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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 10, 2022 03:11 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Marty Flynn |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Suspending the State Gas Tax |
| Pennsylvanians need a break. Across the Commonwealth, residents are facing ever-increasing prices at the pump with no end in sight. Going to work costs more money. Taking children to school costs more money. Getting to the doctor’s office costs more money. These activities are not extravagant, nor are they optional. The causes for these increases in fuel prices are as numerous as they are complex, but the impact is quite simple: Pennsylvania families are struggling. I believe that we have an obligation as elected officials to consider the challenges facing our constituents and seek meaningful solutions. To this end, I will be introducing legislation to suspend the state’s Liquid Fuels Tax – commonly referred to as the gasoline tax – through the end of calendar year 2022. This suspension would eliminate the current state gasoline tax of 57.6 cents per gallon through the end of the year, and thus provides an avenue for gas stations to lower prices by approximately this amount. The elimination of the gasoline tax, even temporarily, will significantly reduce revenues; however, the state currently has a significant revenue surplus alongside roughly $2.16 billion in remaining federal relief funds. I believe that leveraging these resources to support this proposal is the relief that Pennsylvanians have been calling for and need. The residents of the Commonwealth are not insulated from ongoing inflationary pressures and spiking commodity prices caused by geopolitical forces across the globe. Quite the opposite. The current, statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is $5.03 according to AAA – an increase of more than 58 percent from a year ago. I believe that we have an opportunity – and, frankly, an obligation – to leverage available resources to provide some relief to our workers, families, and seniors that are facing these price pressures. If we can ease this burden, then we should. Please join me in providing much-needed relief to the residents of Pennsylvania. |