Everyone who curses the state government when they pump gasoline or diesel fuel into their vehicles each week can relax a little, according to an article by business reporter Steve Cukovich in the Sunday Eagle.

The state tax on gasoline and diesel, which is among the highest in the U.S., decreased by 3.5 cents to 57.6 cents per gallon. The diesel tax fell by 4.4 cents, to 74.1 cents per gallon.

So those buying 20 gallons of gas will now pay a total of $11.52 in state gas tax, as opposed to the $12.22 they were paying.

It may seem like a small savings, and those who drive electric vehicles may be chuckling, but state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, said in the article he thinks the decrease will especially benefit motorists in more rural counties, like Butler.

Bernstine said while he would like to see the tax cut in half, he is glad to see any reduction.

While the state’s bloated gas and diesel tax has been decried by many, and for good reason, the tax has directly benefited at least one large project in Butler County.

The repair and refilling of Glade Run Lake in Middlesex Township in 2017 was funded in part through state gas tax moneys.

Of the $2 million provided by the state Fish and Boat Commission toward the $4 million project to make repairs at the 52-acre lake, $1 million came from the state gas tax.

Anglers, kayak and canoe enthusiasts, birders and nature-lovers alike were thrilled to see that recreation venue reopen after being closed in 2011 due to a failing dam structure.

The main purpose for the state gas and diesel tax has been road, highway and bridge repair, but a portion of the tax’s funds have long gone toward funding the Pennsylvania State Police.

Shapiro, who has never supported gas tax funds going to the state police, diverted $125 million in gas tax revenue that would normally go to state police to the state Department of Transportation for infrastructure projects.

The $125 million will fill the funding void at PennDOT created by the reduction in the gas and diesel tax.

Meanwhile, the state police funds once gleaned from the gas and diesel tax will now come from the state budget’s general fund, the article said.

It would be heartening if the successful bipartisan effort to lower gas and diesel taxes would spread to collaboration between Republicans and Democrats in other issues, but we all know that is unlikely.

Kudos to Shapiro for taking at least a little of the pain away at the gas pump by lowering the gas and diesel tax, which will benefit most Pennsylvanians.

— PG