2/11/03-Rep. Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield County) is seeking co-sponsors to legislation that would enable Gov. Edward Rendell to suspend state taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel to counter skyrocketing prices.
Under the measure, the governor could sign an executive order suspending some or all of Pennsylvania's taxes on gasoline and diesel when fuel prices have increased more than 50 percent in a year or less.
"I heard from a Clearfield County trucker this week who said diesel costs $1.94 a gallon and he and many other truckers were going to have to shut down their rigs and trucking companies by the end of the week," George said. "Diesel prices in the Central Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania, hit an average of $1.80 a gallon on Monday.
"Giving the governor the flexibility to suspend state fuel taxes on fuel and releasing heating oil in the Northeast - where prices are the highest and supplies the tightest - would help stabilize prices and ease the strain on our citizens and small businessmen."