Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and legislative leaders have agreed to a 30-day suspension of the state’s gas tax in a bid to blunt rising gas prices after they surged to more than $4 per gallon for the first time since 2008.
In a joint statement, Maryland state House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson said the bill to halt the state gas tax temporarily comes as new state revenue projections increased by $1.6 million for the current and upcoming fiscal year, giving lawmakers the “flexibility to provide immediate relief to families.”
“This swift action will help ease the financial burden on everyday Marylanders while keeping the pressure on Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs who have enabled him,” the lawmakers added.
The emergency legislation comes as gas prices in Maryland currently average about $4.30 per gallon, according to AAA, with state taxes tacking on an additional 37 cents per gallon.
It is expected to land on Hogan’s desk for signature within days. A spokesman for the governor confirmed he expects to sign it next week.
“This report further proves that we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance substantial tax relief for our families, small businesses, and retirees,” Hogan said in a statement Thursday. “People across the country are being squeezed by surging inflation on everything from gas to groceries — Marylanders, especially our retirees, deserve and need this relief.”
BIDEN OIL BAN ADDS UNCERTAINTY FOR US OIL AND GAS COMPANIES
Momentum is building at both the state and federal level for gas tax holidays as prices at the pump continue to rise. The federal gas tax stands at 18.4 cents per gallon, and the average state tax averages out to roughly 31 cents, according to AAA.
Earlier this week, governors from six states — Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of 2022.
“Money saved at the pump translates into dollars back in consumers’ pockets for groceries, childcare, rent, and more,” the governors wrote in a letter to senior members of Congress.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in at least 15 other state legislatures are discussing legislation that would either temporarily suspend, reduce, or freeze state gas taxes.
Among them is Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has pushed for a one-year gas tax suspension in an effort to provide “relief” to consumers in the state. “
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Youngkin laid out his plan on Fox News on Thursday, saying, “This is a big moment for us to recognize that the average American family is really, really hurting right now.”
