Hatcher: Suspending gas tax will help Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary) is calling on Gov. Eric Holcomb to temporarily suspend the state's gas tax. Indiana's gas tax is expected to hit 74.5 cents per gallon this month, adding an unnecessary financial burden to Hoosier motorists.

“The average Gary resident drives nearly a half hour to get to work each day,” Hatcher said. “Suspending the gas tax would drastically reduce the price at the pump and help Hoosiers get back on their feet after two years of an unpredictable pandemic that impacted many Hoosiers' incomes.”

In 2000, Gov. Frank O'Bannon unilaterally suspended the gas tax for two months when prices were inflated. Recently, Georgia and Maryland have suspended their gas tax to help residents. Indiana is one of just 16 states that taxes the price of gasoline.

Republicans rejected House and Senate Democrats’ proposal to suspend the gasoline tax until July on the last day of the 2022 legislative session.