ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday extended the temporary suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline and other fuels, citing a looming shortage of diesel fuel.
Kemp signed two executive orders, one extending the gas tax suspension through Dec. 11 and the other extending the state of supply chain emergency.
The Republican governor accused the Biden administration of failing to promote US energy independence and of depleting the country’s strategic oil reserve to its lowest level since 1974.
“As another holiday season and a looming diesel shortage approaches, Georgians are still facing record inflation, rising costs at the grocery store just before Thanksgiving, and high prices at the pumps as they preparing to travel to see family, all because of a complete leadership failure in Washington,” Kemp said.
“While we can’t fix everything politicians have broken, our responsible approach to reopening our economy while prioritizing both lives and livelihoods allows us to provide the needed relief by continuing to suspend our state’s gas tax.”
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Kemp also cited a recent decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Counties (OPEC) to cut oil production.
President Joe Biden has been aggressive in tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of the administration’s strategy to lower gasoline prices. It has also tapped into federal grants to help promote the production of electric vehicle batteries to boost electric vehicles as an alternative to gas-powered cars and trucks.
As the war in Ukraine and the pandemic have drastically reduced diesel fuel supplies, economists have said reports that the United States is on the verge of running out are overblown.
Since the temporary gasoline tax suspension was put in place last March, the average price of gasoline in Georgia has remained one of the lowest in the country. Currently, Peach State has the lowest gas prices at $3.13 per gallon, according to AAA.
This story is available through a partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
