No effort yet by the General Assembly to freeze the gas tax

Open letter to the General Assembly:

We're nearing the halfway point of the '23 session and still no bill has been filed by the majority caucuses to freeze the gas tax. Inflation is still surging, energy prices spike during the summer driving months and LEGISLATIVE ACTION is the only way to give taxpayers and small businesses certainty that the gas tax won't automatically increase in the coming months. 

Over the summer, Gov. Beshear stopped an automatic hike in Kentucky’s motor fuels tax. His executive action put the ball in the General Assembly’s court. 

Frankfort is always motivated to shovel more government spending to favored special interests. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce opposes “proposals to temporarily suspend or reduce taxes on fuel.” They argue “such measures provide minimal financial relief to motorists and businesses.”

We doubt the chamber asks many small business owners, especially from rural Kentucky, to weigh in before speaking on their behalf about what impact higher taxes have on their ability to provide for their families.

The General Assembly should enact an 18-month freeze of the gas tax, providing time for the broken formula to be overhauled. Putting the issue in the hands of Sen. Chris McDaniel and Rep. Jason Petrie during interim A&R would give taxpayers a shot at balancing the gas tax crowd’s influence over the outcome. 

We encourage you to put your constituents first. Freeze the gas tax before adjourning sine die.