Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Gas Prices & Responsibility
Last week, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced his pitch to suspend the state’s gas tax as fuel prices in the state have surged past $4 per gallon. Hogan’s announcement followed a report from the Board of Revenue Estimates that showed an increase in the state’s record budget surplus. “In addition, at this time of global uncertainty due to Russian aggression, we are working with our legislative partners on an emergency suspension of the gas tax to help with the pain at the pump,” Hogan said. “We also support ongoing efforts in the legislature to suspend automatic increases in the gas tax.”
Hogan also said he “called on the Biden administration to increase domestic energy production to help lower costs” and suggested that now is the time “to take bold, bipartisan action.”
Maryland currently collects a state excise tax of 27.10 cents per gallon, according to the American Petroleum Institute. With federal and state taxes and fees included, Maryland residents pay 54.50 cents extra per gallon of gas in the state.
What do you think about soaring gas prices, gas taxes, who or what is responsible overall, and Gov. Hogan’s decisive action to help Marylanders at the pump?
Here’s what you said:
This is what you get when your leaders have never had a real job. They have no clue about cost or mark up or inventory controls. Plus they all have expenses paid by the government.
Carl Lazar, Arnold
Oil is a global commodity. The countries with the most control, not total control, are OPEC, Russia, Iran, and the US. The cut-off of Russian oil from the global market will have a major impact. I suspect US refineries are operating at full capacity. So, producing more oil will not necessarily produce more gasoline or diesel fuel. Tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will have a short-term, modest impact on fuel prices. Cutting fuel taxes will reduce the funds available to repair our roads in the future. Driving more fuel efficient cars can lessen the financial impact of higher fuel prices. We survived the 2008 gas spike of $5.20/gallon (today's $) and we will survive this time.
Paul Bollinger Jr, Annapolis
Increase the oil production, open up the pipelines. It will be many years before the US will be in a position to be totally green energy. This is just another control of the US people by the democrats. The Politian's pushing for green energy use more oil energy products than the majority of American families.
Cynthia Hanna, Odenton
Gas prices are mainly high because of a precipitous drop in demand 2 years ago caused bu Covid. When crude oil futures went negative in 2020 -- meaning producers would pay you to take oil off their hands -- producers acted rationally and reduced production. When demand picked up recently, it drove prices up. Production hasn't kept up with demand. Maybe producers aren't yet willing to incur the cost of reopening wells. Maybe they just like the higher income they're getting. But new leases in federal lands won't do anything. There are plenty of leases that've been issued but have yet to be drilled. Plus it takes years for wells to be drilled and the resultant oil brought to market. Same for the pipeline cancellation. Had it not been cancelled, it would have taken until 2023 at the earliest to be completed. And then we would have had to wait for wells to be drilled before anything would flow through the pipeline.
We imposed sanctions on Iran which took a major producer out of the market. We've asked the Saudis to increase production and they'e said "no". We've imposed sanctions on Russia, another major oil producer. And the war in Ukraine has added tremendous uncertainty. The bottom line is that world events and market forces, not Joe Biden, have driven up gas prices and there's little, if anything, we can do in the short run other than driving less to bring them down.
The direct impact on me is minimal. Although I gnash my teeth when I fill up, we don't drive all that much so the net impact is small. But we will do our bit to lower demand by driving even less than we do. And I’ll kick myself even harder for not getting a hybrid last time I bought a car.
Marc Knapp, Annapolis
Gas was going up with Covid & the supply chain problems but then Putin' war & sanctions (a necessary thing) drove it very high & continuing to go up. I support Ukraine so I will deal with the price hike.The sanctions are a must & I hope we do more & continue sending weapons. When I think about what we are paying I think about what Ukraine is paying & it doesn't compare.I want to help. What Putin is doing will continue if it isn't stopped. We must help Ukraine & stop Putin. Putin's people don't even know what is really going on. This is one mans war.That is terrifying. We must continue to help.
As far as Hogan lowering gas prices I think it needs to be done & should have been done. Sadly 1 month will do little when 3 was being asked for & more is needed. He has fed$ he's been talking about using to help people but no one has seen it ,why? People have needed it since Covid when he got it. I'm sure I don't know everything but I know what it feels like, sadly.It feels like he's turning from everyone's Governor to Republicans Presidential run & Md has a lot of Dems. I agreed with some of what he has done. I even thought I might vote for him but I need him to stay Governor for everyone & President too if he runs. I would vote for the best candidate regardless of party but I fear Trump leans toward wanting to be like Putin.Just listen to him talk about Putin. That is even more terrifying now. We need people in office that respect everyone & everyone's right to an opinion, talk to everyone, compromise & do what the majority of people want with civility & calm. We need them to lead & stop the violence, hate & bullying. We need Putins atrocity to fail & to keep democracy alive. Ukraine is showing us what can happen. We need to help them & learn & bring our democracy back & improve it. I love that some democrats & republicans have come together with Ukraine we must continue that & find people to work together in our country & Government even when they disagree. As we are seeing freedom isn't free.
Lauren Long, Annapolis
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