Paul Kengor: Pa.'s outrageous gas prices and gas taxes

My family just took a long road trip to Florida. We have a 2010 Ford E-350, a 12-passenger van. It’s an ugly thing, with a 30-gallon tank. I call it our “Baptist Church van,” though we’re Catholic. I’d buy a new model, but they’re obscenely expensive. So, I cling to the 2010, with its rust, holes and obnoxious bumper stickers to bring us even more attention as we plod down the highway.

As I said, the thing has a 30-gallon tank, which prompts my reason for writing today. That means that it costs over a hundred bucks to fill up the beast, especially if you live in Pennsylvania.

Yes, Pennsylvania.

Before endeavoring upon our voyage to Florida, I filled up at the local Sheetz. The grand total: $111. Roughly $3.70 per gallon. Fortunately, I learned that financial relief was on the way; that is, as soon as I got out of Pennsylvania.

Over a span of about 20 hours of driving, I discovered Pennsylvania’s gas prices are the highest of any state between here and Florida. We went through West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. In two states, the price was just under $3 per gallon. Pennsylvania was consistently about 50 cents higher. It became a sport for myself and my sons to read signs and express shock at the lower prices.

For the record, those states are not exceptions. I drive to New York City frequently, passing through New Jersey.

Shockingly, I found gas stations in Manhattan with lower prices than rural Pennsylvania. In Ohio, too, the prices are lower.

So, what’s the culprit? Why does our state have such ridiculously high prices? Do we lack, oh, Manhattan’s oil rigs? Are they drilling for oil in Atlanta nowadays? Have they struck black gold in Newark?

No, the reason is taxes.

Pennsylvania has the highest gasoline tax of any state at 61 cents per gallon. Yes, the highest, even worse than California, which is actually a distant second (seven cents cheaper), followed by New Jersey, Washington state and New York.

The average state gas tax is 29.15 cents per gallon. Our state is more than double that.

So, when I swiped my credit card at Sheetz before setting off on our trip, filling up my 30-gallon tank at $111, over $18 of that amount went to Pennsylvania taxes.

Note this explanation from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors: “Due to record high fuel prices in 2022, the Pennsylvania gas tax increased on Jan. 1 from 57.6 cents to 61.1 cents per gallon for gasoline and will increase from 74.1 cents to 78.5 cents per gallon for undyed diesel fuel … . These revenues must be used to maintain Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges.”

Hmm. Funny, every state in America dealt with record high fuel prices in 2022, and have roads and bridges to maintain.

Somehow, they do so without Pennsylvania’s obscene gas taxes.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Maybe our governor can pull a Joe Biden and blame the price on Putin and the Russians?

These prices in Pennsylvania are the doing of your government.

It’s the height of hypocrisy to watch politicians pass bills to halt price gouging by oil companies.

The reality is that you’re getting gouged not by oil companies but by politicians, especially in Pennsylvania.