Amid high gas prices, Virginia Democrats are calling on Governor Glenn Youngkin to enact a state of emergency, which would cause an anti-price gouging law to take effect.
“Governor Youngkin has the power to act and help protect Virginians at the pump, but so far, has failed to do so. Instead, he continues to point fingers and waste precious time,” House of Delegates Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) said in a Thursday press release. “Virginians do not need talking points and failed campaign promises—we need leadership and action.”
“I think this is preposterous right now to suggest that we should declare a state of emergency to try to address a series of incredibly misguided political decisions made by the Democrats,” Youngkin told WRIC on Thursday.
Youngkin has renewed his calls for the General Assembly to approve a one-year suspension of the gas tax.
“We’re going to suspend the most recent increase in the gas tax, which is only making prices at the pump worse,” Youngkin said on Mornings with Maria on Thursday.
Delegate Michael Webert (R-Fauquier) said on the House floor Friday,”Virginians have made it clear that they’re unhappy with high prices, and after voting unanimously against lowering the gas tax, they [Democrats] realized they had to do something. That something? Tell the governor to stop price gouging.”
Webert said Virginia gas stations are still pricing gas competitively.
“This is not price gouging,” he said.
He blamed Democrats for taking action against fossil fuels.
Filler-Corn responded, “Governor Youngkin has failed to protect consumers in the Commonwealth from potential price gouging.”
Filler-Corn said states including North Carolina have begun investigating price-gouging claims related to gas prices.
“Governor Youngkin has the power today, he can act today in order to help protect Virginians at the pump, but so far he’s failed to do so,” she said.
Other states are pursuing gas tax suspensions or calling for federal gas tax suspensions. The proposals to suspend the tax, introduced in Virginia before the price spike, are all but dead amid concerns over the lost revenue to the Commonwealth.
When asked what Youngkin will do to protect consumers if the gas tax suspension fails, Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter pointed to a statement she sent to media on Thursday:
“Virginians and all Americans are feeling the pain at the pump with the highest gas prices on record. Of course this isn’t price gouging and Virginians see this ploy for what it is — Democrats trying desperately to distract their constituents from their record of reducing American energy independence at every turn.”
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Glenn Youngkin” by Glenn Youngkin. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “Gas Pump” by Anthony Inswasty. CC BY-SA 4.0.
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