I'm Brian Lehrer. This is my daily politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Monday, March 21st.

Here's one thing I don't have to tell you to begin the week. If you own a car car or if you're a truck driver, the cost of

gasoline has been going up and up and up. And with the energy embargo on Russia, gasoline prices

are going up even faster than with plain old American domestic inflation. Now, Democratic and

Republican governors alike are starting to talk about

what is called a gasoline tax holiday. Governor Murphy in New Jersey, Governor Hockel,

in New York, Governor Lamont in Connecticut, which is to say liberal governors in the northeast, not to mention in 22

states overall, I've seen it reported, are among them. Here's Governor Ned Lamont last week.

Now is the time to provide immediate relief, A, to the people of Connecticut broadly in terms

of inflationary pressures, and specifically

as regards drivers getting hit at the pump. But are gasoline tax holidays a good idea? New York

Times economics columnist Peter Coy in his latest column says no. In fact, the headline on his piece

says, cut the gas tax. No, no, no. In fact, the headline on his piece says,

cut the gas tax, no, no, no. We'll talk to Peter Coyne now about why he gives the idea three thumbs down and also about some of the other economic headlines so integral to what's

going on right now that he's also written about. The Federal Reserve Board saying they

will raise interest rates six times this year

and the effectiveness or not of economic sanctions on Russia that hurt everybody else.

Peter, thanks for coming on. Welcome back to WNYC.

Well, thanks, Brian. It's been a while. I used to talk to you when I was at Bloomberg Business

Week, joined the Times last

summer, so this is fun. Glad you had me on. You're a daily fixture in our household.

Well, thank you. That it's very good to know. And glad to see you have joined the esteemed New York

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