Late last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki claimed that “in real terms” Americans are paying less for gas.
In actual “real terms,” that’s not the case.
As the American driving season starts, U.S. average retail gasoline price hit today a fresh high, surpassing slightly the prices seen during the Colonial Pipeline crisis in May. At $3.046 per gallon, it's the most expensive since Oct 2014 | #OOTT #MemorialDay #MemorialDay2021 pic.twitter.com/7og7le8WaM
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) May 31, 2021
In the Memorial Day weekend statement, Biden also pledged not to support raising gas taxes:
NEW: White House: "The President knows that gas prices are a pain point for Americans…That’s why President Biden is opposed any proposals to raise the gas tax. And it’s why we will continue to monitor prices, and are glad that Americans can get on the road again." pic.twitter.com/FZcUACWiPg
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 28, 2021
In a signal of the importance of $3 per gallon at Memorial Day, the White House put out a statement on Friday explaining why prices were up. It also emphasized President Biden is "opposed any proposals to raise the gas tax" (difficult to match that with climate change policies) pic.twitter.com/v3bDP9IVbH
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) May 31, 2021
Again, back in the real world, Biden can say whatever he wants, but the policies he supports do make Americans pay more for gas, one way or another:
Uhhhh who wants to tell Biden that all of his new proposed taxes on oil and gas exploration is a tax on gasoline. No two ways about it, if you deter producers from producing a product, that product becomes more scarce. Scarcity of product = increase in price of product. Simple
— Boar On The Shale Floor (@NewsFinOil) May 31, 2021
Biden’s not fooling anybody (except perhaps many of those who voted for him):
Ummm Biden just proposed a fossil fuel tax hike in his new budget. And are you journos forgetting he proposed to “get rid of fossil fuels”? pic.twitter.com/JLjwkMWYZt
— TheRightWingM 🇺🇸 (@TheRightWingM) May 29, 2021
But….Biden won't build the Keystone pipeline or allow drilling on federal land. It seems a gas tax is a tiny issue vs actual GAS SUPPLY???
Good one, Biden/Obama voters!!#WarRoomPandemic https://t.co/Tjw8BNE39G https://t.co/IafoqZfXiq— Christine E (@ChristineMarieB) May 28, 2021
Last week former President Trump slammed the Biden administration over this issue in a statement:
President Trump just savaged Biden and his skyrocketing gas prices in his latest statement pic.twitter.com/WejAUWPutO
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) May 27, 2021
