Paul.
I think suspending gas excise taxes isn't going to lower prices, it will just increase profits for the gas stations.
Think about it; If a station owner knows he is selling plenty of gas at $3.50-gal, and then the governor eliminates the excise tax, why on earth would the station owner lower the price at the pump? He knows he can sell plenty at $3.50, and if the Governor wants to decline his share of that $3.50 then the station owner will be glad to pick it up as even more profit.
Even if the station owners did pbutt along the elimination of the excise tax it would still be a dumb idea. There is a real shortage of gas in GA, and demand has to be lowered to match reduced supply, one way or the other. If the price is lowered by the elimination of excise tax then people will not reduce consumption as much, and stations will start running out of gas, lines will form, and everyone will waste valuable time chasing around town looking for gas.
There is no possible public benefit from eliminating the excise tax. The only person who benefits is the Governor of GA who gets some headlines that create the appearance of helping the average joe, while actually helping the station owners (who will probably reward him generously in the next campaign cycle).
Andy
