Tim Barr

Even though @GovBraun has extended the energy emergency declaration and suspended both the use tax and the excise tax on gasoline, most Hoosiers won’t see the full savings at the pump right away. The combined relief is expected to total about 59 cents per gallon, but it will take time for that to appear consistently across the state. Here’s why: When a gas station buys fuel, the taxes are already built into the price paid to the wholesaler. That fuel sits in the station’s underground tanks until it’s sold. The tax suspension only applies to new purchases, so stations must first sell through their existing higher-taxed inventory before passing on the savings. This creates a natural lag that differs by location: High-traffic stations (especially along interstates and in busy urban areas) often cycle through their tanks more quickly. Lower-volume stations in rural areas or small towns may take a little longer. As a result, you’ll likely see prices varying from station to station over the next several days to couple of weeks. One location may already reflect most of the savings while another nearby has not. Bottom line: The relief is coming — it’s simply a function of how quickly each station turns over its current inventory. This is how the fuel supply chain works; it doesn’t flip overnight. In the meantime, our office will continue monitoring prices, looking into all the complaints filed, investigating any potential bad actors who fail to pass along the savings, and provide updates. wthr.com/article/news/p…

"I didn’t realize this language was in this bill until this morning," Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said on the Senate floor Feb. 27. indystar.com/story/news/pol…