Provenzano Amendment to ‘Temporarily Lower Gas Prices’ Fails

Oklahoma City — This week, the House of Representatives did not pass a proposal its sponsor said would temporarily lower gas prices.

Crafted by state Representative Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, House Bill 1008XXX would — according to a staff press release — “suspend the state gas tax until at least 2023. Suspending the tax would immediately save Oklahomans 19 cents per gallon.”

Rep. Provenzano said, in a prepared statement sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, “This amendment provides direct and immediate relief at the gas pump in the form of a temporary moratorium on the state gas tax, lasting through December of 2023.

“Hopefully, by then, gas prices will go down with increased production and market stability.”

In the House release narrative: “Gas prices are nearly double where they were this time last year. At the time the legislation was heard, the average price of gas in Oklahoma was $4.61 per gallon.”

“The legislature should enact policies that benefit middle-class, working Oklahomans,” Provenzano said.

“With the pandemic, global inflation, and the energy crisis, Oklahomans need relief. As lawmakers, we should do everything in our power to provide that relief.”