Pennsylvania bill looks to increase transparency at the gas pump
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania Senator has reintroduced a bill that would require service station gasoline pumps to display stickers with the rates of federal and state liquid fuels taxes.
The legislation, authored by Sen. Michele Brooks, argues that while Pennsylvania has the third highest gas tax in the nation, with the money from the tax meant to go towards repairs on roads and bridges, PennDOT has budgetary woes and continues to ask for more funding towards projects. Brooks added that consumers have a right to know how much of their money is going to the gas tax with every gallon they purchase.
In Pennsylvania, every gallon of motor fuel pumped is taxed 76 cents per gallon, with 57.6 cents going towards the Pa. state gasoline tax. The diesel fuel tax is 74.1 cents per gallon, meaning that every gallon pumped is taxed 98.5 cents per gallon when adding in the federal tax, according to the legislation.
Brooks' legislation, also known as the 'Fuel Tax Transparency Act,' would require service stations across the Commonwealth to display the rates of federal and state taxes on fuel. This legislation was previously introduced in the last Senate session, however, it was never passed. Brooks noted that Ohio recently implemented a similar law.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Drivers and passengers react to new ‘Paul Miller Law' effective last week
BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Drivers and some passengers are sharing their thoughts on the newest law in Pennsylvania, the Paul Miller Law. Signed by Governor Josh Shapiro last year, the new hands-free law bans hand-held cell phone use while driving and increases transparency and accountability at traffic stops. It went into effect on Thursday, June 5. The law is named after Paul Miller Jr., a 21 year-old killed after a tractor-trailer driver who was reaching for his cell phone lost control and crashed head-on into Miller's car. 'It takes five seconds to crash and it's a split hot second,' Driver Jeanette Swabley said. Paul Miller's Law also makes it illegal to use a cell phone even while stopped temporarily because of traffic or a red light. Swabley also works as an LPN in an emergency room. She encourages her children and herself not to use phones while driving. 'I see what happens when you are a distracted driver and have an accident. So I would rather not see you there. So please stay off your phones,' Swabley said. Aubree Bloom is working on getting her permit, so she can learn how to drive. Although she's not on the road yet, she thinks the law is a good idea, and drivers should ask the passenger to communicate for them. 'I feel like that people who are distracted by their phones have a better chance of getting involved in a crash, and like, you might they might get in an injury or maybe even death,' Bloom said. According to PennDOT data, in 2024, there were 9,950 crashes involving a distracted driver, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. Savannah Metz rides in the passenger seat. She admits she's traveled in a car where someone has been distracted by their phone, but says it hasn't affected her. 'I think personally that it's okay because, like, what if you get a call and it's an emergency, and especially being like the parent of a child, I want to know if something's going on with my baby,' Metz said. The law allows some exceptions for drivers, such as calling 911 to report an emergency or if a driver pairs their cell phone to Bluetooth or CarPlay. Drivers can also use their devices if the vehicle is safely pulled off the road and not moving. Written warnings will be issued to drivers until June 5, 2026. After that date, violators will face a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Looking ahead to Missouri special session, Show Me Sports Investment Act
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri General Assembly's special session reconvenes Monday, and it's the House side of the rotunda's turn in Jefferson City. The state Senate passed a trio of bills last week, one providing a plan to fund up to half of stadium projects for the Chiefs or Royals or Cardinals in St. Louis. The Missouri State House will consider the Show Me Sports Investment Act. The stadium funding bill sets the framework for the Royals and the Chiefs to pay back some of the costs for new and renovated venues. Construction bonds would be paid back using tax money generated at the stadiums and would cover up to 50% of the cost to build it. The teams would have to qualify to have access to that money. The stadiums would need to be built for football or baseball, have more than 30,000 seats, and cost at least half a billion dollars. On Sunday, Rudi Keller, the deputy editor of the Missouri Independent, discussed what could happen as the special session continues this week. Kansas City superheroes assemble behind local child battling cancer 'A member of the House budget Committee who will consider the spending bill on Tuesday said there is an assumption the House will pass this, and that's correct. I also talked to the Chair of the House Budget Committee earlier today, and it turns out he's not going to be demanding anything new. So as long as there aren't serious demands that endanger the bill from the House, much as the way demands from Senators resulted in a change to the call, I'm anticipating this will go relatively smoothly this week,' Keller said on 4 The People. The stadium funding bill does not have the words 'Royals' or 'Chiefs' in it, but a big reason for the calling of this special session was to find a way to keep both teams in the state and counter the plans of Kansas lawmakers. Nearly a year ago, the Kansas legislature approved a bill to utilize STAR bonds to cover stadium construction costs. The deadline for that bill is coming up at the end of June. 'If Kansas believes that we could really be in the conversation, you could see some limited extension,' said Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson. 'The way the law is written, it could be extended for up to a year. I don't see that happening.' You can watch the full conversation with Masterson and Keller here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 hours ago
- The Hill
Rand Paul slams Graham's push for Russian sanctions as ‘self-defeating economic warfare'
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) slammed Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) push for Russian sanctions, calling his bill 'self-defeating economic warfare.' Graham's sanctions bill on Russia would impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from any country that buys Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. The legislation has more than 80 co-sponsors in the Senate, potentially making it veto-proof. But GOP senators are waiting on President Trump to move ahead with the legislation, and Trump said this week he hasn't even looked at it. Trump has also said he doesn't want to undermine the chances of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Paul, in a series of posts on X on Saturday, said the bill would be ineffective and backfire against efforts to achieve peace, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in its fourth year. 'The Graham bill would derail President Trump's efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Self-defeating economic warfare is no way to achieve peace,' Paul said on X. 'This bill won't force China or India to change behavior, but it will impose an effective embargo on ourselves that will hurt American families,' he said. Paul also argued that the bill could hurt U.S. allies and raise gas prices. 'The Graham bill could raise tariffs on allies like Israel and Taiwan to 500 percent and potentially even higher. Why are we punishing our friends while pretending it'll hold Russia accountable? This isn't strategy—it's economic self-sabotage,' he wrote. 'Cutting off Russian oil takes a major source of supply off the market, resulting in higher gas prices. Analysts warned that a U.S. ban on Russian oil could cause prices to hit $160–$200 a barrel. That's $5+ gas at the pump,' he said. Graham, this past week, sought to address some of those concerns by proposing a carveout for his bill to exempt countries that aid in Ukraine's defense. The carveout could help insulate countries in Europe that still import Russian gas and have provided military support for Ukraine, as well as other U.S. partners that have straddled the line between maintaining ties with Moscow and providing assistance to Kyiv. 'A lot of countries still buy Russian oil and gas but less. Some European countries still have relationships with Russia, but they've been very helpful to Ukraine. So I want to carve them out,' Graham told reporters Wednesday. 'I tell China, if you don't want to have a 500 percent tariff, help Ukraine.'
