Washington state Senate Republicans are pressing Governor Bob Ferguson to take action on gas prices, formally asking him to call a special session aimed at bringing costs down at the pump. The request puts a political spotlight on how much drivers are paying and on the state policies that factor into those prices.
At the center of the request is the Climate Commitment Act. The lawmakers want the governor to put a pause on the gas taxes tied to that law, which took effect in 2023, arguing that suspending them would offer relief to drivers feeling the strain of high fuel costs.
The timing reflects the broader picture at the pump. According to AAA, the average price of gas in the state sits at roughly 5 dollars a gallon. Even after recent declines, prices remain the highest they have been in four years, keeping fuel costs a pointed political issue.
Prices vary across the region. Checking the major counties in the area, drivers were paying about 5.39 dollars a gallon in King County, 5.07 dollars in Snohomish County and 5.03 dollars in Pierce County, with the statewide figure hovering right around the 5 dollar mark.
There has been some relief in recent weeks. AAA reported that drivers were getting a break at the pump heading into the Fourth of July weekend, part of a downward trend since the end of May. Even so, current prices still sit well above where they stood a year ago.
For now, the next move rests with the governor. Fox 13 reached out to Governor Ferguson's office to see whether he had any response to the Republicans' call for a special session, and the outcome of that request could shape how the debate over gas prices and climate policy plays out in the months ahead.