Instead of a gas-tax holiday, Congress considers gas-tax hike
posted at 4:55 pm on July 19, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John McCain couldn’t convince Congress to adopt his gas-tax holiday, but Congress does plan on making some changes to the rate. Unfortunately, the change will go in the opposite direction, if Democrats get their wish. With Americans driving less, the highway fund faces even more severe shortfalls than expected from lost gas-tax revenue — and so the Democrats plan to hike it up by ten cents a gallon:
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. …
Oberstar, D-Minn., said his committee is working on the next long-term highway bill. He estimated it will take between $450 billion and $500 billion over six years to address safety and congestion issues with highways, bridges and transit systems.
“We’ll put all things on the table,” Oberstar said, but the gas tax “is the cornerstone. Nothing else will work without the underpinning of the higher user fee gas tax.”
The problem with the transportation bill isn’t a lack of funds, it’s a lack of fiscal discipline. Oberstar figures prominently in this, earmarking transportation funds for projects like bike and walking path, visitor centers, and other nonsense instead of focusing on the infrastructural needs he decries. Over twelve percent of the last transportation bill consisted of earmarks, with projects like a North Dakota peace garden, a Montana baseball stadium and a Las Vegas history museum.
Pork is the cholesterol of infrastructure. Whenever Congress attempts to address legitimate infrastructure needs, it signals open season on the taxpayers. In that bill last year, over $8 billion got spent on earmarks — the same amount that Congress says will be the shortfall this year for transportation needs, and the deficit they need to erase by raising the gas tax.
When gas was inexpensive, Congress could get away with that. Now that fuel prices have shot through the roof, taxpayers want relief, not a greedy Congress looking to get a piece of the action. If Congress demands sacrifice, then let it start with Congress and eliminate their pet projects from future transportation bills. The gas-tax holiday may be a silly idea, but a gas-tax penalty at this point in time has to set a record for political stupidity.
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I hope and pray they bring this up. This could be the nail in their coffin.
bopbottle on July 19, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Did you notice it said “Oberstar, D-Minn”? That is all you need to know.
Here is your regressive tax structure at work; tax something to the hilt to encourage people to use less, such as tax and cigarettes, then complain that less revenue is coming in and raise the tax even more.
I hope Ed’s question at the end was meant to be rhetorical.
Bishop on July 19, 2008 at 5:02 PM
“such as GAS and cigarette”….I need to lay off the Corona.
Bishop on July 19, 2008 at 5:02 PM
When we go to all electric cars where are these highway funds going to come from?
Chakra Hammer on July 19, 2008 at 5:03 PM
First of all, Republicans and Conservatives should just shut up. Let the Dems do their thing. Let them think this is a great idea.
No speeches against it. Let it pass on party lines.
Then hit them over the head with it.
WoosterOh on July 19, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Asked and answered.
a capella on July 19, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Hello, zero point approval rating!
I keep hearing Dean Wormer… “Zero. Point. Zero”
Mazztek on July 19, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Great point.
Maybe just a one time tax when you purchase the car?
WoosterOh on July 19, 2008 at 5:05 PM
When we go to all electric cars where are these highway funds going to come from?
Chakra Hammer on July 19, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Mileage taxes, so much for every mile you drive, with a nice little government chip in your car to monitor everything.
One more step toward the liberal dream of everyone living in mega-cities, residing in little apartments while the U.N. administers the world.
Bishop on July 19, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Heck no filibuster it, then it will still pass and show the American people that the Republicans fought it.. but, they just didn’t have enough people to stop it.. Then say, IF you vote for more Democrats you will get more taxes, next time it will be electricity and natural gas taxes.. or Capitol gains taxes or income taxes, and we wont be able to stop it. So you better vote Republican and throw these tax raising Democrats OUT.
Chakra Hammer on July 19, 2008 at 5:08 PM
I guess it doesn’t occur to the geniuses in Congress to use the royalties from increased domestic oil and gas for infrastructure if we were to allow more drilling.
DerKrieger on July 19, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Hell, there’s no limit to the stupitity of today’s dem party.
thekingtut on July 19, 2008 at 5:09 PM
More like Logan’s Run
DerKrieger on July 19, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Write it up, pass it, overide the veto. Hell, make it 25 cents more. Why settle for 10 cents? Pass a car helmet law while you’re at it….and booster seats for grandma.
