Army veteran struggles with high gas costs for medical trips as federal gas tax suspension proposed

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Sherry Martin, an Army veteran, is facing significant financial challenges due to high gas prices as she travels from Alabama to Fort Myers for medical treatment related to her military service.

"I travel from there to Fort Myers for medical treatment resulting from the military from being deployed," Martin said.

Each one-way trip to the VA in her SUV costs her hundreds of dollars in gas money.

"It takes about $45 to fill my deck up, and I think I filled up three times. And so I would maybe like a hundred and then like a hundred and, almost $200," Martin said.

On Monday, President Trump proposed suspending the federal gas tax indefinitely in an effort to lower gas prices. The federal gas tax currently adds about 18 cents per gallon.

"As soon as it's over, you're going to see gasoline and oil drop like a rock," Trump said.

The proposal would require approval from Congress, which has seen opposition to similar measures in the past.

Amir Neto, an economics expert at Florida Gulf Coast University, explained that the benefits of suspending the gas tax might not directly reach consumers.

"The theory suggests that the benefit the people who are going to benefit more from this tax relief reliefs are going to be the refineries and the wholesalers and not the final consumer," Neto said.

Martin, who will continue making trips to the VA, hopes gas prices will decrease soon.

"This has been the highest I've ever seen it in my life living. So it is, it is hard. And I will hope that there will be a balance, that there would be, you know, some relief going down," Martin said.

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