NFIB State Director Julia Hammond released the following statement today in response to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s pledge to push to suspend Virginia’s fuel tax for one year:

“Governor Younkin understands that a fuel tax increase is just about the last thing that our small business owners need right now,” said Julia Hammond, NFIB State Director in Virginia. 

According to the latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, 26 percent of small business owners nationwide said inflation is the single most important problem in operating their business, the highest reading since the third quarter of 1981.

“Most of our small business owners need to buy gas on a daily basis to run their business. When fuel prices go up, their costs go up and ultimately the Virginia consumer will have to pay more for products and services. Reducing the cost of gas would ease the burden the load on every single Virginian.”

NFIB is now calling on the legislature to follow the governor’s lead and pass sensible legislation to help small businesses recover during this critical time, as outlined in our Small Business Recovery Plan released earlier this legislative session.