Federal Gas Tax Relief: A Misguided Impulse
The proposal to suspend the federal gasoline tax is being reconsidered as fuel prices rise, but it may not provide the relief that many expect. The gas tax, unchanged since 1993, has lost significant purchasing power, contributing to the impending insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Experts warn that suspending the tax would only serve as a temporary distraction from the larger issues facing the nation's infrastructure.
- ▪The federal gas tax has remained at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993, losing value due to inflation.
- ▪The Highway Trust Fund, funded by the gas tax, is approaching insolvency, affecting infrastructure maintenance.
- ▪Suspending the gas tax would provide minimal relief and distract from the underlying issues of infrastructure funding.
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up next: now reading: Federal Gas Tax Relief: A Misguided Impulse Federal Gas Tax Relief: A Misguided ImpulseCOMMENTARY By Joel DarmstadterMay 29, 2026 AP AP X Story Stream recent articles Video: Global Warming Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit ... Article: Global Warming Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit ... Article: Global Warming Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit ... Entry: Global Warming Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit ... Video: Global Warming Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit ... Washington periodically rediscovers the idea of suspending the federal gasoline tax whenever fuel prices rise and voters grow restless, and the White House and a bipartisan handful of lawmakers are once again contemplating a suspension of the tax. The proposal is politically tempting because it can be marketed as immediate relief for motorists.
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