As average gas prices in Maryland hit $4.302 Thursday, Gov. Larry Hogan voiced his support of ending automatic increases to the gas tax, and said he is working to put an emergency pause on the gas tax which comes in at roughly 37 cents per gallon.

His statements came after the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates said Maryland's budget surplus is more than $7.5 billion this year, due to federal COVID-19 relief funds and state income tax, WBAL reported.

"At this time of global uncertainty due to Russian aggression, we are working with our legislative partners on an emergency suspension of the gas tax to help with the pain at the pump," Hogan said in a statement. "We also support ongoing efforts in the legislature to suspend automatic increases in the gas tax. And I have called on the Biden administration to increase domestic energy production to help lower costs. Now more than ever, we must come together to take bold, bipartisan action."

Comptroller Peter Franchot, a candidate for Maryland governor, called on Hogan to use the budget surplus for a three-month gas tax holiday, and to support low-income families and people who have struggled to keep up with rising costs of necessities over the past year, WBAL reported.... Read More: Pikesville Patch