{"id":1418747,"date":"2022-04-04T19:59:51","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T23:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1418747"},"modified":"2022-04-04T19:59:56","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T23:59:56","slug":"fearing-losses-in-november-state-democrats-flip-flop-on-gas-taxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fearing-losses-in-november-state-democrats-flip-flop-on-gas-taxes\/","title":{"rendered":"Fearing Losses in November, State Democrats Flip-Flop on Gas Taxes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffearing-losses-in-november-state-democrats-flip-flop-on-gas-taxes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1418747&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">As Republicans at the state level, for years, led efforts to repeal the gas tax, Democrats have done the exact opposite and, in many cases, voted to increase the tax. State Democrats, seeing the writing on the wall for the midterms, are now looking to take credit for rolling back the gas tax and, in some cases offering cash to drives as the price per gallon has skyrocketed across the country.<\/p>\n<p>Gas prices have surged to the highest levels in history, and blue states are facing the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gasbuddy.com\/usa\">steepest prices<\/a> as the Democrats\u2019 radical agenda has crippled\u00a0domestic energy production. And their gas tax hikes have taken their toll. As state Democrats head into a brutal election year recognizing the widespread unpopularity of their policies, they are now flip-flopping and trying to claim a victory by attempting to lower the gas taxes they previously supported.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>For instance, California <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbs8.com\/article\/traffic\/gas-prices\/californias-gas-tax-jump-july-1-2021\/509-86620b17-378c-4e57-9e22-25eca17230b8\">signed<\/a> Senate Bill 1 in 2017 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/news\/politics-government\/capitol-alert\/article259393034.html\">survived<\/a> a repeal in 2018, which was set to incrementally raise the\u00a0fuel excise tax each year to raise\u00a0$52.4 billion by 2027. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbs8.com\/article\/traffic\/gas-prices\/californias-gas-tax-jump-july-1-2021\/509-86620b17-378c-4e57-9e22-25eca17230b8\">CBS 8 San Diego<\/a>\u00a0reported that it would have been an overall\u00a051.1 cents per gallon, making the state\u2019s gas tax and other charges the highest in the country. In March, the Republicans\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/news\/politics-government\/capitol-alert\/article259393034.html#storylink=cpy\">failed<\/a> to force a vote that could have suspended the state gas tax, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kusi.com\/california-assembly-democrats-to-propose-400-gas-rebate-thursday\/\">instead<\/a>, state Democrats\u00a0proposed a new $400-gas rebate for\u00a0taxpaying car owners to\u00a0receive a $400-check.<\/p>\n<p>Illinois state lawmakers and Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) in 2019 doubled the state\u2019s gas\u00a0tax to 38 cents from 19 cents and created an\u00a0automatic annual increase of a half-cent, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoispolicy.org\/illinois-doubled-gas-tax-grows-a-little-more-july-1\/\">according<\/a> to\u00a0Illinois Policy. As of 2021, Illinois\u2019s gas tax has increased by 206% in three years, resulting in drivers paying roughly\u00a0$105 more a year in gas taxes. While the price of gas has skyrocketed in recent months, the state\u2019s Democrat governor\u00a0proposed a plan to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoispolicy.org\/why-pritzkers-1-billion-election-year-tax-cut-is-a-bad-idea\/\">temporarily block<\/a>\u00a0the annual gas tax increase for the fiscal year 2023.\u00a0Illinois Policy noted that is the \u201celection-year promise\u201d offers little help to drives after doubling the tax years prior.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17385882\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1044342256.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Then-Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker speaks during a round table discussion with high school students at a creative workspace for women on October 1, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois. (Joshua Lott\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The\u00a0Maryland General Assembly in 2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldmailmedia.com\/story\/news\/2013\/06\/25\/maryland-incremental-gas-tax-hike-to-begin-monday\/46974997\/\">passed<\/a> a measure that would allow for an automatic\u00a0increase in the gas tax. The effort raised was meant to raise the gas tax by 12.1 cents by 2015 and another 8.1 cents in\u00a02016 if federal Internet sales tax legislation did not pass, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldmailmedia.com\/story\/news\/2013\/06\/25\/maryland-incremental-gas-tax-hike-to-begin-monday\/46974997\/\">according<\/a> to Herald Mial Media.<\/p>\n<p>Republican lawmakers last month pushed to repeal the law or at least pause it for two years since it \u201cmandates the increase of gas taxes annually based on inflation,\u201d which has skyrocketed. Days later,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/baltimore.cbslocal.com\/2022\/03\/11\/maryland-gas-tax-suspension-bill-introduced\/\">CBS 13 Baltimore<\/a>\u00a0reported that state lawmakers\u00a0introduced an emergency piece of legislation to suspend collection of the state\u2019s gas tax for 30 days, which would help drivers paying record-high gas prices.<\/p>\n<p>The Minnesota House in 2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.live5news.com\/2022\/03\/08\/heres-where-sc-ranks-most-expensive-state-gas-tax-nation\/\">approved<\/a> a bill for a\u00a020 cents per gallon tax hike, but it failed in the state Senate. Instead, the increase was to take four years, five\u00a0cents a year, instead of all at once. Last month two Democrat lawmakers \u2014\u00a0Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) and\u00a0Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL-Aurora) \u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wdio.com\/politics-news\/minnesota-wisconsin-michigan-state-gas-tax\/6415696\/\">introduced<\/a> a bill to\u00a0suspend the state\u2019s 28.5 cents per gallon gas tax from Memorial Day through Labor Day.