In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation to reduce Pennsylvania’s gasoline and diesel fuel taxes to match the average fuel tax rates of the states bordering the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania drivers currently pay one of the highest fuel taxes in the nation. While the national average state gasoline tax is approximately 33 cents per gallon, Pennsylvania motorists pay 57.6 cents per gallon — substantially higher than every neighboring state. Pennsylvania’s diesel tax is even higher at 74.1 cents per gallon, the highest diesel tax rate in the nation.

The average gasoline tax among Pennsylvania’s six border states — New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia — is approximately 35.5 cents per gallon, meaning Pennsylvania drivers currently pay more than 20 cents per gallon above the regional average.

Likewise, the diesel tax rates among Pennsylvania’s border states are dramatically lower than Pennsylvania’s current 74.1 cent rate:
• New York — approximately 33.4 cents per gallon;
• New Jersey — approximately 41.8 cents per gallon;
• Delaware — approximately 22 cents per gallon;
• Maryland — approximately 47 cents per gallon;
• Ohio — approximately 47 cents per gallon; and
• West Virginia — approximately 35.7 cents per gallon.

The average diesel tax among Pennsylvania’s neighboring states is approximately 37.8 cents per gallon — just over half of Pennsylvania’s current diesel tax rate.

In March, the House passed legislation to raise the minimum wage, arguing that Pennsylvania's wage was significantly lower than those of neighboring states that had already adopted higher minimum wages. If Pennsylvania legislators seek to hold themselves to the same standards as bordering states in wages, then there should be zero opposition to do the same for taxes—especially for a tax that's one of the highest in the nation.

This excessive fuel tax burden harms working families, commuters, farmers, small businesses, and the trucking industry. It also incentivizes border-area residents and commercial operators to purchase fuel outside Pennsylvania, resulting in lost economic activity for Pennsylvania gas stations, truck stops, and local businesses near state lines.

This legislation would reduce Pennsylvania’s gasoline and diesel taxes to align with the regional average of surrounding states. This reform would:
• Provide immediate relief to Pennsylvania families facing high transportation and living costs;
• Reduce operating costs for truckers, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses;
• Improve Pennsylvania’s competitiveness with neighboring states;
• Reduce incentives for cross-border fuel purchases;
• Return a portion of excess revenues back to taxpayers; and
• Promote a fairer and more sustainable transportation funding structure.

Pennsylvania should not continue placing one of the highest fuel tax burdens in America on the people and industries that drive our economy. Aligning our gasoline and diesel taxes with the regional average is a commonsense step toward tax fairness, economic competitiveness, and meaningful relief for Pennsylvania taxpayers.

If Harrisburg has enough money available for spending increases, then we have enough money to give it back to the people who earned it.