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Privatize the roads. Problem solved.
JDPerren on July 19, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Chakra has a point, but there may be just enough nervous dems to keep such a thing from passing and the chance will be lost.
Tough call, I just hope the GOP stays quiet just long enough to let this idea gain some steam and the dems get their butts handed to them in November.
Bishop on July 19, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Are California Republicans running ads yet in favor of drilling to pay for education for the children?
pedestrian on July 19, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Let’s hear it for Congress!!!
Way to bring those approval ratings up!!!
ToddonCapeCod on July 19, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Someone need to sit down, figure out the royalties from land lease. Also, from the jobs created by allowing more drilling and how much the Government would get for those new jobs. Then, how much they would get from the Corporations.
There has to be a number that the extra drill would be worth.
Say 5 millions barrels of oil a day. 1.7 billion barrels a year. 250 billion dollars a year stays in the US.
WoosterOh on July 19, 2008 at 5:14 PM
More like Logan’s Run
DerKrieger on July 19, 2008 at 5:10 PM
You got that right, and you can guess which party would seek to be the City Elders (or whatever they were called) who make all the decisions.
Bishop on July 19, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Note that Bush is getting absolutely no credit for the drop in oil and gasoline prices that came as a direct result of his actions to promote domestic drilling last week. It’s being spun as a “drop in demand,” which is bunk given the fact that China is putting 10,000 more cars on its roads every single day.
My point is that the Dems CAN get away with this because the media will dutifully fail to mention that the Dems did it and spin the 10 cent per gallon increase as another spike in costs due to evil speculators or something along those lines.
aero on July 19, 2008 at 5:15 PM
How about knocking down on five fellas pointing where the sixth fella is supposed to dig?
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 5:15 PM
On their way to negative approval numbers, if that’s even mathematically possible! These people need to be thrown out!
CP on July 19, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Unbelievable! Are they ALL senile? ugh
becki51758 on July 19, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Local water, sewer, trash just took a hit. Next it will be that plastic-bag police plan from Seattle. BBQ grill tax….hell, license too (why not?). TV permit. Fines for not reading people to sleep in homeless shelters. Dog poop composting fees. Third world slit-trench subsidy tax.
Fall in! Roll up ‘dem sleeves and grab a broom!
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 5:25 PM
I hope they do it. I hope they go all over the US trying to sell this suicidal idea and I hope all the dem’s running for office are forced to defend it.
thatcher on July 19, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Government at work.
The GOP needs to be thanking its lucky stars that Pelosi and Reid are steering their juggernaut into the iceberg. This is going to be fun. Which dirge do you suppose the Donk orchestration will mimic most?
AnonymousDrivel on July 19, 2008 at 5:27 PM
I’d suggest to them to pass a law that all drivers are required to wear “polarized” sunglasses during the day to help reduce the dangerous road glare whilst driving.
Then tax the glasses.
1GooDDaDDy on July 19, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Face it, the ‘Rats will say their usual speech, “It’s George Bush’s fault and his war in Iraq that he lied us into so now we don’t have enough money for vital Infrastructure needs and if we don’t raise the gas tax, every bridge in America will collapse as you and your families are crossing them and you’ll all die because Bush Hates Working People. And the LSM will trumpet this to the rafters.
GeneSmith on July 19, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Well, 40% of the public (in one poll) believe that the Republicans still control Congress. So, we got that going for us…
More seriously, McCain (and the Congressional Republicans) need to run against this Congress. They may not be able to recapture it but it will at the very least mitigate the losses that will occur this November.
Yeah, yeah, asking these knuckleheads to get their act together is another triumph of hope over experience. Or is it a dope over experience?
SteveMG on July 19, 2008 at 5:31 PM
My gosh. If these clowns encountered a person with a broken ankle, they’d make him tapdance.
kurtzz3 on July 19, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Notice it was for diesel. They think consumers won’t care and they are probably right in the short term. That is until the price of everything goes up more because of increases in trucking costs.
Hendo on July 19, 2008 at 5:33 PM
$1,400 to fill up a Kenworth. What’s another $100 or so? Them trucking speculators are getting fat!
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Now that’s funny!
Great one liner.
