State House Not Interested in Suspending Fuel Tax

Becky Bohrer/Associated Press – Jay Barrett/KMXT

With just weeks left in the legislative session, Governor Sean Parnell is again asking lawmakers to suspend the state motor fuels tax for two years. It doesn’t look like it will happen.

Little attention has been paid to the proposal this session except for a few hearings on the bill early on, with lawmakers questioning in part whether consumers would actually see a price drop at the pump if the tax were suspended.

Parnell resurrected the issue last week, saying high gas prices necessitated another look at his proposal.

But lawmakers have shown virtually no interest in taking it up, with major spending and oil-tax bills still pending.

Today (Monday), House Majority Leader Alan Austerman of Kodiak said the governor’s renewed call for action has not generated much discussion among his colleagues.

Austerman made the comments during a Monday morning house majority press conference.