The local state representative, Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley) is involved with a state government task force designed to take a look at rising gas prices and ferret out potential solutions to alleviate the strain on Illinois resident’s pocket books.

While the idea of lowering gas prices is to be commended, the Northern Star is left wondering what this task force will really accomplish.

Some of the suggested solutions, according to an article in Monday’s Northern Star, included the use of alternative fuels such as ethanol, fuel and sales tax holidays and fee reduction on Illinois truckers.

The first suggestion hinges on a 10 percent ethanol blend being mandated, a step the state of Minnesota has already taken. Even with the mandate, Minnesota’s average gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sat at $2.746 on Sept. 12, only 20 cents lower than the average reported in Chicago by the federal government’s Energy Information Administration.

The Minnesota price is still 63 cents higher per gallon than it was as recently as July 25.

In comparison, the average Chicago gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on July 25 was 60 cents lower than it was on Sept. 12.

This may save motorists a couple of bucks but the gas price is still rising, even in Minnesota, a state with a mandated ethanol blend.

Gas prices are still rising in Illinois and the rest of the country. Requiring the addition of ethanol to the fuel has done nothing to slow the rise of prices in Minnesota. In fact, they are rising at an almost identical rate over the two month period from July to September. Why would it stop prices from rising in Illinois? The answer: it wouldn’t.

Fee reductions for Illinois truckers is another idea being floated. Truckers, no doubt, have been hit hard by rising fuel costs but how does reducing fees for truckers help out the majority of Illinois’ citizens? The hardest hit by fuel prices are not corporately owned trucking companies. It is the average Joe or Jane that is hurt the most, regular folks who already have trouble making ends meet.

This is yet another shining example of politicians catering to businesses and corporations.

Then there is the idea that a state fuel tax holiday will help. It may, but as many residents of the state of Illinois know, the fiscal situation in the state hasn’t exactly been peachy in recent years. Let us not forget that gasoline taxes are a big reason why roads around Illinois don’t crumble into an unrecognizable oblivion.

And never mind the fact that the Department of Energy’s Web site explains 81 percent of fuel costs are wrapped up in the price of crude oil, refining and distribution and marketing. Which begs the question, does gasoline even need to be marketed? Doesn’t it just sell itself?

But of course, tax cuts always make politicians look good, even if they don’t make sense.

Pritchard and his colleagues should take note, high gas prices are not going away. It is time for Americans to get used to it and learn to deal with it in a plausible way.