Pennsylvania Governor's $250 Gas Rebate Promise Unfulfilled

Shapiro administration cites lack of federal funding as reason for not delivering on 2022 campaign pledge

Apr. 4, 2026 at 9:05am

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A heavily textured, abstract painting featuring a gas pump nozzle repeated in overlapping, fractured geometric shapes in bright shades of red, orange, and yellow, conceptually representing the rapid changes and volatility in gas prices.A fractured, colorful painting captures the volatility of Pennsylvania's gas prices, which have fluctuated dramatically in recent years.Erie Today

During his 2022 campaign for Pennsylvania governor, Josh Shapiro promised voters a $250-per-vehicle gasoline tax rebate to provide relief from $4 a gallon prices. However, the rebate never materialized after Shapiro took office in 2023, with his administration citing the unavailability of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding that was originally intended to pay for the proposal.

Why it matters

The unfulfilled gas rebate promise has become a political liability for Shapiro, with the state's Republican Party accusing him of breaking a key campaign pledge. As gas prices have returned to 2022 levels, there are renewed calls from lawmakers to provide relief to Pennsylvania drivers through temporary gas tax suspensions or other measures.

The details

Shapiro's 2022 gas tax rebate proposal was to be funded using federal American Rescue Plan Act money, but that funding was no longer available when he took office in 2023. The governor has instead focused on other tax cuts, including expanding the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, creating a Working Families Tax credit, and tripling the state-level Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

  • Shapiro proposed the $250 gas rebate during his 2022 campaign for Pennsylvania governor.
  • Shapiro took office as governor in January 2023.
  • As of April 2026, gas prices in Pennsylvania have returned to around $4 per gallon, the level they were at during Shapiro's 2022 campaign.

The players

Josh Shapiro

The current governor of Pennsylvania, who promised a $250 gas rebate during his 2022 campaign but did not deliver on that pledge after taking office.

Republican Party of Pennsylvania

The state's Republican party, which has criticized Shapiro for not fulfilling his campaign promise of a $250 gas rebate.

Lisa Boscola

A Democratic state senator who has proposed a 60-day suspension of Pennsylvania's gas and diesel taxes to provide relief to drivers.

Abby Major

A Republican state representative who has called for a six-month state gas tax moratorium starting in June 2026.

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What’s next

The Pennsylvania legislature is considering proposals to provide temporary relief from high gas prices, including a 60-day suspension of the state's gas and diesel taxes or a six-month gas tax moratorium starting in June 2026.

The takeaway

Shapiro's unfulfilled $250 gas rebate promise has become a political liability, highlighting the challenges of delivering on campaign pledges and the ongoing debate over how to provide relief to drivers facing high fuel costs in Pennsylvania.