DNC convention committee gets its own gas-tax holiday
posted at 6:05 pm on July 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Remember the gas-tax holiday that Barack Obama opposed? Not all Democrats feel the same way — specifically, the Democrats responsible for staging his big party in Denver. The Rocky Mountain News reports this afternoon that the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has used the city’s own gas pumps to fill up their cars — bypassing state and federal taxes:
The committee hosting the Democratic National Convention is using the city’s gas pumps to fill up on fuel, avoiding state and federal highway taxes, officials said today.
“There’s something there that just doesn’t seem right to me because, in a sense, you’re saying then that the officials who pass the laws are not willing to live by them, and that concerns me,” Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz said.
The issue came up during the council’s weekly meeting with Mayor John Hickenlooper when the Public Works Department requested authorization to be reimbursed by the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee for use of “fueling facilities, fuel and car washes.”
“By doing it this way, by running it through our Fleet Maintenance, that means that that fuel does not pay state or federal highway taxes,” Faatz said.
Obama called McCain’s gas-tax holiday proposal “a gimmick” back in April. How would he describe the convention planners’ use of tax-free gasoline while the rest of the country pays its fair share of taxes on fuel? Maybe Obama would like to explain that while he’s talking about hiking fuel taxes to pay for investments in alternative energy sources. Will Democrats be exempt from that tax?
Mayor Hickenlooper tried to play the everyone-does-it card, telling Faatz that the RNC gets the same deal in St Paul. Well, no they don’t:
Teresa McFarland, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-St. Paul host committee, said they’re getting their gas at the pump.
“We’re not getting a tax break on fuel,” she said. “That’s not the set-up at this end.”
Democrats taking advantage of city gas pumps save about $6 on every fillup, with taxes over 40 cents per gallon. Tax relief isn’t the only perk for the host committee, either. Car washes eat up a lot of water in a state hit by a drought, which led one councilman to ask:
“Why are we washing cars in the middle of a drought?” he asked. “Where are the green police when we need them? Are they poking around restaurants to see that nobody fries food?”
Why indeed? Weren’t Democrats practically dislocating shoulders in patting themselves on the back for their dedication to conservation at this convention? Why doesn’t the Greening Director put a stop to this? For that matter, why aren’t the Democrats driving hybrids or natural-gas vehicles?
Democrats — making sure only the peasants pay the taxes they impose.
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Democrats - The Party of Do as I Say and Not as I Do Dictators
diaphanous on July 22, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Better than you!
lorien1973 on July 22, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Also,
Congress (all federal employees, actually, I believe) also gets to defer some of their social security payments into private accounts - something which they oppose for the general public.
So, really, what’s new?
lorien1973 on July 22, 2008 at 6:09 PM
It’s because they know that responsible conservatives will always foot the bill, even when the irresponsible liberals skip out on it.
Texas Rainmaker on July 22, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Ed, you may wanna call the CO Legislature and ask someone if it was a vote via the legislature or was the public able to vote on this?
If so, the CO Leg could possibly be in a world of hurt.
Anyone in CO know about this.?
upinak on July 22, 2008 at 6:11 PM
All is fair in love and war. I’d LOVE to declare WAR on the Democrat Party, but I don’t go after people who have no intellect.
Can’t they see the problems they cause?
SeniorD on July 22, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Wow, I bet the citizens of Denver are SO HAPPY that they get to host the DNC!!
ctmom on July 22, 2008 at 6:14 PM
This has to be illegal unless they are using government vehicals.
Les in NC on July 22, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Something seriously smells bad.
upinak on July 22, 2008 at 6:15 PM
If they are using government cars, that would be illegal too.
Les in NC on July 22, 2008 at 6:17 PM
I believe this should fall under the Hatch Act.
Les in NC on July 22, 2008 at 6:18 PM
tax breaks for me but not for thee.
reliapundit on July 22, 2008 at 6:18 PM
A clear case of “fraud, waste and abuse” but the Dhems always have an out for their upside down logic.
If I would simply drive up and fill up at a local city gas pump I would undoubtedly be arrested as a thief. As I should be.
1GooDDaDDy on July 22, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Which would also be illegal, if anyone but The Messiah’s disciples was doing it.
I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning….
MrScribbler on July 22, 2008 at 6:20 PM
It would be nice to see a little frog marching activity here.
Buford Gooch on July 22, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Here is a link some of you may know more of the legal things than me, I think this could be charged.
Les in NC on July 22, 2008 at 6:24 PM
That tar and feathers scene in John Adams really grossed me out, but sometimes I like to fantasize that it’s back in vogue again.
scotch amy on July 22, 2008 at 6:29 PM
All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.
whitetop on July 22, 2008 at 6:30 PM
If the Republicans had thought of doing it, they would have.
Snake307 on July 22, 2008 at 6:32 PM
or using public transportation, or biycles, or their feet? What about carpooling?
… Smells like the Dhimmicrat party.
davidk on July 22, 2008 at 6:34 PM
The State folks might be in violation, but the DNC staffers aren’t Feds, they’re members of a private organization, which is why Florida and Michigan’s votes were counted as half. If they had been a Government agency or group, then their votes could have been counted as full.
