Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) announced on Tuesday that he would be suspending the gas tax in the Peach State through an executive order while blaming President Joe Biden's handling of the economy.
The gas tax will be suspended from Sept. 13 through Oct. 12 under the executive order. Kemp placed the blame for increased gas prices necessitating a suspension of the fuel tax on "Bidenomics," which he claims has only taken "more money out of the pockets of the middle class."
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Today, I signed an Executive Order suspending the state gas tax, because hardworking Georgians deserve real relief from the disastrous effects of Bidenomics.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 12, 2023
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"From runaway federal spending to policies that hamstring domestic energy production, all Bidenomics has done is take more money out of the pockets of the middle class,” Kemp said in a statement.
“While high prices continue to hit family budgets, hardworking Georgians deserve real relief and that's why I signed an executive order today to deliver it directly to them at the pump. Working with partners in the General Assembly, we'll continue to help Georgians weather the economic headwinds caused by this president, his administration, and their allies in Congress," he continued.
The suspension means Georgians will immediately begin paying 31.2 cents less per gallon on gas and 35 cents less per gallon on diesel fuel, according to the governor's office.
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns applauded Kemp's executive action and contrasted the "success story" of Georgia with how the economy is being handled on a national level.
"I applaud Governor Kemp’s suspension of motor fuel taxes to keep our people and our economy moving despite Washington’s inaction on rising fuel prices,” Burns said in a statement. “Georgia’s success story is no accident – it is the result of conservative policies enacted to keep Georgia the nation’s best state for business.”
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The gas tax was last suspended in Georgia in 2022 after gas prices skyrocketed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gas prices steadily began to decrease after a peak in summer 2022 but have been on the rise again in recent months.
Kemp's office says the 2022 suspension of the gas tax from March through December saved drivers in the Peach State an estimated $1.7 billion.