Biden’s New Climate Plan Will Require New Factories. Lots of Them.
AtlanticSep 09, 2021
The Facts
The White House is reportedly weighing a Democratic bill to waive the federal gas tax as a way to provide consumers relief from inflation.
With gas prices up 40% from last year, a group of senators proposed to suspend the tax (18.4 cents per gallon) through the end of the year.
The Spin
Narrative A
Saving Americans money on gas will make things easier in these tough financial times. The recent passing of the infrastructure bill means there will be enough money to still take care of roads and bridges.
Narrative B
There are too many other factors -- like the Ukraine-Russia tensions, snarled supply chains and anticipated increased travel in spring and summer -- for this plan to make much of a difference at the pump.
Cynical narrative
Politicians from both parties have no problem piling on the federal debt. In this case the Democrats, who are staring down negative polls ahead of the midterms, are doing it in order to distract voters with promises of money.
