Virginia’s governor is once again proposing a suspension of the state’s gas tax as prices at the pump remain near record highs.
“It’s time for us to give Virginians a break, and we’re going to work hard to suspend the gas tax,” Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) said in a Tuesday interview with Fox News Radio. “I’ve got to send a bill down to our legislature, which I’ll call back into special session, and we’re going to get them working on this.”
“It’s time to get Virginians back on the road, and gas prices are just way too high,” he said. “The gas prices in Virginia ran up a full dollar prior to Russia invading Ukraine, from when Joe Biden came in – to just before Russia invaded Ukraine, it’s gone up another 80 cents since then.”
Saying that high gas prices were “stealing” hard-earned money from Virginian’s paychecks, Youngkin said the state has budget surpluses and can afford to give Virginians a break at the pump. The state’s gas tax is about 16 cents per gallon.
Youngkin proposed a 90-day gas holiday last week, which was immediately shot down by Democrats.
“I was surprised he didn’t have his announcement with the tooth fairy standing next to the magic money tree,” State Senator Scott Surovell (D-Dumfries) said at the time. “Because, you know, to build things in northern Virginia it costs money, and we’re way, way, way behind on building infrastructure in northern Virginia, whether you’re talking about metro extensions or road widenings, intersections – we have a one billion dollar bike plan we need to implement in the DMV.”
Republicans see it differently.
“With record increases in inflation and gas prices soaring, Virginia needs leadership that pushes back against the bad political decisions that got us here,” House of Delegates Majority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-District 1) told The Virginia Star Tuesday. “Republicans in the House proposed a temporary suspension of gas tax increases during the regular general assembly session. That was rejected by Democrats. Now, we have another opportunity to make a real difference for hardworking people across the commonwealth. I’m hopeful that my colleagues across the aisle will acknowledge the reality a lot of folks are facing and support this legislation.”
House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Norton) did not return a comment request.
In Georgia, suspending the gas tax was not a partisan issue.
A bill passed unanimously in both chambers of the Peach State’s General Assembly and signed into law in a matter of weeks.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo by Eric Burk.
