Drivers Enjoy Cheaper Gas

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — Wednesday morning, drivers passing through Columbia enjoyed tax-free gas at El Cheapo Gas Station. Drivers poured into El Cheapo gas station around 7:30 Wednesday morning eager to save roughly 40-cents at the pump. “I am happy!” said Antoinette Roberts-Grant. “Finally somebody does something for us.” “My first reaction was like, ‘Where is it? What’s the address? GPS!'” said Jazmine Gordon as she explained her reaction when she first heard about the deal. Gordon commutes daily to Columbia from Orangeburg. She said typically paying for gas puts a dent in her budget, but Wednesday she saved a bundle. “Today it only took $25, which is a big difference form what I usually pay because I’m paying pretty much around a hundred dollars a week,” said Gordon. Gas at El Cheapo was below $2 early Wednesday because Americans for Prosperity paid the gas tax for motorists, as a way to protest the proposed gas tax hike at the State House that would help fix roads in South Carolina. “We’re doing this to raise awareness of how much we actually pay in taxes when we go to fill up and how much more we’re going to pay if politicians in the State House get their way and pass a gas tax hike,” explained Dave Schwartz, State Director of Americans for Prosperity South Carolina. For many drivers, that’s a message to rally behind. “We have to take our kids to school, we have to go places, me personally I go to college and for you to tax us on gas, it really strangles the middle class families,” said one driver filling up his tank. While drivers who spoke with ABC Columbia enjoyed Wednesday’s discount, some said they understand the need for better roads. “When I get on 126 transferring to I-26 there are a lot of potholes on that bridge so I’m just trying to dodge each pothole because I know I have to travel this road every day,” said Gordon. As the debate over a gas tax increase continues in the State House, a full tank of gas a little extra cash felt pretty good for drivers. The event was the third in the state held by Americans for Prosperity. They held similar events in Greenville and Summerville.