Trump faces uphill climb on suspending gas tax
Summary
President Donald Trump supports suspending the federal gas tax, which has brought more attention to the idea but faces challenges in Congress. Some Republicans and Democrats back the proposal, but concerns about lost funding for highways and mixed political views make its passage uncertain.Key Facts
- The federal gas tax is 18.3 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.3 cents for diesel.
- Several Republicans, including Senator Josh Hawley, quickly introduced bills to suspend the gas tax after President Trump’s endorsement.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed reservations because losing this revenue could hurt the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for roads and bridges.
- Some Democrats, like Senator Mark Kelly and Governor Andy Beshear, also support temporarily suspending the tax.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged the idea but said the tax cut is too small to fully address gas price increases.
- Suspending the tax is expensive; a six-month break could cost about $14 billion and reduce funds for transportation projects.
- The White House team’s commitment to pushing this plan is unclear.
- Political dynamics are changing ahead of the 2024 election, with some hopefuls using this issue for support.
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