Listen Live

According to AAA, the average cost of gas in Indiana is hovering at $4.04 per gallon with no relief in sight. That’s a lot of pain at the pump, and a large chunk of the financial sting is due to the state’s outrageous gas tax.

Indiana motorists currently pay nearly 74.5 cents per gallon in state and federal taxes when they fill up at the pump. The Hoosier state is one of 16 states where gasoline purchases are subject to sales tax, and Indiana’s is the 5th highest in the nation

How did it get that way? Republicans.

Republicans raised the gas tax by 10 cents in 2017, as part of their major infrastructure funding bill. They also built in an automatic, 1 cent per year increase to that rate through 2024.

Indiana’s gas tax revenues are supposed to help build and maintain roads and bridges. And if you haven’t noticed, the state isn’t doing so hot at that.

By July 1, the state is expected to have a $6 billion surplus. At a time when Hoosiers are struggling with the highest rate of inflation in 40 years, suspending the state gas tax would provide considerable financial relief for motorists.

Statehouse Republicans rejected calls from Democrats (yes, DEMOCRATS) in March to temporarily halt gas taxes. And Gov. Eric Holcomb claims he doesn’t have the authority to suspend gas taxes through his executive powers.

For an Indiana governor to suspend the gas tax through a declaration of an energy emergency, the state must have an existing or projected energy shortfall that would jeopardize life, health, and property,” Holcomb said in a statement. “We have not met that threshold. INDOT and the Office of Energy Development have both confirmed that we do not have a shortage or a projected shortage.”

Fortunately for Hoosier motorists, Democrats aren’t giving up the fight as they renew their push to suspend the state’s gas tax.

Hammer and Artificial Nigel have all the details in the clip below.

https://omny.fm/shows/hammer-and-nigel-show/indiana-dems-renew-push-to-halt-gas-tax