HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) took a stand against record prices at the gas pump Wednesday by calling for a reduction in the state’s gasoline tax.
Corman’s Consumer Gas Prices Relief Act coupled with a federal gas tax holiday would cut the gas tax by almost 50 percent through Dec. 31, 2022.
The measures would offer a critical reprieve for Pennsylvania families who have seen gas prices skyrocket over the past several weeks, Corman said.
To offset the lost revenue for road and bridge repairs, Corman’s legislation would dedicate $500 million in federal relief dollars to fund State Police operations so money would no longer need to be diverted from the Motor License Fund.
In addition, the legislation would require PennDOT to issue a $650 million bond to ensure critical infrastructure projects remain funded during the period of the gas tax reduction.
Corman also supports passing a resolution calling on President Joe Biden to institute a federal gas tax holiday. Gov. Tom Wolf called on Biden to do the same on Tuesday.
Corman shared the following statement regarding his proposal:
“Consumers should never have to choose between filling their tank and filling their grocery cart, but that is the reality created by the Biden Administration’s embrace of the radical anti-energy production policies and world events. Although state lawmakers do not have the power to change Biden’s disastrous war on domestic energy production at the federal level, we must examine every possible avenue at the state level to offer relief to people who are suffering from the highest gas prices our Commonwealth has ever seen.
“My plan offers a fiscally responsible way to help struggling families now without limiting the state’s ability to respond to financial challenges we could face in the future. Importantly, it would also not impact our capability to make critical road and bridge repairs by funding our infrastructure needs through a bond issue and the responsible use of federal relief dollars.
“This offers a win-win for Pennsylvania families – lower prices at the pump in the short run, and better roads and bridges to drive on in the years ahead. It also buys critical time for lawmakers to determine how we can best meet our long-term infrastructure needs without relying so heavily on the gas tax in the future.”
