Porter statement on the gas tax suspension

Today, Gov. Mike Braun announced a 30-day suspension of the 7% sales tax on gasoline. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“This is what Hoosiers need. They’re getting slammed by bills left and right, and now gas is over $4 a gallon. With an expected $5 billion surplus by 2027, we can afford to give Hoosiers this sales tax break. We need to make sure these savings are passed on to consumers, not just distributors.

“The White House created this problem with its unfocused military campaign in Iran, but Indiana Republicans undoubtedly made it worse. Statehouse Republicans, including then-Rep. Braun voted to raise the gas tax in 2017. Now, Indiana consistently ranks among the states with the highest total tax at the pump. That’s why House Democrats pushed for a suspension back in 2022. 

“While I support this suspension, it’s not lost on me that it’s mostly political posturing. Braun touts' affordability but continues to fly around in his taxpayer-funded helicopter. He wants to build the Mid-States Corridor, which costs $3 billion. He’s hit families hard with his reimbursement rate cuts to the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers. This is about making themselves seem like problem solvers without addressing the root cause.”