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by WILL FOLKS
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The leader of South Carolina’s fiscally conservative Freedom Caucus is joining the chorus for gas tax relief – proposing arguably the biggest and boldest pro-free market proposal of them all.
State representative Jordan Pace called on state lawmakers to return to Columbia, S.C. in an emergency session this month and approve targeted gas tax rebates totaling more than $500 million. Pace’s proposal would send a rebate check of $300 to every household claiming dependents and $200 to every other household that filed a state income tax return. The rebates would be “fully funded without raising taxes or disrupting bonded obligations,” Pace insisted.
The proposal comes just hours after S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson – the GOP nominee for governor of the Palmetto State – proposed allowing future governors to suspend the state’s gas tax for up to 120 days during periods of peak price increases like the one South Carolina is currently experiencing.
It also came as U.S. congressman Russell Fry proposed a suspension of the federal gas tax in the hopes of giving Americans “some breathing room” during these trying economic times.
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Pace’s proposal would bypass the tax structure completely and give rebates directly to consumers.
“Families in South Carolina are still paying the gas tax every time they fill up,” Pace said. “They deserve relief now. A direct rebate puts money back in the pockets of the people who paid the tax instead of spreading it across political projects. I agree with attorney general Alan Wilson that South Carolina’s families need relief, and this plan delivers it in a responsible way.”
Pace previously attempted to push a gas tax suspension through the S.C. General Assembly, but was blocked by powerful S.C. House speaker Murrell Smith and ways and means chairman Bruce Bannister.
According to Pace, his rebates could be funded by removing earmarks from a recently approved pork barrel spending bill that “do not directly support first responders, water, sewer, education or other vital infrastructure.” Pace’s proposal would also reclaim unencumbered “carry forward funds” – or portions of state agency budgets from previous fiscal years that have not been spent and which are not tied to current contracts.
Pace pointed out fiscally liberal state lawmakers have shown no trepidation whatsoever when it comes to convening in emergency session and moving rapidly when their political pork is on the line. Now he wants them to show a similar sense of urgency when it comes to protecting citizens and taxpayers.
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RELATED | ALAN WILSON ROLLS OUT GAS TAX RELIEF PROPOSAL
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“Just weeks ago we took a non-appropriations bill, stripped it, inserted more than $350 million in earmarks, and passed it in rapid fashion – restricting amendments before any had even been heard on the House floor,” he said. “If we can do that for political projects, we can certainly do it for South Carolina families.”
“The choice is clear,” Pace concluded. “We can continue funding pet projects, or we can prioritize the working families of South Carolina who are paying the bills. I am calling on the speaker and the president of the Senate to bring us back to Columbia immediately so we can put families first.”
As we reported earlier today (September 14, 2026), gas prices have soared in the Palmetto State by 50.36% since December, while diesel prices have skyrocketed by 76.94% over the same time period. Those increases are severely hamstringing household budgets – while at the same time raising prices on goods and services via elevated shipping costs.
This week, we called on status quo S.C. governor Henry McMaster to take “immediate action” and convene an emergency session of the legislature to address this crisis. Assuming McMaster is compelled to do so, Smith, Bannister and other legislative leaders should approve Pace’s rebate plan without delay – and adopt Wilson’s proposal to give Palmetto State governors the tools they need to address similar crises in the future.
“Republicans” in South Carolina have put taxpayers last for too long… it is time to being the long-overdue process of letting them keep more of what they earn (especially during periods of pernicious economic headwinds).
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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1 comment
A state legislature that boasts year after year of excess and leftover budget money, yep they can afford it.