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Rep. Shuler offers amendment to provide gas tax holiday to help working families
Story Date: 5/5/2011
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 5/4/11
With working families and small businesses struggling with near record gas prices, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler has introduced an amendment to temporarily halt the federal government’s 18.4 cent tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. Shuler’s amendment would create a 45-day gas tax holiday that would offer immediate relief to those struggling with high fuel prices.
“As gas prices continue to climb, Congress should be working to provide immediate assistance to our small businesses and families,” Shuler said. “Higher fuel costs place a particularly difficult strain on those in rural communities like ours where alternative forms of transportation are not available.”
Revenues raised from the federal gas tax are placed into the Highway Trust Fund, which is used for interstate road construction, repair, and other transit projects. Shuler’s amendment offsets potential loses to the Trust Fund by suspending tax breaks and incentives offered to large, fully integrated oil companies for one year.
“It is absurd that American taxpayers are subsidizing large, multinational oil companies that are reaping record profits,” Shuler continued. “Families and small businesses are struggling right now. They are the ones we should be helping, not the big oil companies. This should be an easy choice.”
Shuler’s amendment is to HR 1229 is expected to be heard in the Rules Committee later today.
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