VIRGINIA, USA — As gas prices continue to rise, a proposed gas tax holiday in the commonwealth failed in the Virginia Senate Friday evening.
Earlier this week, the national average for a gallon of gasoline hit $5, according to AAA.
A proposal from Governor Glenn Youngkin would have temporarily suspended Virginia's gas tax for three months. He claimed Virginia has more than a billion dollars of excess money in the Commonwealth Transportation Fund.
"We could suspend it for July, August and September and then have it come back in the fall, late fall and winter, when gas prices are going to decline anyway naturally,” the governor explained earlier this week.
Youngkin claims Virginia has more than a billion dollars of excess money in the Commonwealth Transportation Fund.
In a tweet Friday night, the governor blamed the rejection on Democrats, saying they "failed to put politics aside for the good of Virginians - for a third time."
That tweet caught the attention of Democratic Senator L. Louise Lucas who represents Virginia's 18th District.
Lucas replied to Youngkin, tweeting that the lead Republican on the finance committee also voted with Democrats.
"Next time try making a proposal that can even get the votes of your own side," she added. "We are here to work with you when you learn to govern."
While everyone can agree that $5 a gallon is awful, experts believe the problem may get worse later in the summer. Some are predicting that gas prices will continue to rise, with the average possibly hitting more than $6 a gallon.
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AAA reports that the national gas price average has risen to $5 per gallon.