Arizona Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego is urging President Biden to take action to lower gas prices in Western states, similar to the relief provided to Northeastern states last month.
Arizona Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego, the likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is urging President Biden to take action to lower gas prices in Western states.
In a letter to Biden on Wednesday, Gallego requested that the administration take similar actions to those taken in Northeastern states last month.
"Arizona families and business owners should not have to pay almost a dollar more than people in other states to get to work and move through their communities," Gallego wrote.
Biden has been facing heat from Democrats in swing states over high gas prices. Democrats are concerned that the issue could hurt their chances in the midterm elections.
In response to Gallego's letter, the White House said it is considering a number of options to address gas prices, including releasing more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
"The President is committed to using every tool at his disposal to lower gas prices for the American people," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
Gallego's letter comes as Biden's approval ratings continue to decline. A recent poll found that only 39% of Americans approve of the job Biden is doing as president.
High gas prices are a major concern for voters, and Democrats are worried that the issue could hurt their chances in the midterm elections.
In addition to releasing more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Biden administration is also considering other options to lower gas prices, such as increasing domestic oil production and cutting taxes on gasoline.
It is unclear how effective these measures will be in lowering gas prices. However, the Biden administration is under pressure to take action to address the issue.
Gas prices have been rising for months, due to a number of factors, including the war in Ukraine, increased demand, and supply chain disruptions.
The national average price for a gallon of gas is now $4.80, according to AAA. This is the highest price for gas since 2008.
High gas prices are a major burden for many Americans, especially those who have to commute to work or who rely on their cars for other essential activities.
The Biden administration is under pressure to take action to lower gas prices. However, it is unclear how effective any of the proposed measures will be.
