Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton has announced his support for repealing the federal gas tax.
Paxton's announcement comes after continual criticism from his General Election opponent, Democrat James Talarico, who has called for suspending the federal gas tax as a way of alleviating Americans' pain at the pump. Paxton and Talarico are set to face off in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Paxton went further than Talarico in a statement released Saturday, Sept. 26, by calling for the elimination of the tax.
Democrat James Talarico is holding a slight lead over Republican Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate in Texas." id="91984619007">
“Of course I support suspending the gas tax. In fact, I believe we should suspend it permanently," Paxton
said in the statement. "Repealing those taxes would put money straight back into drivers' pockets every time they fill up, and Washington should fund roads by cutting waste, not by taxing Texans at the pump."
On the same day, Talarico held a news conference at a gas station in North Texas and once again called on Paxton to support a temporary suspension of federal gas and diesel taxes and to oppose the ongoing war in Iran, a major driver of rising gas prices in the United States.
“Corrupt politicians are profiting off of a corrupt war and Texans are literally paying the price. Diesel is more expensive than it’s ever been. Gas stations in Texas are running out,” Talarico said in a news release. “That’s why I’m calling on Ken Paxton to oppose this disastrous war in Iran and support suspending the federal gas and diesel taxes — to provide working Texans with some relief at the gas pump.”
Within hours, Paxton announced his support for ending the taxes and took a jab at Talarico.
“Meanwhile, James Talarico is staging a press conference at a gas station after spending years trying to dismantle Texas's oil and gas industry, fighting for the radical regulations that drive energy prices sky high, and voting for every tax increase he could including a state income tax," Paxton said. "Standing next to a gas pump doesn't make Talarico the authority of affordability or a friend of Texas drivers. It makes him a hypocrite who likes a photo op.”
Last week, diesel prices hit a record high, averaging $5.98 per gallon, while gas prices sit around an average of $4.48 per gallon nationwide.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Paxton shifts on gas tax as Talarico presses in Texas US Senate race
