US President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged lawmakers to suspend federal and state gasoline and diesel taxes for three months amid soaring fuel prices.
“We can bring down the price of gas and give families just a little bit of relief,” Biden said in a White House address.
The president has been under increasing pressure to act as record-high gas prices weigh down his poll ratings and risk Democrats’ chances of retaining congressional power in November’s elections.
“It doesn’t reduce all the pain but it will be a big help,” Biden said.
How likely is Biden’s proposal?
The federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents a gallon and 24.4 cents a gallon federal tax on diesel fuel. Some state taxes are even higher.
However, even lawmakers in Biden’s own party have expressed resistance to suspending the…