US state declares emergency because of inflation, economic conditions

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency, citing inflation and adverse economic conditions that he attributes to policies of the Biden administration.

"As part of this declaration, he is temporarily suspending the state’s excise tax on motor and locomotive fuel to provide direct relief to families throughout the state," according to a statement his office released Tuesday.

The order is in effect from noon Wednesday until Oct. 12.

"From runaway federal spending to policies that hamstring domestic energy production, all Bidenomics has done is take more money out of the pockets of the middle class," Kemp said in the statement.

"While high prices continue to hit family budgets, hardworking Georgians deserve real relief and that's why I signed an executive order today to deliver it directly to them at the pump," he said.

Suspension of the excise tax will save Georgians 31.2 cents per gallon on gasoline and 35 cents on diesel fuel.

"When the gas tax was suspended from March through December of last year, 2022, Georgians saved roughly $1.7 billion at the pump," said the statement.