Biden to call for 3-month suspension of gas and diesel taxes

By JOSH BOAK
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is preparing to call on Congress to suspend the federal gasoline and diesel taxes for three months. It’s meant to ease financial pressures at the pump and as voters are concerned about gas prices and inflation in an election year. But many lawmakers are skeptical. Administration officials say Biden wants to suspend the 18.4 cents-a-gallon tax on gas and 24.4 cents-a-gallon tax on diesel fuel. If the gas savings were fully passed along to consumers, people would save roughly 3.6% at the pump. Prices average about $5 a gallon nationwide. The Democratic president also wants states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief.