The National Press Club Journalism Institute will host a briefing for national and regional journalists on the debate over a proposed gas tax suspension and what it could mean for consumers, transportation funding, inflation, and state budgets.
As policymakers consider calls to suspend federal and state gas taxes in response to rising fuel prices, reporters have found themselves answering complex questions: Would consumers actually see meaningful savings at the pump? Who ultimately benefits from a gas tax holiday? And what are the tradeoffs for infrastructure funding and long-term transportation policy?
To help unpack the issue, experts from the Bipartisan Policy Center — Andy Winkler and Andrew Lautz — will walk journalists through what’s at stake at both the federal and state levels when it comes to the gas tax holiday proposals.
The briefing will draw on BPC’s recent analysis, including its “Hidden Cost of a Gas Tax Holiday” explainer and interactive Gas Tax Holiday Calculator, which examines how different policy scenarios could affect prices at the pump and transportation revenues.
Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of:
– How federal and state gas taxes work
– The historical track record of gas tax holidays
– Potential impacts on inflation, consumer prices, and infrastructure funding
– Key data points and reporting angles for journalists covering the issue
– This briefing will provide practical information and tools to help journalists break through data and policy points to provide impactful stories for their audiences.