President Donald Trump is proposing a federal gas tax holiday to help offset the increasing cost of fuel for Americans as a result of the ongoing conflict in Iran.
However, despite the President's backing for a temporary suspension, he cannot unilaterally sign one into law by executive order, as it requires the approval of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for ratification.
RELATED: Gas prices still increasing in Alabama as U.S.-Iran war continues
This week, with primaries quickly approaching and a possible suspension gaining widespread public support, Alabama's top three Republican U.S. Senate candidates offered their views on a tax holiday.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall backed Trump's proposal in a statement to 1819 News, calling on Congress to “quit sitting on their hands.”
"I fully support President Trump’s efforts to suspend the federal gasoline tax, as well as any effort at the state or federal level to reduce taxes on energy,” Marshall stated. “Alabama families need economic relief, and as their next US Senator, that’s what I’ll deliver. The President needs Congress to quit sitting on their hands and act right now to get this done.”
Former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson argued that the tax suspension would provide “immediate relief” for families across the country, sorely needed to counter rising inflation.
“At a time when inflation continues to hammer families, Washington should be looking for ways to let people keep more of their hard-earned money, not finding new ways to take it,” Hudson told 1819 News. "Suspending the gas tax would provide immediate relief without creating another bloated government program or another layer of federal bureaucracy. Families would simply pay less every time they filled up their tank.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) did not provide a comment on the federal gas tax holiday proposal to 1819 News, but did speak briefly about it on Wednesday's broadcast of Huntsville WVNN ‘s “The Yaffee Program.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Moore said. “Actually, I was never a proponent of the gas tax when I was in the state legislature, and we held it up till 2018, until many of us left the conservatives that first Republican majority, but yeah, right now, with people struggling.”
The federal government currently charges 18.4 cents per gallon in gasoline taxes and 24.8 cents per gallon on diesel. Suspension of the tax would reportedly save an average driver roughly $2 to $5 each tank of gas.
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