1GooDDaDDy on July 19, 2008 at 5:37 PM
They like to tax beer, too.
fluffy on July 19, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Just curious, as a former NoDak, if “a peace garden” was a reference to the International Peace Garden.
hpb on July 19, 2008 at 5:42 PM
You are joking, I hope.
Wade on July 19, 2008 at 5:43 PM
so how much profit dose the gov really want to make per gallon of gas ??? Can we just tar and feather them and ride them out of office and the country on a rail ?
Mojack420 on July 19, 2008 at 5:44 PM
It seems, Ed, that you and I still are clinging to this wild idea of sanity in Congress.
That’s why we continue to be flabbergasted by sorry episodes like this.
Hawkins1701 on July 19, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Actually, it would be about $30.00. It is $0.10 a gallon. At $5.00 a gallon, that is 2%
WoosterOh on July 19, 2008 at 5:45 PM
If I were the maestro of GOP campaign strategy I’d just sit on this, then have Sir Rudy pop up on the steps of Congress and roar a firm reminder that when you raise taxes in these kind of situations, you lose revenue!
HotAirJosef on July 19, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Its still going to increase transportation costs which will still be pushed to consumers. Say hello to more inflation.
Hendo on July 19, 2008 at 5:49 PM
It is not a increase by percentage unless you compare it to the present fixed tax cost. In that case the increase is 54% for gasoline and 41% for diesel. What would be said if the oil companies wanted to increase their profits by those margins?
Keeping in mind the government does nothing to get the gas and diesel to the pumps, I would say that is an increase in stealing.
Wade on July 19, 2008 at 6:13 PM
Pigs, bacon and pork are all indignant.
The revolution gets one step closer. Harm the suffering little Joe and Mary, and expect them to vote for you. Let’s see which candidate gets this first.
Entelechy on July 19, 2008 at 6:14 PM
And yet again, the reality of the Laffer curve is ignored.
Tax drivers more, they drive less. Less usage means less tax revenue. It happened in Georgia during the drought this year, and that’s with a considerably less flexible resource.
spmat on July 19, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Nice very nice
Gotta love the twisted thinking of congress.
TroubledMonkey on July 19, 2008 at 6:17 PM
If congress and the administration can find money that does not exist and give it to taxpayers in the form rebates (pandering for votes) they should be able to find more non existent money to fix highways.
Wade on July 19, 2008 at 6:17 PM
Please, oh please Barry endorse this tax hike on the campaign trail. Pleeease!!
Grafted on July 19, 2008 at 6:25 PM
It’ll happen like it always does, when the night is darkest.
The problem is what kind of leader wises up first?
I hope I’m too old to see where this all is headed.
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Corrupt Pigs. Pelosi’s People.
pat on July 19, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Hope they’re ready to bail out the trucking industry next, ’cause it won’t take much more to put most of the independent truckers out of business.
aero on July 19, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Death wish.
Terrye on July 19, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Dude, you’ve got to qualify that…. Let’s hear it for a DEMOCRAP CONGRESS
CynicalOptimist on July 19, 2008 at 6:38 PM
I expect to hear all about this in McCain’s next speech. Right?
And the Democrats say no drilling - conserve conserve conserve, so when we conserve, and their revenues go down as a result, the first thing we hear about is higher taxes to make up the difference. How about they conserve a little too, and not on highway spending either. How about axing some earmarks instead?
forest on July 19, 2008 at 6:42 PM
They are this stupid, but unfortunately so are way too many voters who won’t give a flip as long as it’s a diesel tax and not a gas tax. Moreover, people who are that stupid will not make the connection to the rising cost of food and other essential items.
However, I don’t think the idiot Dems in Congress have calculated what will happen when all these diesel dependent truckers go on strike, or have massive demonstrations, which cripple the country (think France).
Time to get some mega-sized “Drill Here….” posters made up for the truckers.
Buy Danish on July 19, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Wait a minute, let’s revisit an LA Times editorial by Ms Feinstein where the good senator from California opines thusly:
Then let us reread the post above where Mr Ed explains the need for more revenue:
So official democrat party policy is, refuse to drill for more oil, force American consumers to do with less, pay a higher price for the energy we do use, and force us to pay more taxes for the fuel we use.
