WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump said Monday he will move to suspend the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans shoulder caused by the Iran war.
The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.
Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for a gas-tax suspension, saying it would provide that rely on their cars and trucks to get to work and school and run everyday errands.
As of Monday, the average national gas price was $4.52 a gallon, according to the AAA motor club, 50% higher than the average price of just under $3 a gallon before Trump began the war against Iran.
What the gas tax supports
The federal tax is currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, an amount that does not include state taxes, which often are higher.
Asked by reporters at the White House how long the tax should be suspended, Trump said, 鈥淯ntil it鈥檚 appropriate.鈥� While the tax only adds about 18 cents per gallon to the price of gas, 鈥渋t鈥檚 still money,鈥� Trump said.
the Trump administration has from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and temporarily lifted sanctions on some Russian and Iranian oil shipments already at sea. The U.S. is to join a coalition to police the , where about one-fifth of the world鈥檚 traded oil normally flows.
The gas tax provides more than $23 billion per year in revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.
Trump needs Congress 鈥� and they’re beginning to react
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said on social media Monday that he will introduce legislation to suspend the gas tax. Democrats have previously sponsored similar legislation.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., also said in that she will introduce a bill 鈥渢o suspend the federal gas tax in light of Trump鈥檚 recent remarks.鈥�
The ongoing spike in gas prices has set off alarms among some Republicans that it could hurt the party’s chances in the midterm elections. Trump has previously said higher fuel prices are worth paying to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
That hardline message appeared to soften Sunday as Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration was 鈥渙pen to all ideas,鈥� including a suspension of the gas tax, during an interview on
A bill sponsored by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Mark Kelly of Arizona would suspend the federal tax through Oct. 1. A similar measure was sponsored in the House by Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire.
“Trump鈥檚 war of choice with Iran is driving up gas prices across the country 鈥� and Americans shouldn鈥檛 have to bear the additional economic burden of Trump鈥檚 reckless decision making,鈥�
Several states, including Indiana and Georgia, have recently suspended their taxes to alleviate high prices amid the war. Other states are weighing similar suspensions. Blumenthal said in introducing the bill.
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