HARRISBURG, Pa. — President Joe Biden is asking states to consider suspending their gas tax, as he also asks Congress to back a gas tax holiday.
It comes at a time when Pennsylvania's state gas tax – among the highest in the nation – is being used to fund infrastructure projects and state police.
But state Senate Democrats argue that with a surplus projected for this year's budget, Pennsylvanians can get a three-month break on the gas tax.
"We can do this for three months at a minimum and be able to pay for it and be able to make sure that our infrastructure projects are still being funded without threatening any of those projects but at the same time helping ordinary families make ends meet," Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) said.
Senate Republicans didn't exactly endorse the proposal. They blamed Biden's economic and environmental policies for driving prices up.
Gov. Tom Wolf's office said he's called for phasing out the gas tax but pointed out that he doesn't set the agenda in the legislature.
Pennsylvania's gas tax is 57.6 cents per gallon. The federal tax is 18.4 cents.