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House Republicans call for
three-month suspension of state gas tax
Republican leaders in
Washington’s House of Representatives are calling for a three-month
suspension of the state gas tax to alleviate the burden high fuel prices
are placing on the state’s economy and families. The move would
temporarily reduce the price of gasoline in Washington by 31 cents per
gallon. Lawmakers will be in Olympia next week for scheduled committee
meetings.
House Republican Leader
Rep. Richard DeBolt said there would be no cost to taxpayers to convene
a one-day special session to approve the gas-tax suspension, and he is
urging Gov. Christine Gregoire to call lawmakers into session to take
action on the plan.
“This spike in fuel
prices, triggered in part by the hurricane devastation in the southeast,
has the potential to cause long-term damage to our state’s economy,”
said DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “If we can give businesses and consumers
temporary relief from the high cost of fuel, hopefully we can keep our
state’s economy in a recovery mode and avoid slipping back into an
extended recession.
“There isn’t a sector of
our state that isn’t affected by high fuel prices, whether it’s a region
that is driven by aerospace, agriculture, tourism or timber. Our schools
that have bus fleets back on the road are feeling the pinch, not to
mention families who are paying $50 or more for each fill-up. We think
they need relief until the oil reserves that have been released help
stabilize the market and fuel distribution pipelines are operating
normally again,” said DeBolt.
DeBolt said his caucus is
supportive of the efforts by Attorney General Rob McKenna and others
around the nation to investigate any possible price gouging that may be
occurring. He said House Republicans are also open to consumer
protection policies that would curb fuel price increases during national
emergencies, such as the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
“It’s time such as this
when we need to rally around one another. Our families and employers
need relief. Lower wage earners are getting hit disproportionately hard
by these high fuel prices. And for those who can put a little extra in
their pocket by saving 31 cents on gas, maybe they’ll share a little
more by donating some of their savings to the relief efforts in
Louisiana and Mississippi,” said DeBolt.
The state’s 31-cent gas
tax generates approximately $90 million a month for road construction.
DeBolt said there is enough revenue in the state’s general fund reserves
to backfill the transportation budget for three months and ensure that
bonds are paid on time, local government revenues are sustained, and no
road construction projects are delayed. The gas tax suspension could be
enacted by an executive order from Gov. Christine Gregoire, but
legislative approval would be needed to move money from the general fund
to the transportation budget.
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For more information, contact:
John Rothlin, Staff Director
- (360) 786-7254
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