{"id":1420703,"date":"2022-04-05T18:29:36","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T22:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1420703"},"modified":"2022-04-05T18:29:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T22:29:40","slug":"chicago-rolling-ahead-with-taxpayer-funded-gas-cards-to-combat-rising-gas-prices-inflation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-rolling-ahead-with-taxpayer-funded-gas-cards-to-combat-rising-gas-prices-inflation\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Rolling Ahead With Taxpayer-Funded \u2018Gas Cards\u2019 To Combat Rising Gas Prices, Inflation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchicago-rolling-ahead-with-taxpayer-funded-gas-cards-to-combat-rising-gas-prices-inflation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1420703&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2022\/04\/Lori-Lightfoot.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.3.0\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span>In late March, The Daily Wire<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/dems-considering-stimulus-checks-raising-taxes-on-gas-companies-to-off-set-high-prices-report\"> <span>reported<\/span><\/a><span> that Democrats shot down a White House idea to send \u201cgas cards\u201d to the American people. The scheme involved doling out prepaid debit cards to certain Americans so they could use the card to pay for fuel amid rising energy costs. Simply put, some Democrats at the federal level feared that the idea would never work for a variety of reasons and so it was shelved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On Saturday it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revolt.tv\/article\/2022-04-02\/160811\/chicago-to-offer-gas-public-transit-cards-for-low-income-residents\/\">reported<\/a> that Chicago\u2019s Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) was presented with a similar idea. Starting soon, the city of Chicago will be sending \u201cgas cards\u201d and \u201cpublic transit cards\u201d loaded with money to impoverished populations in the city to supposedly help fight inflation and high gas prices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Last Thursday, Lightfoot\u2019s office<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/depts\/mayor\/press_room\/press_releases\/2022\/march\/TransportationCostRelief.html\"><span> issued a press release<\/span><\/a><span> that announced a new program called \u201cChicago Moves,\u201d which is a government-backed initiative that will provide \u201c$12.5 million in relief funding for disadvantaged Chicagoans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe program will be comprised of $7.5 million earmarked for $150 physical prepaid cards eligible for redemption at local Chicago gas stations as well as $5 million earmarked for $50 prepaid cards eligible for use on public transit,\u201d the press release added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe last two years have been exceedingly difficult for many of our residents, in particular our most vulnerable populations. Through the pandemic, we have collectively faced tragedy, and many among us have faced accompanying economic hardship. Now, as inflation steadily rises and the cost of gas continues to soar, our disadvantaged residents are carrying a significant financial burden,\u201d Lightfoot said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The press release gave more details as to how the gas cards will work:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Up to 50,000 physical prepaid cards of $150 will be distributed to eligible residents via a lottery system. These cards will be valid for one year after receipt and may only be spent on the cost of fuel at gas stations located within Chicago. Applications are limited to one per household. Beginning in May, cards will be distributed in five successive monthly waves of 10,000 residents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>To be eligible for these cards, applicants must:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Be residents of Chicago\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Be at least 18 years old\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Have a current and valid City sticker with correct mailing information for their vehicle\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Have a household income at or below 140% of the Area Median Income for Chicago (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/depts\/doh\/provdrs\/renters\/svcs\/ami_chart.html\"><i><span>available here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>)\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>As for the public transit cards, similar rules apply:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><i><span>To be eligible for these cards, applicants must:\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Be residents of Chicago\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span>Have a household income at or below 140% of the Area Median Income for Chicago (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/depts\/doh\/provdrs\/renters\/svcs\/ami_chart.html\"><i><span>available here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>)\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>\u201cChicago Moves endeavors to provide much needed relief and ease some of this pain. By subsidizing the cost of gas and transit, this program will enable participants to save their resources for other critical expenses. Chicago is a city that moves,\u201d Lightfoot added in the press release. \u201cPeople have to be able to get to work, school, places of worship, medical offices, grocery stores. The goal of this program is to help make those moves easier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Of course, what Lightfoot leaves out is the fact that the policies of President Joe Biden and other Democrats are largely to blame for that inflation and the cost of gas. These big-government spending policies will likely only add to the inflation crisis, not alleviate any burden. Likewise, cardholders will quickly run out of money on the debit cards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For example, Biden recently lamented that the American people believe that government spending has caused inflation. \u201cI\u2019m sick of this stuff,\u201d he<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/im-sick-of-this-stuff-biden-complains-that-the-american-people-believe-increased-government-spending-causes-inflation\"> <span>barked<\/span><\/a><span> at House Democrats in March, in reference to Americans who had correctly assessed the root cause of their economic woes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>As The Daily Wire<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/meads-happy-st-patricks-day-except-to-joe-biden-the-phony-irishman\"><span> has noted before<\/span><\/a><span>, Biden claims big government spending policies are not to blame for rising inflation but even the Associated Press has reported that is not true.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cGovernment spending has been a clear factor behind rising consumer prices, though it\u2019s not the only one,\u201d the AP<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-772e1eb45fb5981f3a2b6f2a4b0d201f\"><span>noted<\/span><\/a><span> in March while discussing Biden\u2019s economic agenda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cBut the problem is that Biden pumped more money into the economy than it could handle. Administration officials said before the relief package was passed that the greater risk was do too little to help the economy than to do too much. The implicit risk was inflation, though the tradeoff was faster hiring and stronger growth,\u201d the paper added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Biden also shuttered gasoline production in the United States through numerous regulations and comments that indicated he and his cronies would prefer to shut the industry down entirely. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblaze.com\/video\/pete-buttigieg-gas-prices?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1\">even told Americans<\/a> on Sunday that, \u201cuntil we achieve a form of energy independence that is based on clean energy\u201d the U.S. would \u201cstill be vulnerable to wild price hikes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Nonetheless, Lightfoot is now pumping more money into the Chicago economy. This will, like any big-government spending program, exacerbate inflation woes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It also is not clear what Lightfoot plans to do when these cards run out of money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Consider that currently, the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gasprices.aaa.com\/?state=IL\"> <span>average price of a gallon of gas<\/span><\/a><span> in Chicago is $4.821. Small size cars typically hold 12 gallons of gasoline. If prices stay the same, or wildly fluctuate as Buttigieg indicated is possible, that means a gas cardholder will only be able to fill up their tank 2.59 times before they max it out and spend the full $150 allotted to them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In other words, \u201cChicago Moves\u201d \u2014 it would appear \u2014 is going to continue moving Chicago in the wrong direction economically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The views expressed in this piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies for breaking news, investigative reporting, sports, podcasts, in-depth analysis, books, and entertainment for a reason: because we believe in what we do. We believe in our country, in the value of truth and the freedom to speak it, and in the right to challenge tyranny wherever we see it. Believe the same?<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"> <i><span>Become a member now and join our mission.<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In late March, The Daily Wire reported that Democrats shot down a White House idea to send \u201cgas cards\u201d to the American people. The scheme involved doling out prepaid debit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":326,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1420703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1420703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/326"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1420703"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1420703\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1420703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1420703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1420703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}