Texas agriculture commissioner asks Abbott to suspend gas tax

(KVIA) -- Texas Agriculture Sid Miller asked Governor Greg Abbott to temporarily suspend the state's 20¢ per gallon tax on gas and undyed diesel. Wednesday, Miller said he asked the governor to provide relief from soaring fuel costs.

Miller urged Gov. Abbott to work with state lawmakers to take action to suspend the tax.

According to the American Automobile Association, the average national price for a gallon of gas jumped 13¢ in one week. As of Wednesday, the national average stands at $4.36.

The average Texas driver is paying $3.87, AAA said. El Paso County is seeing an average price closer to the national average: $4.42

AAA noted that El Paso is paying the highest average compared to the rest of Texas.

For diesel, the average price in Texas stands at $5.91, according to AAA.

"When diesel prices spike, those costs ripple through the entire economy, and Texans eventually pay the bill," Miller said in a news release.

Miller said diesel fuels moving food from farms to grocery stores.

“High diesel prices are a tax on everything,” Miller said in a statement. “They raise the cost of growing food, hauling freight, running a business, and putting groceries on the table. Every penny matters, and Texas shouldn't be piling another 20 cents on top of the pain.”

ABC-7 reached out to the governor's office for comment. Gov. Abbott's Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris sent the following statement:

“Anyone suggesting the Texas Governor can suspend a gas tax either doesn’t know what they are talking about or is purposefully misleading Texans. There is no law or constitutional provision that allows the Governor to suspend the gas tax. Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code is clear: the Governor is authorized to suspend ‘regulations’ but does not have the power to suspend gas taxes. Anyone who suggests otherwise is wrong and does not understand Texas law.”