June 28th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Comptroller Peter Franchot on Wednesday morning will join small business owners and individuals deeply impacted by high gas prices to continue applying pressure on federal and state lawmakers to take immediate action that would help ease the pain at the pump.

The event in Frederick comes exactly one week after President Biden called on Congress, states and the petroleum industry to enact a series of measures that would lower record-high gas prices. 

The Comptroller, who serves as the state's motor fuel regulator, first floated a 90-day state gas tax holiday in March; Governor Hogan and the General Assembly agreed to suspend the tax for 30 days. Since the holiday ended in mid-April, prices have continued to soar and are expected to stay high through the busy summer travel season.

Additionally, due to an automatic increase tied to inflation passed by lawmakers in 2013, Maryland's per-gallon gas tax is set to increase by 6.6 cents to almost 43 cents on July 1. Comptroller Franchot will once again call on the General Assembly to convene a special session to authorize a three-month gas tax holiday and to pause the automatic increase for one year.

Speakers at Wednesday's event who will talk about the impact that high gas prices have on their lives include the president of the Maryland Limo Association, a tow truck operator and the owners of a moving company, a convenience store and an arts studio.