Trump says he aims to suspend gas tax "for a period of time"

CBS News ^ | 5-11-20 | Nancy Cordes

[deport]

Washington — President Trump said in a phone interview with CBS News Monday morning that he aims to suspend the federal gas tax "for a period of time."

"I think it's a great idea," the president said. "Yup, we're going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we'll let it phase back in."

Gas prices have soared over 50% since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, hitting a high of over $4.52 on Sunday, according to AAA. Analysts say the prices are likely to remain high with Iran blocking access to the Strait of Hormuz.

But suspending the excise taxes — 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents a gallon on diesel — requires an act of Congress, and pausing it would cost the federal government about a half billion dollars a week. Several Democratic lawmakers have already introduced legislation to either pause or lower the federal gas tax.

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TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: endthewar; gasoline; midterms; trump; whatamess

[unixfox]

I say leave it for California, NY & Illinois at the very least.

[youngidiot]

Great! Let Americans know what the feckless government charges them.

[lewislynn]

18 cents a gallon is an insult. Except to the idiots that cried about egg prices.

[albie]

Agreed. Along with Maine, Mass and Minn.

[SeekAndFind]

First question — does the President have the authority to suspend ANY tax that has been passed by Congress?

I see Democrats filing another lawsuit.

[vikingd00d]

>>First question — does the President have the authority to suspend ANY tax that has been passed by Congress?

Try reading the article next time, you might have fewer questions.

“But suspending the excise taxes — 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents a gallon on diesel — requires an act of Congress”

[thegagline]

RBOB

[SkyDancer]

WA will most likely add that back into their tax on gas.

[George from New England]

Just one more thing the retailers have to deal with in their computers.

[Resolute Conservative]

How about forever?

[Resolute Conservative]

“cost the federal government about a half billion dollars a week”

Such crap. Prevent the fed from bilking US taxpayer half-billion a week...

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

How many senate votes would that require?

[ncalburt]

Where are FL and all red state stopping these Taxes ?

Desantis ???

They made enough money off this mess.

[gibsonguy]

The Witch who runs Mich shoved a FORTY FIVE cent gas tax increase through which kicked in just before the Iran war so of course everyone is blaming Trump for the pain. You can bet she sure as hell won’t pause that one.

[RandallFlagg]

WA will most likely add that back into their tax on gas.

As will every other commie ruled state.
I'm looking at YOU, Colorado!

[SkyDancer]

Yep, it’ll be a waterfall of taxes - however, I don’t think states receive that tax money - it’s all Fed dollars. But then too, it’ll cause gas prices to drop a dollar.

[dforest]

Then the greedy blue States will come in and raise their gas taxes.

[adorno]

18 cents a gallon is an insult.

It adds up.

If you fill up with 10 gallons, that's $1,80 savings, and if you get 20 gallons (SUVs, pickups), that's $3.60, and if you fill up every two weeks, you're talking about real money savings yearly.

What's needed is for the states to follow along with the fed's gas tax cuts. The average gas tax for the 50 states is about 50 cents per gallon. For 10 gallons, you'd be saving $5.00 and for 20 you'd be saving $10.00 per trip to the gas station.