Trump backs federal gas tax suspension

Source: Axios · Bias: Center Left

Summary

President Trump endorsed suspension of the federal gasoline tax in an interview with CBS News Monday.Why it matters: It marks a reversal for the White House as Republicans face political blowback over high gasoline prices.Last week the White House told Axios that a suspension was not "currently under consideration."Driving the news: "[W]e'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," he told CBS.Reality check: Suspending the 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax would require Congress.Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) posted on X that he'll introduce legislation Monday to suspend the tax.The White House did not say whether Trump would seek action from Capitol Hill. Catch up quick: Gasoline prices have soared since the start of the war with Iran. The U.S. average for regular gasoline is currently $4.52 per gallon, per AAA, up from just under $3 per gallon before the conflict.What we're watching: The potential for action in Congress, which thus far has not taken up the topic. Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) have sponsored a bill to suspend the tax until Oct. 1, and Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas (N.H.) has a companion measure. Go deeper: What a gas tax holiday would actually do

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Trump backs federal gas tax suspension
Axios

Trump backs federal gas tax suspension

Center Left

President Trump endorsed suspension of the federal gasoline tax in an interview with CBS News Monday.Why it matters: It marks a reversal for the White House as Republicans face political blowback over high gasoline prices.Last week the White House told Axios that a suspension was not "currently under consideration."Driving the news: "[W]e'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," he told CBS.Reality check: Suspending the 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax would require Congress.Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) posted on X that he'll introduce legislation Monday to suspend the tax.The White House did not say whether Trump would seek action from Capitol Hill. Catch up quick: Gasoline prices have soared since the start of the war with Iran. The U.S. average for regular gasoline is currently $4.52 per gallon, per AAA, up from just under $3 per gallon before the conflict.What we're watching: The potential for action in Congress, which thus far has not taken up the topic. Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) have sponsored a bill to suspend the tax until Oct. 1, and Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas (N.H.) has a companion measure. Go deeper: What a gas tax holiday would actually do