Press Release: 19% Approval of Gas Tax

Only 19% Approve of Gas Tax Increase for Roads

Poll shows nearly that two-thirds are opposed to gas tax increase under any circumstance.

Spartanburg, SC – In a poll of more than 600 residents across three upstate counties conducted just prior to Memorial Day Weekend, the number one concern among residents was our roads (29.1%) followed by government spending (20.5%).

“It is not a coincidence that these are the top two categories,” stated State Senator Shane Martin. “What I hope my colleagues in Columbia will pay attention to is that half the people fell into one of those two categories when there are so many other things people could be concerned with.”

The poll breaks down as follows:

The poll also showed that only 19.3% of people approve of a gas tax as a solution to repair our roads. More approved of a gas tax plan if there is a guarantee of income tax reduction and/or DOT reform, but nearly two-thirds of voters are opposed to any form of a gas tax increase with most citing a distrust for how current money is being spent.

State Senator Tom Davis stated, “I share Senator Martin’s convictions on this issue. He and I have been telling other lawmakers in Columbia for weeks that a gas-tax hike is a very bad idea, but for the most part our words have fallen on deaf ears.  So Sen. Martin, at his own expense, commissioned an independent survey to find out what the people think, and it turns out the overwhelming majority think a gas-tax hike is a bad idea, too. That doesn’t surprise me one bit, as it mirrors what my constituents in the Lowcountry have been saying.  I appreciate Sen. Martin making this effort to find out what the people think — after all, it’s their money, not the legislature’s, something we lose sight of far too often in Columbia. Hopefully now our arguments will carry more weight.”

South Carolina is one of the top states that veterans call home, and an astounding 29% of those who participated in the poll have served our country (thank you to them all). A full 42% of our veterans in South Carolina are retired and these are the types of people a gas tax increase will hurt the most.

“Even if we could guarantee an income tax reduction, most still don’t want the gas tax increase,” stated Martin. “Just take a look at who this will impact the most. All the military we have in our state who are not residents will not get an income tax reduction. All the retirees who move into South Carolina will not get an income tax reduction. Those who remain unemployed whether they are counted or not. The poor. Who really wants to add a tax burden to any of these folks? I know I certainly don’t. The people get it, and it is my hope that my colleagues in Columbia will pay attention to this and not the special interest groups pushing for the tax increase.”

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