Gov. Kay Ivey Says She Won’t Suspend Alabama Gas Tax; Cites Harm to Taxpayers

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is reiterating her belief that suspending state and federal gas taxes will do more harm than good.

Ivey released the following statement Wednesday after President Joe Biden asked Congress to suspend the 18-cent federal gas tax until the end of September to ease current economic burdens on Americans:

“Alabamians and Americans alike are hurting, and it’s a real shame President Biden is failing to address the problem,” Ivey said.

“Folks across our state need relief, but I do not believe that relief will come through a fuel tax suspension at the federal or state levels. In fact, as we have continued to look closely at this issue, I believe that this could cause more harm than good in Alabama, ultimately costing taxpayers.

“President Biden could not be more hard-headed on the issue of American energy independence, but he campaigned on that, so, it comes as no surprise to me. He is closing pipelines with the stroke of a pen.

“Here in our neck of the woods, the Gulf of Mexico is currently in a moratorium with no lease sales being held, which impacts both our oil and gas industries, as well as the Alabama consumer. He is pointing his finger at the oil industry and is looking anywhere else but home. There is also no certainty that Americans will feel even temporary relief from this Band-aid approach. Let’s be clear: We need a permanent solution.

“The Biden Administration is seeing bad poll numbers, and they’re scrambling. This is a gimmick, plain and simple.”