I therefore conclude that it is official democrat party policy that US residents should have their prosperity reduced, and those very same (unknown, unnamed) members of congress will continue to use the power of government to enrich themselves, their families, and their cronies.
rockhauler on July 19, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Afraid not. This is immediate and acute. It will become much more so this winter when people can’t afford to heat their homes. This isn’t one of those giant, inefficient, nonproductive government programs we all just grumble about because it causes a vague ache and is stupid. Fuel costs in this country can’t stay this high for very long without real anger driven action if the politicos keep treating it as a football issue.
a capella on July 19, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Hey, wait, here’s the answer. Don’t pay any fuel taxes. Instead surrender to Jerry Brown’s War on California Suburbs.
Crime? What crime! There is no crime in a democrat utopia.
rockhauler on July 19, 2008 at 7:10 PM
In contrast to the rest of the comments here, I approve of increasing the gas tax and doing what we can to reduce gasoline consumption. I called my congressman and two Senators and demanded a dollar a gallon increase in gas taxes as the appropriate response to “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less”. One of the Senate staffers was quite sympathetic and promised that Senator Casey will vote against OCS drilling. The other two were at least amused by my audicity.
thuja on July 19, 2008 at 7:16 PM
I think you nailed it.
Buy Danish on July 19, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Hmmm… I got an idea…
Lets start a petitiion to change Congress’s Pay…
Not car leases… no gas allowance… they gotta live just like us…
And make it so their PAY is the Average pay for a family in America….
Problem is that most of Congress is rich… they have no clue.
Romeo13 on July 19, 2008 at 7:18 PM
What about all those people losing their jobs in the automotive industry and airline industry because of the skyrocketing fuel costs? Can’t try to do something for them, like work on lowering the fuel costs?
Rick on July 19, 2008 at 7:23 PM
I don’t find you amusing at all.
Buy Danish on July 19, 2008 at 7:26 PM
SOLUTION
KICK THE DEMOCRATS IN THE ASS
Vote in people that will listen to the needs of America. Presently, most congressional critters are clueless. WHY, because the taxpayers are paying for their gasoline credit cards.
byteshredder on July 19, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Well, you clearly don’t run a trucking company. Or rely on any goods that are delivered to your local stores by trucks. It doesn’t end with individuals choosing to skip the summer vacation or carpooling to work or buying a Prius, you know. The price of gas figures into the cost of pretty much everything we buy. And that cost will get passed down the line to consumers, which will hurt poor people the most. It’s an indirect regressive tax, and I’m surprised that you, with your moderate-to-leftward leanings on stuff like this, would be in favor of that kind of thing.
aero on July 19, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Well, you may be amused to know that I have a t-shirt that says “Buy Danish” on it–which leads me to suspect that we do have areas of agreement.
thuja on July 19, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Bad economic times mean good prospects for democrats. Expect them to do all in their power to hurt Americans with any weapon they can come up with before November.
Think_b4_speaking on July 19, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Drilling wins, the left loses this fight.
Entelechy on July 19, 2008 at 7:36 PM
But aren’t we supposed to drive less, to combat Goebbels Warmening? I thought the Dems were happy with that. But now our driving less is a problem? I wish they’d make up their mind. Assuming, that is, that they have a mind.
rbj on July 19, 2008 at 7:40 PM
BTW, this goes along well with Schumer causing a bank run on a bank which would not kick in to his fundraising. The dems are thinking: If we can really hurt the consumers, and cause them to mistrust their banks, and get their grocery prices jumping 20%, it can be portrayed as a repeat of the depression, and their very own FDR, Obama-Messiah can come to the rescue, and save us from ourselves.
Think_b4_speaking on July 19, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Steuern sind Ihr Freund.
(well…Barry said we should learn another language)
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Let’s send email to our local RAT congress people in support of this measure and suggest they up it to $1.00 per gallon…
sabbott on July 19, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Don’t these pols have any connection whatsoever with the real world? Still, I’d like to see their collective bottoms thrown out of office. That should do it.
jeanie on July 19, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Any member of Congress stupid enough to vote for a tax hike right now should be immediately recalled by his or her constituency and replaced with someone who will serve the people, not special interests or the interests of whatever party they happen to be a part of! This insanity has gone on long enough!
pilamaye on July 19, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Let’s take this trial balloon one step further. Senator Reid is quoted in “The Hill” as saying:
any, meaning zero, zip, nada, none, nothing, not one spending bill, until Bush is gone.
