By Mona King Austin
On Wednesday Pres. Joe Biden greenlit the gas tax holiday that will temporarily eliminate the federal 18 cent tax on gas. It is a solution that did not get a collective vote of confidence from Democrats, yet Biden is calling on Congress to approve it.
The federal gas tax is 18 cents per gallon. With the national average of gas beingniver $5 a tank the thinking is that every cent counts.
Designed to give Americans relief at the pump the, suspension would last through the summer, until the end of September, the busiest months of travel.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm forecasted in the press briefing that there could be future hikes in the cost of gas and said the admnistration is working in preventing the the impact on household gas, saying, " we are working to save money for people -- have people save money by cutting other essential costs: for example, help with heating bills, weatherization; other ways that citizens are trying to grapple with these high fuel prices: energy efficiency, rental assistance, for example.'
Granholm added the tax hold is one of several actions the Biden Administration has taken. "The fact is that no President alone can control the price of gasoline, and we need more players at the table. So the President is asking Congress to act. He's asking states to act. He's asking the oil and gas industry to do their part as well."
This attempt to stop the pain at the pump may be economically hurtful to the Highway Trust Fund. That is where the taxes usually go to support highways and public transportation. Some Democrats like Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina encorAged the money saving solution but there is not consensus in the presidents own party presenting a possible empasse in the Congress.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat said, “What I’m not sure of is, in fact, that will have the intended effect … and whether it will save consumers money.”
Republicans on the House Ways and Means committee concur calling it the GTH a gimmick that is tiny and temporary. They released a damning one sheet that points out Americans will save a scant amount. "A tiny and temporary 18 cents per
gallon tax holiday will do little to address skyrocketing gas prices that
are costing the average American household an extra $2,800 per year. Just this year, Americans will spend $5,000 on gas, a 78 percent increase from a year ago."
Press Sec. Jean Pierre reiterated in the Tuesday briefing that the GTH is a simple solution that was meant to lower gas prices during the height ifbtravel season wherebit could count the most.
Although it would be long term, resorting to clean energy, a big Biden agenda item would solve the issue Granholm concluded.
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