The fiery clash erupted this week after Miller publicly blasted Abbott over the lack of a gas tax holiday in Texas, even as other states move to temporarily ease fuel costs and President Donald Trump pushes to suspend the federal gas tax.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump said this week he hopes to suspend the federal tax on gasoline, and legislators in Georgia, Indiana and Utah have suspended or lowered the gas tax via executive order or state legislation.<\/p>\n
But the same has yet to be installed in Texas, as Abbott’s office said<\/a> Monday the Governor is not authorized by law to suspend the gas tax.<\/p>\n Miller didn’t take too kindly to Abbott’s excuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Texans have watched Governor Abbott repeatedly pick and choose when and how to wield executive authority over the years, whether through emergency declarations, disaster powers, regulatory actions, or suspending certain rules and regulations when it suited his priorities,” Miller said in a statement<\/a> released Tuesday. “The question Texans are asking is simple: if executive authority can be used aggressively in other situations, why wouldn\u2019t every available tool be used right now to help hard-working families being crushed by high fuel prices? Contrary to his statement today, the Governor should know that the state doesn\u2019t even collect property taxes, so he couldn\u2019t suspend those taxes if he wanted to.<\/p>\n “Texans are tired of the Austin crowd that suddenly becomes powerless whenever real Texans need relief. Funny how the Governor\u2019s executive authority always seems available for everything except giving taxpayers a break.”<\/p>\n Miller furthered his case during an appearance on CBS 11<\/a> in Dallas, in which he took aim at the 20-cents-per-gallon gas tax on Texas drivers. Miller said suspending the gas tax would save Texas commercial truck drivers $8,000 per year, adding the average homeowner would save $400-600 per vehicle.<\/p>\n