Reid is saying the democrats in congress will do nothing until the next president, and an even stronger democrat majority is in place.
rockhauler on July 19, 2008 at 8:00 PM
That is, like, errrr, one o’ them rhetorical devices to stimulate debate an’ all, right? ‘Cause it’s like obvious, man, a huge “duh, yeah, they could and yeah they are.”
:)
Bob's Kid on July 19, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Do you not see any correlation between the skyrocketing cost of transportation energy, and the health of the U.S. and world economies?
It seems to me that the Democrats are not only talking down the economy, but actively trying to sabotage it.
So much for the Democrats being the party of the little guy.
hillbillyjim on July 19, 2008 at 8:28 PM
In order to email the congressman, you will need a proper address in the district. This one seems to work fine:
503 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401-3595
These guys all need to be removed from office after one term. Common sense will get them through one term, but in two years they seem to acquire a lot of bad habits.
Jaibones on July 19, 2008 at 8:31 PM
If the Dims keep opposing drilling and offering no other solution except “wait 10 or 20 years and maybe we can find something else like wind or solar” — they may find themselves waiting a long, long time for another Dim majority.
Voters are getting fed up.
AZCoyote on July 19, 2008 at 8:33 PM
And while we’re at it, thuja, why aren’t you sending the federal government a donation of $1.00 for every gallon of gas that you purchase?? If you are sincere about your wish for a dollar hike, don’t wait for Congress; send your money now. What’s stopping you?
hillbillyjim on July 19, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Over at Ace of Spades, Gabriel Malor points out that, in addition to this, John Dingell wants a 50 cent gas tax.
This just goes to show you that our elected “leaders” are using the hoax of global warming to take advantage of the utter cluelessness, ignorance and gullibility of the American public to raise taxes. Make a fake crisis, stir the country up into a frenzy over a hoax and then convince them that the government needs to take more of their money to fight this hoax.
We only have ourselves to blame. If the majority of the American people were not so stupid to believe in this global warming crap, the government would be laughed out of office when they tried to push through all this nonsensical legislation.
Michael in MI on July 19, 2008 at 8:44 PM
I just thought of bright idea,it would be nice,if the oil
company’s, for vacationing American’s,say handed out say
I dunno,gas vouchers!
Just a thought!
And yes,I know,Liberals have just p#ssed themselves over
my idea!
canopfor on July 19, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Let’s see, besides the gas tax, the feds want to raise taxes, the state wants to raise taxes, local government wants to raise taxes, the utilities keep raising their prices. I truly feel like I’m being taxed to death. This is nuts.
Blake on July 19, 2008 at 8:49 PM
This is such a crock of crap.
I pay federal tax AND state taxes on my gasoline as it is, PLUS, I pay extra taxes and surcharges to the state every year that I am REQUIRED to renew my vehicle registration and vehicle license here in California, PLUS, I have to pay local city charges. ALL of these numerous taxes, fees, surcharges and other PENALTIES I have to pay allegedly go towards building and maintaining roads, highways, freeways, and bridges.
The roads are STILL covered in potholes and cracks. They’re terribly maintained. They don’t build enough roads as it is and when they do, it takes them 30 years to plan it and 5 years to build it.
The freeways are choked down to 5-15 mph during rush hour (with the frequent dead stops) and even on the weekends and in the evenings the freeway speeds are often 50-60 mph with numerous occasional traffic jams that choke you down to 15 mph or less for miles at a time. They build 2 lane freeways when we need 4 lanes, and 10 years later they add the 2 lanes we needed 10 years ago at quadruple the cost if they had built it 4 lanes to begin with, and 4 lanes isn’t enough when they finally add the 2 new lanes that were always needed and they really needed to add 4 new lanes for a total of 6 to handle the exponentially increased traffic!
The highways are way inadequate for the amount of vehciles and traffic. It takes nearly 10 minutes to get from my house to the freeway that is less than two miles away. Every signal light in nearly the entire San Diego area (it seems) is timed so that the next one is ALWAYS red when you get to it from the last green light, and they have red-light cameras at many of the intersections gaffing big dollars from people trying to make it before it turns red.
I have to pay EXTRA charges and fees if I want to drive on certain freeways and highways in California because they were built as toll roads, despite the fact that California and the Federal Gubment tax and fee the $hit out of us to begin with, so if you want to cut 15 minutes off your commute from San Diego to Los Angeles, you have to pay an extra 5 bucks for the PRIVILEGE to use the freeway that your tax dollars built to begin with!
