Sales taxes on gas (both federal and state levels) impact everyone in the state, both as a gas or diesel purchaser and then again as a consumer paying for the increased delivery costs of all items (including home heating oil, natural gas, propane, food, clothing, etc.). You know... the essentials of life.  In Maine, the state gas tax is a little over $.30/gallon on gas and $.31/gallon for diesel fuel.  The federal sales tax adds an additional $.18/gallon on gas and $.24+/gallon on diesel. In Maine, that total is now $.50/gallon for gas and $.55/gallon for diesel.

Maine has large rural areas and public transportation that doesn't go where people need to go to get from home to work.  So, we drive throughout the state to work.  The national average of commute miles is 41 miles/day round-trip. I wasn't able to find the average commute in miles in Maine, but the average commute minutes is 24. On top of the federal, state, and local taxes we pay (some portion of which should be going to roads), the gas and diesel sales tax should be going to road repair.  Here's a question: What is the average number of potholes each of you avoids on your daily trips?

This petition is to gauge Maine residents and taxpayers' support for at least a temporary suspension of the state gas tax.  What will it take to get the executive and legislative branches truly looking out for the legal residents and taxpayers of Maine?