NH Senator Hassan proposes federal gas tax holiday

A recent Gallup poll in January found most Americans, 73%, were not satisfied with the US government’s energy policies, a big reason, gas prices.

Now comes a proposed gas tax holiday. New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan filed legislation today to temporarily suspend the gas tax for the rest of 2022 through January 1, 2023.

The pause would save drivers 18.4 cents a gallon. Nationwide gas prices are roughly $3.45 a gallon, and about a dollar more expensive than a year ago, according to AAA.

The gas tax funds things like roads, bridges and transit. Hassan told Boston 25 News anchor Kerry Kavanaugh her bill addresses that.

“Is there any concern that the coffers would be depleted there,” Kavanaugh asked during a virtual interview on Wednesday.

“So, we know how hard families are being hit by inflation right now. They’re trying to make ends meet, trying to put food on the table. And this is one way we can help them at the gas pump,” Hassan said. “When it comes to the impact it would have on funding for roads and bridges and highways, we just passed a major bipartisan infrastructure bill that invests in our country’s infrastructure. And we also, in this bill, have authorized the Treasury to transfer other federal dollars into the Highway Trust Fund to make sure that it isn’t depleted.”

Hassan, a Granite State Democrat is up for reelection this year.

Her bill does not have bi-partisan support at this point.

Meanwhile, Republicans have made inflation and gas prices key issues this election year.

One of Hassan’s opponents, New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse, said this on Twitter “Senator Hassan wants to play games with our energy policy after her approach raised gas prices over a buck per gallon this past year.”

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