If seeing gas prices is like knowing the temperature, then that feeling you get when you fill up right now is a lot like the humidity on a North Texas summer day, inescapable and stifling.
President Joe Biden is said to be considering a gas tax holiday, which would suspend the federal gas tax and lower prices at the pump by 18.4 cents per gallon of gas.
The rising costs across the country, including in North Texas, is the reason. On Monday, North Texas drivers are filling up at about $4.79 per gallon, 14 cents higher than the state average at $4.65 but about 20 cents lower than the national average which sits at just under $5 per gallon at $4.98
“I mean, it’s ridiculous. I drive trucks, so the diesel fuel is even higher,” said Gaylon Harrison, of Dallas
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“Costs well over 100 and I’ve never paid over $100 to fill my truck up, ever,” said R.J. Manuel, of Royse City. “It’s getting out of hand.”
Biden said he’ll make a decision by this weekend whether to suspend the gas tax but it will require congressional approval and that is far from certain.
The federal gas tax rate has remained unchanged since 1993.
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Daniel Armbruster with AAA Texas said while even the slightest easing of prices may sound welcome, suspending the federal gas tax would come at a cost too.
The federal gas tax is the primary funding source to pay for infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and overpasses.
“It might save drivers a little bit at the pump but in the long run it's going to really have a potential to impact infrastructure funding,” Armbruster said.
AAA added that at this point it does not forecast gas prices declining through peak summer travel months.
