Illinois Democrats are forcing businesses to tell shoppers that Illinois Democrats are saving them money.
During the wee hours of Saturday morning, the Deadbeat State’s Legislature passed a budget mandating that businesses in the private sector post stickers and signs notifying consumers that legislators are cutting them a temporary break at gas stations and retail outlets throughout the state. The messaging will appear via stickers on gas pumps, receipts, and traditional signage messages. Any businesses that fail to comply will be fined.
Additionally, the mandated messaging comes with its own set of instructions on how to be displayed. Stickers at the gas pump will read, “As of July 1, 2022, the State of Illinois has suspended the inflation adjustment to the motor fuel tax through December 31, 2022. The price on this pump should reflect the suspension of the tax increase.”
For grocery stores, receipts must include the message, “From July 1, 2022, through July 1, 2023, the State of Illinois sales tax on groceries is 0%.” Moreover, the new law stipulates that “if it is not feasible for the retailer to include the statement on any cash register tape, receipt, invoice, or sales ticket issued to customers, then the retailer shall post the statement on a sign that is clearly visible to customers. The sign shall be no smaller than 4 inches by 8 inches.”
Any private sector businesses that refuse to praise the state’s notoriously corrupt politicians will be subjected to a $500 daily fine.
In essence, the Illinois Democrats have stolen Republicans’ idea of the Biden “I did that” stickers, which have been placed on gas pumps throughout the country — only in a positive way: They are letting consumers know they are saving them money by not implementing the tax increase they previously approved. In some ways, it’s genius political advertising; in others, it’s reminiscent of Soviet-style government propaganda that celebrated how great the government was for bringing goods to the people.
(Not to give anyone any ideas, but perhaps they could also say something about any bribes they have recently had to pay to Illinois Democrats.)
Nothing says caring about the plight of the working class during these difficult times like threatening businesses to comply with messaging honoring the government responsible for high prices. All that appears to be missing in this initiative is a portrait honoring Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and maybe the traditional sickle and hammer on every receipt and sign.