<\/p>\n<p>In New York last year, a Democrat proposed a bill \u2014\u00a0Climate and Community Investment Act \u2014 that would increase the gas tax by 55 cents per gallon, making the overall tax 98 cents per gallon and the highest in the nation. The bill, which would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liherald.com\/merrick\/stories\/new-york-proposes-taxes-on-gas-and-heating-products,133165\">make<\/a> the gas tax 57 percent higher than the closest state, is still in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nysenate.gov\/legislation\/bills\/2021\/S4264?intent=oppose\">committee<\/a>. However, after Republican lawmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/nys\/central-ny\/ny-state-of-politics\/2022\/01\/24\/new-york-lawmakers-offer-competing-plans-for-boosting-business\">called<\/a> for the gas tax to be suspended to help consumers with inflation, the price per gallon rose to above four dollars per gallon, and Democrat state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (D-Schenectady) also <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/nys\/central-ny\/ny-state-of-politics\/2022\/03\/04\/santabarbara-calls-to-lift-gas-tax-in-new-york-state\">called<\/a> for the\u00a0suspension of the gas tax.<\/p>\n<p>In Virginia, drivers have been paying a\u00a016.2 cents gas tax per gallon on\u00a0regular gas since 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsls.com\/news\/virginia\/2020\/07\/01\/say-hello-to-a-higher-gas-tax-in-virginia\/\">according<\/a> to WSLS. But, in 2020, former Gov.\u00a0Ralph Northam (D) signed a law that would\u00a0increase the gas tax to\u00a021.2 cents per gallon and increase the gas tax by five cents per gallon in 2021, then increase annually based on inflation starting. However, early this year, the state Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiamercury.com\/2022\/02\/21\/youngkin-renews-tax-cutting-push-after-mixed-reception-from-general-assembly\/\">blocked<\/a>\u00a0a Republican proposal backed by Gov.\u00a0Glenn Youngkin to suspend the gas tax\u00a0increase until 2023 to reduce the burden on drivers.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Nearly one month after the state Senate Democrats blocked the bill. The Democrats appeared to have flip-flopped on the gas tax. The <em>Washington Post<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2022\/03\/10\/virginia-gas-prices-youngkin\/\">reported<\/a> that\u00a0state\u00a0House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) demanded that Younkin\u00a0issue an executive order declaring a state of emergency over\u00a0Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. This would have subsequently\u00a0activated a Virginia law that \u201cprohibits price-gouging in times of disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, on the other hand, state Republicans have tried to shield their\u00a0constituents from the skyrocketing gas price without relying on Democrat-controlled Washington to bring down costs.\u00a0Across the country, Republican legislators have been delivering relief to their constituents by suspending gas taxes or fighting back against Democrat governors who wanted to raise them.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20289530\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AP22077407872997.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20289530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AP22077407872997.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A customer pumps gasoline into his car at a Sam\u2019s Club fuel island in Gulfport, Mississippi, on February 19, 2022. (AP Photo\/Rogelio V. Solis, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In Florida, lawmakers\u00a0agreed to suspend the gas tax for one month\u00a0in October. A\u00a0Florida Republican lawmaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wftv.com\/news\/local\/florida-lawmakers-come-together-gas-tax-suspension-budget-plan\/EKHXVDEPNFHULJPTPNXLMQ6HAI\/\">told<\/a> ABC9 that the legislature chose October, just before the election, because it would most benefit their constituents while there are typically\u00a0fewer tourists in the state at that time.<\/p>\n<p>In Georgia last month, the state House\u00a0voted\u00a0150-0, and Gov. Brian Kemp (R) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/politics\/georgia-house-backs-suspension-of-gas-tax-through-end-of-may\/SAR53NWTFZBANHKUEZLYDE7ST4\/\">signed<\/a>\u00a0a bill that would suspend the 29.1 cents per gallon gas tax\u00a0through May 31. The gas tax suspension would save the\u00a0drivers about $400 million in taxes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/politics\/georgia-house-backs-suspension-of-gas-tax-through-end-of-may\/SAR53NWTFZBANHKUEZLYDE7ST4\/\">according<\/a> to the\u00a0Atlanta Journal-Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0Mississippi,\u00a0Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (R) last month <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/business-mississippi-department-of-transportation-delbert-hosemann-mississippi-cdcb87ce6f0657dab7d7d15d73fa104d\">called<\/a> for\u00a0a six-month suspension of the\u00a018.4 cents per gallon gas tax. While Republicans control the state House and Senate by wide margins, Hosemann <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/business-mississippi-department-of-transportation-delbert-hosemann-mississippi-cdcb87ce6f0657dab7d7d15d73fa104d\">said<\/a> he would work with the Senate leaders to suspend the gas tax while the prices have continued to climb.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0Wisconsin, WCSC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.live5news.com\/2022\/03\/08\/heres-where-sc-ranks-most-expensive-state-gas-tax-nation\/\">reported<\/a> that\u00a0Gov. Tony Evers (D) called for an eight cents per gallon tax hike in his 2019 proposed budget with\u00a0automatic increases after the state\u2019s\u00a01985 gas tax was repealed in 2005. The\u00a0Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee rejected the governor\u2019s proposal.<\/p>\n<p>As the county is nearly a quarter of the way through the midterm election year, state Democrats in challenging election cycles have started to flip-flop and are now\u00a0pushing for a gas tax relief after spending years supporting hiking the same tax, the gas tax cuts Republicans have fought for.<\/p>\n<p><i>Jacob Bliss is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow him on <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jacobmbliss\"><i>Twitter<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Republicans at the state level, for years, led efforts to repeal the gas tax, Democrats have done the exact opposite and, in many cases, voted to increase the tax.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1418747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1418747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1418747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1418747\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1418747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1418747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1418747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}