INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association will began an ad campaign opposing the Republican effort to use a gas tax increase to fund infrastructure improvements. The ads will go up next week at gas pumps at the stores.
“Our message was getting lost,” said Scott Imus, executive director of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, who provided information about the campaign to The Associated Press. “Our association is not the most powerful in town, but the one thing we do have is we see customers – thousands of them.”
Indiana is one of more than 12 states that are eyeing an increase to the gas tax in order to fund road and bridge improvements. Last month, Michigan saw its petroleum tax rise seven cents for gas and 11 cents for diesel.
Republicans in the General Assembly have backed away from using the record $1.8 billion in reserves and cutting programs. Instead, party leaders have proposed to increase the gas tax and vehicle permit fees. If the increase is approved, gas taxes would also increase with inflation.
