Sen. Jake Corman introduces bill to slash Pennsylvania’s gas tax

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, introduced a bill Monday that would significantly cut the state’s liquid fuels tax to provide relief to consumers who are struggling due to rising gas prices.

Senate Bill 10, the Consumer Gas Prices Relief Act, would slash the state’s gas tax by one-third through the end of the year. The revenue would be replaced by a mix of federal funds and a bond issue to ensure critical infrastructure projects are not delayed or deferred due to the gas tax cut, Corman said.

“Higher gas prices are taking more money out of consumers’ wallets at a time when families can least afford another financial burden,” said Corman, who is seeking the Republican nod for governor. “We cannot change the circumstances that led to skyrocketing gas prices — including the invasion of Ukraine and the anti-energy policies of President (Joe) Biden and Gov. (Tom) Wolf — but we can alleviate some of the stress on Pennsylvanians every time they fill up their gas tank.”

Sen. John Yudichak, I-Luzerne, is one of a bipartisan group of 15 senators who have signed on to Corman’s plan.

Yudichak signed on as a co-sponsor because the legislation will “help families combat rising inflation and record high gas prices.”

“Sen. Corman’s innovative approach to the No. 1 issue impacting working families will help consumers beat back high prices at the pump, without shortchanging critical infrastructure investments we need to make in our roads and bridges,” Yudichak said.

Other senators who have signed on include Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, and Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Lackawanna.

Baker said if other legislators are hearing from constituents the way she is, she expects lowering the liquid fuels tax through the end of the year is “an approach that has a solid chance at passage.”

“As we see gas prices climb higher and higher, families are feeling the strain and struggle of yet another added expense to their budgets,” Baker said. “With inflation already increasing the cost of nearly everything, we must find ways to provide needed relief so people can put food on their tables and meet daily needs.”

Nationally, gas prices reached a new record of $4.17 per gallon on March 8 and continued to track higher to a record total of $4.33 per gallon on March 11.

Since then, the national average has declined only slightly to $4.24 as of Tuesday.

The state gas tax, at 57.6 cents per gallon, is one of the highest in the nation, according to the state Department of Revenue.

Wolf has asked the federal government to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, which is 18.4 cents. He is still awaiting a response from the federal government about enacting a “federal gas tax holiday,” said Elizabeth Rementer, press secretary for the governor.

The governor is still reviewing the proposed bill about slashing the state’s gas tax, Rementer said. He has long called for the state gas tax to be phased out, she said.