Gasoline is sky high, and getting higher, the Defeatocrats won’t allow drilling in new areas for badly needed oil that will help drive prices down once the Arabs see the demand for their oil start to drop, so to make up for it the Defeatocrats want to raise gas taxes!
That makes sense. Whenever there’s a problem, that’s all the Defeatocrats know how to do is raise taxes
ARGH! I am so sick and tired of my money grubbing self-serving pathetic reprobate government and the MONEY SHAMS they run!
SilverStar830 on July 19, 2008 at 8:53 PM
This just confirms the despotism of Congress.
BDU-33 on July 19, 2008 at 8:53 PM
When the time comes to vote for your senator or representative, DO NOT VOTE FOR THE INCUMBENT!
elifino on July 19, 2008 at 8:54 PM
One place to start cutting earmarks: Pull out every bridge and parkway to be named after “Sheets (Pork-pie)” Byrd.
whitetop on July 19, 2008 at 8:54 PM
The article states it is an increase on both gas and diesel.
cs89 on July 19, 2008 at 8:54 PM
I continue to see pundits call the Democrats “stupid”, but I think the criticism is missing the mark. Democrats have been acting stupid for years now during the Bush Administration. And what have they gotten for it? The American people put them in power in both Houses of Congress.
The way I see it, the Democrats are going to just keep taking advantage of the ignorance and stupidity of the American public. They know the American public is largely uninformed, ignorant and very easily manipulated by the Democrat Party propaganda arm: the mass media. So, they are going to continue to do these things, so long as the American public allows them to get away with it.
With all the polls out there showing increased majorities come November for Democrats in both houses AND an American public which is apparently tired of a Republican in the White House, the Democrats have no reason to fear the American public. They simply play on the emotions of the people, use the mass media propaganda arm to spin facts favorably for Democrats and Barack Obama and voila!, they are political geniuses, not stupid.
Personally, I blame the American public, not the Democrats. Who put the Democrats in power? The American people. What are polls saying about who the American people favor in November? Democrats in all branches of government.
So, I have stopped blaming Democrats. They are simply playing on the ignorance of the American public. And they are going to continue to do so until the American people wake the muck up.
Michael in MI on July 19, 2008 at 9:01 PM
I keep tellin you all, the prices have NO EFFECT on congress, because they are all filthy rich in the first place. They live on another planet.
dogsoldier on July 19, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Anyone who thinks a gas tax hike in the United States will make a fraction of an inkling of difference in See Oh Too emissions in the world and ANY effect on our “fragile planet” is a complete boob.
Friggin’ luddite numbskulls.
hillbillyjim on July 19, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Quick, somebody get Maxine Waters! We need to nationalize the oil companies for making us do this to ourselves!!!
Just kidding.
manwithblackhat on July 19, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Remember the Boston Tea Party?
dm60462 on July 19, 2008 at 9:33 PM
We can’t. EPA fines, littering fines, disturbing the peace, trespassing, theft. They got us surrounded!!!!!
Limerick on July 19, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Awwww. Come on. Live a little.
hillbillyjim on July 19, 2008 at 9:46 PM
If the Republicans don’t hammer the Democrats over this, they are insane. Congress can’t be this out of touch with reality. Can they?
Troy Rasmussen on July 19, 2008 at 10:28 PM
YEEEHAW!!! Let’s regulate the $hit out of it! BRILLIANT idea, Limerick… let’s go for $1 a gallon. Why slow-poke around? Give the dems enough rope, they’ll auto-erotic asphysiate themselves. LOLOLOL
MsUnderestimated on July 19, 2008 at 10:29 PM
if this happens…think armed insurrection, let alone electoral consequences.
elduende on July 19, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Just vote straight Republican.
The Democrats are going to have The US House of Representatives, The US Senate both with Super majorities and the Executive Branch IF Obama wins..
Do you want to live in a dictatorship?
Chakra Hammer on July 19, 2008 at 10:39 PM
” In that bill last year, over $8 billion got spent on earmarks — the same amount that Congress says will be the shortfall this year for transportation needs, and the deficit they need to erase by raising the gas tax.”
Kind of says it all.
On a side note, how in the world do these idiots keep getting re elected.
America1st on July 19, 2008 at 11:08 PM
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