The truth about the gas tax holiday

Sen. Barack Obama tells voters the facts about the proposed gas tax "holiday." Obama says it's time to investigate oil companies for price gouging and for Congress to adopt higher fuel efficiency standards and America invest in alternative energy sources.

The gas tax holiday supported by presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain will be dead on arrival in the House of Representatives, Democrats said Thursday. Party leaders sided firmly with Sen. Obama, the only White House contender who opposes suspending the gas tax.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “there’s no reason to believe that any moratorium on the gas tax would be passed on to the consumer.” She left the measure off the list of energy proposals that may be attached to the supplemental Iraq war-spending bill. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer also said suspending the gas tax would “not be a policy that I would think is particularly positive."

And talk about a sense of entitlement! Hillary Clinton's spokesman Howard Wolfson tries to backtrack about her "Rich people, God bless us," statement, to no avail.

Meanwhile, Colorado Congressman and Senatorial candidate Mark Udall has made it clear he's not buying into Clinton's campaign rhetoric about the gas tax holiday:

"Senator Clinton claimed yesterday that I either stand with her on this proposal or stand with the oil companies. To that I say: I stand with the families of Colorado, who aren't looking for bumper sticker fixes that don't fix anything, but for meaningful change that brings real relief and a new direction for our energy policy. We can't afford more Washington-style pandering while families keep getting squeezed.

"It is exactly the kind of short-sighted Washington game that keeps us from getting real results to our energy problem. Experts across the ideological spectrum agree that it will increase the deficit, drain money away from Colorado roads and bridges, and hurt the environment, all without actually making prices lower for drivers."

Comments

[Jeanie]

Here, here! I figured out that going back and forth to the cottage this summer would only save me about $20, maybe $30, which at this rate is only a tank of gas. The real "savings" will come for the folks in the BIG cars, which will use more fuel, add more demand and most likely raise prices. For no matter what the feds do, it won't stop the oil companies from raising the price.

You know around here (a big travel state, about the only industry that hadn't until now been mutilated by the recession) tourism is a big deal. It seems like this SHOULD be a good thing. But I really think it's robbing Peter to pay Paul, as they say and in the long run, it's a bit fruitless. I'd rather these political discussions center on how we're going to take care of our sagging economy and that massive wreck of a healthcare system (what system?!) than quibble over a tank or two of gas savings for folks over a few month period.

Sorry. Soapbox. Politics is NOT bringing down my blood pressure this year!

[My Melange]

Hmmm, an honest politician? One that gives the American public the truth, no matter how unpopular it may be? Someone who isn't pandering, not giving the people a nice little story about saving them of money...

How refreshing!!!

That is why I like, no LOVE him. He knows it is just a band-aid. And the other two are making it seem like he doesn't want to help Americans. How ridiculous.

And BTW...I wonder why no one is reporting on the whole Paul vs. Clinton case...but yet we have had Rev. Wright plastered all over the tube for months now.