Illinois than in neighboring states, which often drives consumers over the border (literally).

In 2019 Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois legislature doubled the gas tax from 19 to 38 cents per gallon and tied in an automatic annual increase every July 1. This year alone, the state saw two 3.1-cent gas tax hikes totaling 6.2 cents, bringing the total to 45 cents per gallon.

When polled, a 71% bipartisan, supermajority of Illinoisans opposed the annual increases to the gas tax. Support was especially high among low-income residents earning under $30,000, whose paychecks are most acutely impacted.

Finally, 63% of Illinoisans support the Invest in Kids scholarship program, which serves 9,600 low-income kids and families with thousands more on the waitlist. The program provides access to scholarships that help families pick the schools that best serve their needs, giving students - our future workforce and business leaders - the best opportunities to succeed.

Other Midwestern states are embracing the concept: In Indiana, families have near-universal school choice, similar to a recent legislative action in Iowa granting more families access to school choice. EdChoice in Ohio is the most recent program to help familiies. It's important for Illinois to keep up with our neighbors so we can recruit, train and retain the highest level of talent.

The most encouraging aspect of these poll results is the potential for bringing our community together. While most people think Illinois is dominated by one party, here's the breakdown of the people we polled: 40% of Illinoisans identified as Democrats, 28% identified as Republicans, and 25% identified as independents (7% didn't know or weren't sure what to consider themselves).

Those numbers aren't that different from national averages - the most notable difference is that independent and Democrat percentages flip, according to Gallup. Our country - and our state - isn't all or nothing, one party or another. It's a place where people can work together on solutions.

As a business community, that's exactly what we need from our state leaders. Creating a healthy economy and running a business shouldn't be partisan issues.

There's a genuine opportunity to come together around simple, common-sense reforms that would improve the quality of life for small businesses owners and people across Illinois, especially those most in need of help. And what could be more kitchen-table than issues that affect our mobility, ability to feed our families, and to send our kids to a school that will help them learn and grow?

The Illinois General Assembly should listen to voters and find a way to eliminate the grocery tax, stop raising the gas tax and make Invest in Kids permanent.

• Matt Paprocki is president and CEO at the Illinois Policy Institute.