Enlarge By Kiichiro Sato, AP The price of one gallon of regular unleaded gasoline at a BP gas station in Hebron, OhioThursday. GAS PRICES GAS PRICES State-by-state gasoline averages from AAA JOIN THE DISCUSSION JOIN THE DISCUSSION The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is rising fast. How has the price affected you? Join the discussion at USA TODAY's Fuel Forum to swap stories and money-saving tips with fellow readers. WASHINGTON  The national average price for a gallon of gasoline has fallen below $2 for the first time since March 2005, the Energy Department and AAA say. The price for regular unleaded gasoline fell for the ninth week in a row, sinking to $1.989 a gallon overnight Friday, AAA says. Thirty states have gasoline prices that average under $2 a gallon, according to the AAA travel club. REFINERS PINCHED: Crude oil costs more than gasoline WE'RE DRIVING LESS: Despite falling gasoline prices GAS FORUM: How much did you pay for gas today? Falling gasoline prices are putting extra money in the pockets of consumers, but there is concern some drivers may return to their gas-guzzling vehicles. The chairman of the Senate Energy Committee said Monday the new Congress probably will not approve legislation to raise the federal tax on gasoline. Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman said he was aware of arguments that a high "variable tax" should be put on U.S. gasoline to prevent falling pump prices from encouraging Americans to drive more while making alternative fuels less attractive. Such a tax hike "would be very tough to pass," Bingaman said. "I don't think something like that has much prospect of being enacted in my honest opinion." Americans pay an 18.4-cent federal tax on each gallon of gasoline they buy, plus another 29 cents on average in combined state and local taxes. Contributing: Reuters Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more