Unleaded gasoline is $3.99 per gallon on April 8, 2026 at Exxon at 129 Lee St. W in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo by Leann Ray/West Virginia Watch)
As the United States’ war with Iran continues, gasoline prices still average over $4 a gallon. Democrats in the West Virginia House of Delegates renewed calls on Gov. Patrick Morrisey to call a special session of the legislature to suspend the state’s gasoline tax.
The nine Democrats in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Wednesday, about a month later They first proposed the gas tax during a press conference on April 8th.
“Democrats in the House of Representatives have a plan and a law for it reduce costs that West Virginians pay at the pump,” they wrote in a news release Thursday. “Unfortunately, the Governor has taken no action since House Democrats called a special session last month.”
Under the Democrats’ plan, the state would suspend the state gas tax for 30 days if the price exceeds a base average of $2.85 to $3 per gallon. The bill would take effect by the end of the year.
Democrats called on the governor to schedule the special session to coincide with a series of meetings Sessions only at home scheduled for the 18th-19th. May.
The state fuel tax averages about 36 cents per gallon and raises between $30 million and $40 million a month, supporting the state’s highway fund, Democrats said.
In addition to Democrats, the West Virginia Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republican state lawmakers, also called for the gas tax to be suspended last month.
According to the national news agenciesOn Thursday, the United States awaited a response from Iran to its latest proposal to end the conflict.
MMembership organization for car and leisure travel AAA reports that the national average price of gasoline in the United States was $4.30 per gallon as of April 30, up from $3.183 a year ago.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Morrisey said he was willing to consider suspending the gas tax, but said the United States’ actions on Iran would likely impact gas prices.
“I think we’re all watching what’s happening in the Strait of Hormuz right now and we’re trying to make sure that that progresses very well,” Morrisey said. “This will probably have the biggest impact on gas prices of anything a state or governor can do.”
Morrisey’s comments were in response to a question from WOWK news.
The governor added that suspending the gas tax would come with a “tradeoff” of eliminating money for road improvements.
Democrats said the state could afford to suspend the tax.
“This will take significant resources away from the roads fund and these funds will be urgently needed as we patch potholes,” Morrisey said. “I want to keep making our roads better and continue to invest in infrastructuree.”
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