ATLANTA — Gas prices and the cost of driving are becoming a major issue in Georgia’s governor’s race, with Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms unveiling a plan aimed at lowering expenses for drivers.
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Bottoms announced her “Drive Plan” Wednesday at a Midtown Atlanta gas station.
The plan calls for eliminating Georgia’s 2.25% auto insurance premium tax and requiring insurance companies to pass those savings along to drivers. She also wants to limit auto insurance companies to one rate increase each year.
Bottoms is also proposing cutting the state gas tax to 28 cents per gallon and the diesel tax to 31.3 cents per gallon.
The gas tax currently helps fund road and interstate projects. Bottoms said she would look for corporate branding and partnership opportunities at state welcome centers and charging stations to generate additional revenue.
“We want to look at branding opportunities and partnerships with these visitor centers to make sure that we can bring in additional revenue,” Bottoms said.
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The proposal comes as gas and diesel prices have become a growing affordability concern for Georgia drivers. Gov. Brian Kemp has also temporarily suspended the state fuel tax through Oct. 29 amid rising fuel prices.
Republican nominee Rick Jackson is also campaigning on affordability.
His campaign criticized Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor, saying she “had four years to make Atlanta more affordable” and instead raised fees on Atlanta households.
Jackson has proposed his own plan for addressing high costs, including suspending the gas tax during significant price spikes.
Jackson campaigned with Gov. Brian Kemp at a rally in Forsyth Tuesday night, where Kemp backed Jackson’s approach to affordability.
The two candidates are scheduled to face off in a debate next week.
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