Manchin, Lawmakers To Tackle Fuel Costs

Relief at the pumps could come to West Virginia motorists in 2009, in the form of a freeze on a scheduled increase to the state's gas tax.

As The Associated Press reports, Gov. Joe Manchin plans to ask lawmakers in special session to suspend a rate hike to the per-gallon tax slated to kick in Jan. 1, and estimated a 6 cents.

"The state would offset the resulting loss of revenue to the State Road Fund with $40 million in general revenue and excess lottery surplus," AP reports.

The Charleston Gazette, MetroNews (with audio) and The Register-Herald of Beckley also have details from Manchin's gas tax proposal and other elements of the special session.

The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington, meanwhile, reports on current gas prices and finds that "the state's average of $4.08 ranks 14th nationally in comparison to other states and the District of Columbia."

And The Intelligencer of Wheeling asks local motorists about the gas price crunch and the dueling proposals on the topics from Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain in the race for president.