DeSantis Pushes $1 Billion Cut in Gas, Fuel Taxes

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated Nov. 22 that he would seek a $1 billion reduction in gas and fuel taxes during the next January legislative session.

QUICK FACTS:
  • “Nothing has pinched people more than these gas prices,” said DeSantis, according to The Epoch Times.
  • Along with the tax decrease, the governor urged gas stations to drop prices by 25 cents per gallon.
  • He expressed worry that growing incomes and wages won’t meet rising expenses of commodities and signaled he would be pushing back on the Biden administration’s “inflationary pressures.”
  • “Even if you start making more money, if the prices [for goods and fuel] are going up faster than your wages or salary, you’re actually losing money in this inflationary economy,” Gov. DeSantis said, adding that he wants to make a “meaningful difference” in the lives of the people of Florida.
  • The gas tax reduction, according to DeSantis, would have no impact on Florida’s capacity to fund infrastructure projects or other programs since the state has “more reserves than ever before.”
THE EPOCH TIMES REPORTS:

According to AAA, the national average price for regular-grade gasoline on Nov. 22 was $3.41 per gallon and $3.64 a gallon for diesel. The highest ever national gas price average was $4.11 on July 17, 2008.

California and Hawaii have the highest averages on record with $4.70 and $4.34 respectively.

Gas prices were up $1.29 on average nationally on Nov. 22 compared to the same time last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

DeSantis said he spoke with executives at several large Florida-based gas stations, and all had agreed to lower the price of gas along with the tax cut.

The governor warned prices may continue to rise before lawmakers can pass the legislation and that can take “many months” to implement.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) wrote a letter to President Joe Biden last week expressing her concerns about the rising cost of gas.

Slotkin is up for reelection in 2022 and asked for answers after fielding concerns from her constituents.

“These things are having a real impact on working families in my district,” Slotkin wrote.

The letter asked the president to be more “aggressive” and “increase diplomatic pressure” on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that are limiting their oil production. Slotking also asked Biden to consider releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

“While OPEC is trying to make up for lost profits during COVID-19, their collusion is coming at our expense,” she wrote.

“In particular, I’d urge you to work closely with the United Arab Emirates and other U.S. Allies who might be willing to help counterbalance Saudi efforts to artificially and unnecessarily curb production.”

Emails and telephone calls were not returned from Rep. Slotkin’s office by press time.

The regular legislative session is set to begin in January and is scheduled to end on March 11, 2023.  If passed, the tax rate reduction will not take effect until the next fiscal year that starts on July 1.

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