“It is ironic that many lawmakers who campaigned on not raising taxes on the poor and middle class are now trying to increase the gas tax,” explained Mark Lucas, State Director of Americans for Prosperity – Iowa. “Less than three months later after their election, these same politicians are thinking about raising a tax that will fall particularly hard on poor and middle class Iowans.”
With pump prices at their highest level on record for this time of year, the stage is set for an even greater climb in gasoline prices and expenditures than in 2012. The state legislature and Governor Terry Branstad are mulling a tax increase at the same time are considering what to do with an $800 million surplus in tax revenue.
“AFP-Iowa will continue to fight for not increasing taxes on the poor and middle class families,” Lucas continued. “I toured the state last year hosting $1.84 per gallon gas events and heard the heart-wrenching stories from Iowans who could barely afford to fill up their car. An elderly couple in Coralville told me they haven’t been able to completely fill their gas tank for over a year. A young Waterloo woman asked if she could still get the discounted rate because she could only afford to put 5 dollars in her tank.”
“The gas tax hike may not affect our legislators and the lobbyists in Des Moines. But it will crush many of our fellow Iowans.”