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Rep. Damoose votes to suspend gas tax, lower prices for Michigan drivers
RELEASE|March 9, 2022

As rising fuel prices continue to increase costs on Michigan families, state Rep. John Damoose and the Michigan House of Representatives today approved a plan to remove the state gas tax for six months.

House Bill 5570 would suspend the state motor fuel tax beginning April 1. By pausing the tax of 27.2 cents per gallon, the plan is estimated to save Michigan drivers about $750 million over the six-month period.

“The growing cost of gas is a natural result of bad energy policies that have impeded oil drilling, as well as inflationary spending,” said Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “These prices are felt directly by Michigan drivers. Higher fuel prices also increase prices for all sorts of other products, as transportation costs go up for suppliers. With a suspension of the state gas tax, our plan will alleviate some of the added costs on families in Northern Michigan and the Eastern Upper Peninsula.”

House passage of the plan comes despite a political cop-out by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who yesterday urged Congress to support current legislation that would suspend the federal gas tax temporarily. The federal tax is only 18.4 cents per gallon, and the Legislature’s plan would enable greater savings on each gallon of gas.

Damoose and the House also today adopted House Resolution 250 to support Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, which transports oil and natural gas through Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin. Homes and businesses in the Upper Peninsula especially rely on the fuel carried by Line 5. The resolution urges Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel to end their partisan attempts to shut down Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. The measure also calls for policies to ensure energy independence in the United States.

“Energy independence can help hold American prices steady even during turbulent international wars and crises,” Damoose said. “Energy independence involves not only production, but also safe, efficient transportation — like Line 5. The governor and attorney general must stop their war on the vital pipeline that brings necessary resources to heat Michigan homes.”

The House approved HB 5570 with bipartisan support, and it now advances to the Senate, which is expected to approve the plan next week.

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