Campbell, Klinker renew calls for governor to suspend gas tax to provide immediate relief to Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS - With Indiana’s gasoline taxes hitting 74.5 cents per gallon this month, State Reps. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) and Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) are renewing calls for Gov. Eric Holcomb to immediately suspend the state gasoline use tax and gasoline excise tax until July.

“Hoosier families are struggling to make ends meet while oil industries are making record profits,” Campbell said. “With the state sitting on a $5 billion surplus, it's past time we suspended the state gas tax to help Hoosiers catch a break.”

“We have a $5 billion budget surplus right now, and I think it is a real shame that the surplus is gathering dust in the state reserves while Hoosier families are facing increasing costs at the pump,” Klinker said. “I believe Gov. Holcomb can lead on this issue as Gov. O'Bannon did and provide economic relief for all Hoosiers.”

There is precedent for Gov. Holcomb taking such an action. In June 2000, Governor Frank L. O’Bannon temporarily suspended the state gasoline tax for two months. Gov. O’Bannon’s suspension took effect when gas prices hovered around $3.01 per gallon in today’s prices. Currently, Indiana gas prices are about $4.18 per gallon.

Other states across the country, including Georgia and Maryland, have taken steps to temporarily suspend their gas tax and provide relief for consumers.

The legislature majority rejected House and Senate Democrats’ proposal to suspend the gasoline tax until July on the last day of the 2022 legislative session in March.