HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania drivers could get a break at the gas pump this summer if lawmakers approve a measure proposed by state Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville.

Mr. Logan wants to suspend the state's gas tax, 31.2 cents per gallon. The tax, which funds road and bridge repairs, would return on Oct. 31.

"Drivers are being hit hard in their wallets as gas prices continue to climb almost daily," Mr. Logan said yesterday. "People can barely afford to travel to work, and then end up spending a large portion of their paycheck on gas."

Officials from the governor's office and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said Mr. Logan's proposal would have little benefit for drivers while it would delay important infrastructure projects.

"There is simply no way to guarantee if the gas tax is suspended the gas stations are going to lower their price," said Rich Kirkpatrick, spokesman for PennDOT. "The result would be no savings to consumers, a windfall to gas stations and potentially hundreds of millions less to repair roads and bridges."

Mr. Logan said it's worth it to cut back on road and bridge work. Some of the revenue loss could be recouped by dipping into the state's surplus, projected to be at least $600 million, said Mr. Logan, who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The gas tax generates about $80 million a month.

"If you're a bureaucrat, you say we're losing that $80 million a month, but if you're a good-government guy, you say we're giving breaks to consumers," Mr. Logan said. "If we weren't expecting this surplus I would think [the tax suspension] is fiscally irresponsible, but I think we can afford to do it. It means we'll have to run our road and bridge projects a little more efficiently and see if there are some we can put on hold."

Other lawmakers have their own ideas about how to spend the surplus, including for business tax cuts.

Mr. Logan said his plan will help everyone, including business owners.

"It helps the people that work at these companies and, if they have a fleet of cars or they're shipping products, it helps there. This will help the regular Joe and also helps the businesses," he said.

Average gas prices in Pennsylvania reached $2.97 a gallon yesterday, up from about $2.10 a gallon a year ago, according to the Web site GasBuddy.com, which tracks prices nationwide. Pennsylvania's three-year high was $3.26 a gallon just after Hurricane Katrina.

If prices continue to rise, people won't be able to afford summer vacations or even to drive to their jobs, Mr. Logan said.

One constituent, Liz Travisano, said she won't be able to afford gas to drive her disabled 7-year-old son to East Liberty for summer camp for children with special needs.

"Anthony is nonverbal and has developmental delays. The structure of the Sharp Visions summer camp helps him with social activities and outdoor activities, but I might not be able to get him there this year," said Mrs. Travisano, of Monroeville.

Mr. Logan's legislation would reduce gas prices by 31.2 cents, enough to put Anthony back on the road to summer camp.

"It would definitely make a difference," Mrs. Travisano said.

Families like the Travisanos inspired the legislation, Mr. Logan said.

"If people can't send a special ed kid to a camp environment, if people can't get to work and can't provide the proper care for their kids, we've got problems," he said. "The people of Pennsylvania are facing a crisis every single day at the pumps."

Other states, including New Jersey and Nevada, also are considering gas-tax suspensions.

Mr. Logan's bill also would authorize the state attorney general's office to investigate complaints of price collusion and to create a committee to study other ways to reduce gas prices.