Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) claims Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is raising gas taxes. However, it’s Florida law that dictates the rise in gas taxes which is tied to consumer price index (CPI ). The gas tax adjustment is required under a pre-existing law enacted long before DeSantis took office.
“Florida’s gas tax is one of America’s highest — yet @GovRonDeSantis is raising not one, but two state gas taxes,” Fried tweeted. “I’m calling on him to suspend his tax increases until gas prices and our COVID-hit economy stabilize. 3 million Floridians in poverty can’t afford his higher taxes.”
Florida’s gas tax is one of America’s highest — yet @GovRonDeSantis is raising not one, but two state gas taxes.
I’m calling on him to suspend his tax increases until gas prices and our COVID-hit economy stabilize.
3 million Floridians in poverty can’t afford his higher taxes. pic.twitter.com/clo4RktH9Y
— Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) November 18, 2021
Similarly, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) has also called on DeSantis to do the same, which would save Florida drivers 26.5 cents per gallon at the pump.
“With the holiday season approaching, it’s time the governor turned his attention to the real issues facing Floridians,” Crist said. “Instead of convening a special legislative session in Tallahassee that hurts our residents and businesses, the Governor and the Legislature should suspend the state gas tax for the rest of the year so that we can finally offer relief to hard-working Floridians and mom-and-pop small businesses being squeezed at the pump.”
Governor DeSantis’ spokesperson Christina Pushaw and others called out Fried for her misleading statements. Pushaw said that Fried’s take on the gas taxes was propaganda and a false political narrative.
In addition, neither Democratic gubernatorial candidate have commented on the influence of the President Joe Biden administration’s energy policies and how they have driven up the costs of gas.
On day one of his presidency, Biden shutdown the Keystone XL Pipeline, and most recently the White House has also been considering shutting down another pipeline in Michigan which begins in Canada’s oil reserves. Also, Biden has called on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase production to make up for the energy the United States used to produce before Biden’s policies.
Now, Biden has called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the oil companies and what Boomberg describes as “blaming big oil” for increased costs.
Daniel Tenreiro, writer and Thomas L. Rhodes Journalism Fellow at the National Review Institute, said Biden’s calls for an investigation is him trying to find a scapegoat to the problems the White House has created.
“Try as he might, Biden isn’t going to get very far attempting to find a scapegoat for the damage wrought by his administration’s economic policies,” Tenreiro wrote. “This is a mess of his own making, and he’s left himself few good options for cleaning it up.”
DeSantis responded to both of his Democratic challengers by criticizing Biden and his policies.
“I really hope the Biden administration will, will do all that they can to reduce the price of gas and begging OPEC to lower the price is not a sufficient plan,” DeSantis said. “The gas prices are a huge deal and we need relief for that. And then we also just need relief generally from the inflation that we’re seeing. You can’t dismiss it and say that it was just a little blip and this is inflation. This is inflation that eats away at family’s budgets.”
– – –
Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Nikki Fried” by Nikki Fried.
