DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — With many people traveling this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a push to zero out the state gas tax. 

DeSantis made stops in both Daytona Beach and Jacksonville Monday with the state’s transportation secretary to push for $1 billion in gas tax relief for Floridians. 

He blamed the Biden administration for inflation, including rising gas prices.

“We’ve got to fight back against this inflation obviously,” DeSantis said. “I’d like them to reverse course on some of these policies that are causing it, but I’m not holding my breath on that, but I do think Florida can come and provide some relief for Florida families.”

The governor said the state Legislature will consider gas tax relief during the next legislative session, which starts in January.

To provide that much relief, Florida would basically zero out the 26.5 cents per gallon state gas tax for as long as possible.

However, the Florida Department of Revenue announced last Wednesday that the state's gas taxes for motor and diesel fuel will increase by half a cent, from 18.5 cents per gallon to 19 cents per gallon, beginning January 1. 

Democrats running for governor, most notably Rep. Charlie Crist, have suggested a suspension of the gas tax through the holidays.