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In reply to the discussion: Democrat Joe Manchin signals he won't support Biden's call for a gas tax holiday [View all]EarlG
(21,939 posts)The President can't do much to affect gas prices, and the gas tax holiday proposal is probably more for show, to put the GOP in a bind. Indeed: "They also know Republicans are highly unlikely to approve the tax holiday in any event. So right now he gets a little bit of PR. When the GOP kills it, Republicans get a bit more bad press."
Problem is, by getting out ahead and saying he's not for it, Manchin gives the Republicans cover. Now they can point to Manchin and say "See, Democrats don't want this either."
So, yeah, this is mostly a bunch of poltical maneuvering, but unfortunately -- as he is wont to do -- it looks like Manchin has decided to give the other side an assist.
I'm just not sure why this gas tax holiday gambit was proposed in the first place though... surely it would be simpler and more direct for the White House to just be out there every day loudly blasting the oil companies for jacking up prices on Americans. For Republicans to counter, they'd have to defend the oil companies, and it's not like Big Oil is particularly beloved by the public... politically speaking, it seems like it would be a winner to go after them.