Dream of gas tax holiday faltered over job losses

[DeclinetoState]

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 13 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The political vision of a summer gas tax holiday died a quick death in Congress, losing to a view that federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel will have to go up if they go anywhere.

Despite calls from the presidential campaign trail for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day tax freeze, lawmakers quickly concluded — with a prod from the construction industry — that having $9 billion less to spend on highways could create a pre-election specter of thousands of lost jobs.

Now, lawmakers quietly are talking about raising fuel taxes by a dime from the current 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel fuel.

With gas prices setting records daily, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and former Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton called for a 90-day suspension of the federal fuel tax to give drivers a little relief at the pump. The fuel taxes go into the Highway Trust Fund, which is used for road construction and repair and mass transit.

More (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080719/ap_on_go_co/gas_tax_highways)

Further down in the article:

Just three years ago, that trust fund enjoyed a surplus of $10 billion. Even without a tax freeze, the fund is projected to finish 2009 with a deficit of $3 billion. That that could grow as Americans drive less and buy less gas because of higher pump prices.

Remember this little item whenever we're told that we could solve or even begin to solve our problems by simply driving less.

[The_Sonarman]

The Democrat Congress will never willingly allow a tax reduction or suspension.

"The Poor" are going to be hurt worse by high fuel prices, whether they have their own transportation or they use a taxi or the bus. People like me are better funded, so I am hurt the least by fuel prices.

To any Liberal out there reading this, I have some unvarnished truth for you.

a. The Democratic Party created this fuel shortage situation, and they created it intentionally.

b. "The Poor" are the ones being hurt by high fuel prices.

Reread item a above until you realize how you're being screwed by your own political party.

I'm financially better off than "the poor". I can afford fuel at this price, or even double this price.

The solution is obvious. Drill Now. Drill Here. If the Democratic Communist Party would just be shoved out of the way, companies like mine will go out and get the oil for you, and at a far lower price that it is today. Why can't I do that "today"? Because there is an exploration and drilling ban (it's called a "moratorium") in force that prevent me finding and producing oil that my industry already knows exists on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Fuel prices would easily be a third of what they are today, if the damned politicians were just pushed out of the way.

[Maggie_T]

But ... but Sonarman ... think of the caribou ...think of Mother Gaia. :(

[DeclinetoState]

In an ideal green liberal world, we wouldn't need cars or airplanes. Instead, we would all travel around on electric Amtrak trains powered by energy generated using solar panels.

[Maggie_T]

Actually, in an ideal green world, we'd all live like cavemen did way back when. With the difference that we'd go to bed early and freeze in winter because PETA would not let us wear animal furs, and environazis wouldn't let us light fires.

[DeclinetoState]

Maggie, if you're right, then what they really want is for all of us to die. If that's the case, then shouldn't we all just off ourselves? We could even let them lead the way . . .

[Maggie_T]

... to the cliff's edge. And then dodge and let them all fall off it. :evilgrin:


Of course they want us dead! Which is why it's just as well that the SCOTUS voted in favor of the 2nd Amendment, because like HELL I'm going to let these genetic errors do me in before my time.

[The_Sonarman]

Maggie and DTS, you're both right.

However, there's only one way a certain amount of people can live with stone knives and bear skins. Most of the world's six+ billion people will need to be killed. The Earth can only support some 20 or so million in those conditions, and those conditions would be harsh, with frequent starvation.

Congress can go first.

[Maggie_T]

However, there's only one way a certain amount of people can live with stone knives and bear skins. Most of the world's six+ billion people will need to be killed. The Earth can only support some 20 or so million in those conditions, and those conditions would be harsh, with frequent starvation.


That's where Ahmadinejad comes in.

[DeclinetoState]

Fred Phelps, too. Phelps can "out" the gays; Ahmadinejad can hang them. That will eliminate 5-10% of the world's population. Considering there are some conservative gays, I'm sure the libs won't object too much when those are whacked.

(Wait till the FISTED Idiots read this one . . .)

[DoctorDoom]

Yeah, think of those poor, beleaguered caribous and polar bears and other beset creatures facing the EEEEEEE-vill Big Oil.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/Alaska3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/Alaska4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/21-Polar_2bear1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/Alaska1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/Alaska2.jpg

Obviously, this is FAR more preferable ecologically.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/AltPass2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/AltPass1.jpg

[DoctorDoom]

...a pre-election specter of thousands of lost jobs.Never mind the hundreds of thousands of jobs lost because companies large and small are forced to cut employees or close due to the crushing effect of fuel and energy costs that the RAT assholes deliberately caused. Case in point: the airlines.

If the GOP loses in November, it will be due to a death wish. This should be in every Pub ad until Nov 4:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/Gas20080624.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/EcofriendlFactory.jpg

[DeclinetoState]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Energy-Eco/Alaska3.jpg

I'm surprised the environmentalists haven't argued that, because so many animals are thriving near the Alaska Pipeline and whatnot, it's creating an environmental catastrophe, with animal overpopulation threatening the local ecological balance.

[DoctorDoom]

Give the loonies time. Maybe they haven't seen the photo yet.