Governors urge Congress to pause 18-cents-a-gallon gas tax
Mar 10, 2022 06:14AM ● By Editor
From WDIO-TV • March 9, 2022
The governors of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are among a group of Democrats urging Congress to pause the 18.4-cents-a-gallon federal gasoline tax for the rest of the year to alleviate pump prices exceeding $4 per gallon.
The group pushed for the suspension in a letter Tuesday to congressional leaders. They propose transferring money from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund to replace revenue lost by the tax suspension.
"At a time when people are directly impacted by rising prices on everyday goods, a federal gas tax holiday is a tool in the toolbox to reduce costs for Americans, and we urge you to give every consideration to this proposed legislation," the group of governors wrote.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Gov. Tim Walz, and Gov. Tony Evers are all up for re-election this fall. The governors of Colorado, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania also signed on to the letter.
Pump prices were rising before Russia invaded Ukraine and have spiraled faster since the start of the war.
Despite calling for the suspension of the federal tax, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer doesn't support temporarily freezing the state's 27.2-cents-per-gallon gas tax, which funds construction work, or the 6% sales tax on fuel. Republicans say Whitmer could sign other tax cuts on her desk.
To see the original report and read related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website. https://www.wdio.com/politics-news/request-to-pause-federal-gas-tax/6414021/?cat=10335
