Georgia and Maryland became the first states to SUSPEND gas taxes to ease problems with gas stations after the White House “dropped plans to send prepaid gas cards” during a gas price surge.
- Maryland and Georgia temporarily suspend gas tax
- Maryland has cut a 36.1 cents per gallon tax on gasoline and Georgia has waived a 29 cents per gallon tax on gas as prices continue to be high.
- White House scraps plan to send prepaid fuel cards to help Americans
- Congress, Democrats Included, Concerned Gas Card Plan Unworkable
- The concern was the price, it would not help prices and put a burden on the IRS.
Maryland and Georgia have temporarily suspended their gas tax as prices remain high, and the White House has abandoned a plan to send out prepaid cards to help Americans cover costs.
Maryland on Friday became the first state in the country to suspend a gas tax. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan signed legislation to eliminate the 36.1 cents per gallon tax on gasoline and the 36.85 cents per gallon tax on diesel effective immediately within the next 30 days.
Also on Friday, Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a similar bill that would eliminate the state tax of about 29 cents a gallon of gas until the end of May.
Americans continue to grapple with high gas station prices, even as there are slight signs of easing.
Regular gasoline averaged $4.26 a gallon Sunday, according to AAA, about 7 cents lower than a week earlier but still about $1.40 higher than last year.
Worries about high prices, which contributed to President Joe Biden’s approval ratings plummeting, have prompted the White House to consider a plan to give Americans gas ration cards to offset the high prices.
Maryland and Georgia have temporarily suspended their gas tax as prices remain high.
But the Biden administration has faced strong opposition from Congress, including many Democrats, who have questioned the viability and effectiveness of the plan, Axios reports.
Congressional fears: It will be expensive and poorly targeted, the cards won’t help drive prices down and distract the IRS from mailing as they try to end tax season.
Several legislators have supported legislation to reduce the federal gas tax, but these bills have not had a significant impact on the legislative process.
Meanwhile, other states are considering similar options with Georgia and Maryland.
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also called for a temporary suspension of the 6 percent tax on fuel, a move she said would “provide drivers easier fueling now, not next year.”
In California, state lawmakers have proposed a $400 gas rebate to help drivers cope with rising gas prices.
President Biden’s approval rating has fallen in recent months as voters complain about record inflation. The numbers are worrisome for Democrats heading into the November election as they defend their control of the House and Senate.
President Biden’s White House considered a plan to send out gas cards to Americans, but it was rejected after congressional objections.
Regular gasoline averaged $4.26 a gallon on Sunday, according to the AAA, about 7 cents lower than a week earlier.
A Wall Street Journal poll earlier this month showed tough numbers for the president as voters strongly disapproved of his handling of the economy and inflation.
A majority of voters, 63%, said they disapprove of Biden’s handling of the high costs they face, with only 34% approving. It was his worst ranking among six policy questions in the poll.
And Biden’s overall approval rating was 42%, compared to 57% who disapprove of his presidency.
In addition, 47% of voters said Republicans are better at dealing with inflation, but only 30% think Democrats are.
And in a warning sign for Democrats’ prospects in November’s midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, a majority of voters – 45% – said Republicans have a better plan to improve the economy, compared to 37% who said Democrats.
The poll showed that 46% said they would vote for the Republican nominee in November, compared to 41% who would vote for the Democrat.
The Wall Street Journal survey included 1,500 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Poll after poll shows that Americans are unhappy with high food, gas and rent prices and blame the administration.
Biden and his administration have consistently blamed the coronavirus pandemic and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on high inflation.
“Let’s be absolutely clear about why prices are high right now for two reasons. One of them was COVID — the way the global economy works,” he said in a speech to the National League of Cities last Monday.
“Now the second big cause of inflation is Vladimir Putin,” he said. “Make no mistake – Vladimir Putin is largely to blame for the current surge in gas prices.”