For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Contact: Aida Ross, aross@azdem.org
REMINDER: Arizona Republicans Voted Against Solutions to Help Lower Gas Prices
As President Biden pushes to suspend the federal gas tax, All Republicans from Arizona have a history of voting against solutions
Today, President Biden is calling on Congress to pass a three month federal gas tax holiday as part of his efforts to lower inflated gas prices caused by Putin’s price hike. Earlier this year, Arizona’s own Senator Mark Kelly introduced legislation to temporarily get rid of the 18 cent tax to help offset the rise in gas and food prices. These efforts stand in stark contrast with Arizona Republicans like Representatives Biggs, Gosar, Lesko, and Schweikert, who have repeatedly voted against measures that would help lower gas prices and help combat inflation. Last week, all four of these Arizona Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against the Lower Food & Fuel Costs Act. In May, they also voted against a bill that would help prevent oil and gas companies from price gouging.
“Time and again, Republicans prove that they are more interested in pushing their extreme, ultra-MAGA agenda than working with Democrats to help lower costs for all Arizonans,” said Arizona Democratic Party Spokesperson Aida Ross. “President Biden and Arizona Democrats are laser focused on creating solutions for our working families, and that’s the track record Arizona voters will remember at the ballot box this November.”
Specifically, the Lower Food & Fuel Costs Act passed by House Democrats last week would help lower costs by:
- Increasing competition in the meat and poultry industries to prevent artificially high pricing;
- Making E15 fuel available year-round and encouraging production of biofuels;
- Making fertilizer more accessible to farmers to help lower produce costs;
- Creating a supply chain task force.
These “no” votes are the latest in a long pattern of Republicans actively working against cutting costs for working Arizonans and addressing supply chain issues. In the past few months, House Republicans have also voted against bills to address the infant formula shortage, cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month, and more. Additionally, every congressional Republican voted against the American Rescue Plan, which has saved Arizonans money on everything from their health care premiums to rent or mortgage to child care costs, and more.
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