Snake307 on July 22, 2008 at 6:34 PM
I think it is time to charge a spade as a spade. This is very much illegal.
I wish someone from the CO or Denver areas was on right now to find out more of the details.
upinak on July 22, 2008 at 6:35 PM
It wouldn’t matter. Concerning stipulation of Federally taxed and regulated fuel is actually illegal especially if it is used for a convention. Non-Profits can not have the same “stipulation” concerning this, because they are non-political and can not operated under that guise.
If you are of a political party getting “favors” it has to go across the line in All States. That is the problem.
upinak on July 22, 2008 at 6:37 PM
No controlling legal authority.
ZK on July 22, 2008 at 6:39 PM
That is my point. Any state employee that sold a political party goods at a tax free rate set aside for government transportation would be in violation of the Hatch Act. Enforce it and see how many tanks sould be filled. The Hatch Act applies to state employees too. Hey, the dems try investigating the legal firing of US attorneys, this should be easy.
Les in NC on July 22, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Would be filled, dang my fat fingers.
Les in NC on July 22, 2008 at 6:40 PM
All this raises another question - how much larger will the DNC’s carbon footprint be at the football stadium than if they kept it at the basketball arena?
Rick on July 22, 2008 at 6:48 PM
yep, nail on head.
upinak on July 22, 2008 at 6:48 PM
This is just a distraction from Obama’s Magical Mystery Tour. Hey, he spoke in front of the Temple of Hercules in Jordan! Wow!
Dodging gas taxes? Move along, nothing to see here.
Wethal on July 22, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Well go to a movie theater sometime. Check out the movie then go check the theater after is it out. You tell me who happens to think more of themselves. I hated working at a theater as a kid, especially during some political liberal films.
upinak on July 22, 2008 at 7:05 PM
DON’T DO AS WE DO, BUT DO AS WE SAY…WHO’D THUNK???
byteshredder on July 22, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Okay,buddy,back away from OUR fuel pumps,
tell your cameraman to shut his camera off,
and move it along,
this is official DNConvention fill-up,nothing
to see here,wink,wink,right!
canopfor on July 22, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Keeping on with the Dems gone wild topic, I noticed on Drudge that John Silky Edwards was caught with his pants down - so much for the VP slot.
Rick on July 22, 2008 at 7:12 PM
I just let Mayor Hickenlicker at MileHighMayor@denvergov.org
know that I would be arriving in Denver next week and will be filling up my SUV at a City of Denver owned gas pump. If he does it for one ineligible group I would think he would now have to open the pumps to anyone wishing to fuel their vehicles tax free.
JonRoss on July 22, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Keeping on with the Dems…
Rick on July 22,2008 at 7:12PM.
Rick:(OT),For Silky,if its true,actually its a bonus,
a la resume’ enhancement,for any Liberal Democrat!
haha.
canopfor on July 22, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I just went over and clicked on the link. Who’d of thought Silky was having sex with a women.
JonRoss on July 22, 2008 at 7:20 PM
When McCain first proposed a gas tax holiday, I read an article on-line (can’t remember the source — if somebody knows and can provide link, please do) that reported that Obama had supported a gas tax holiday for Illinois when he was in the state Senate there. Apparently, not paying gax taxes is a good idea — so long as it’s Dims who are doing it.
AZCoyote on July 22, 2008 at 7:21 PM
“…And kids, this is what you call having your cake and eating it too”
“ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”
“Are we still going to the Wafflehouse?”
DanStark on July 22, 2008 at 7:30 PM
“You gonna get raped”
The new DNC slogan
TAX TAX TAX
Gay Marriage
TAX TAX TAX
“Obama is not black, he is multiracial just like Jesus”
TAX TAX TAX
TroubledMonkey on July 22, 2008 at 7:34 PM
So, you think there is even the slightest possibility that the AP, UPI, MSNBC, the NYT, and the MSM as a whole are going to be covering what the DNC is pulling here?
Nah! I didn’t think so either.
pilamaye on July 22, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Of course if you did this, you’d be going to jail.
Since they did this, it’ll be “Oh, its all just a harmless misunderstanding. And really, we’re just trying to help encourage tourism anyway, so we’ll just forget about the whole thing.”
Iblis on July 22, 2008 at 7:37 PM
pilamaye on July 22, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Beat me too it. I also would not want to be a vendor serving the DNC for the convention, unless I got paid up front. There will probably be lots of extra business, but if the few news reports I’ve seen are any indication it could take a while to get paid.
cs89 on July 22, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Is that legal?
Johan Klaus on July 22, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Speak for yourself.
Johan Klaus on July 22, 2008 at 7:44 PM
No, but the local media may, and those local politicians might think twice about their political futures before they continue to carry water (literally) and break the Hatch Act for the DNC.
Wethal on July 22, 2008 at 7:47 PM
This will make a great RNC ad.
Limerick on July 22, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Now I’m a tad perplexed,when it gets to voting day!
Do some of the liberal operatives flatten the tires of
Republican van’s that are going to pick up Republican
shut-ins,or do the operatives fuel up after the dirty
deeds are fullfilled! What,what,jus sayin!
canopfor on July 22, 2008 at 8:02 PM
An Army of Denverites ought to show up at the Public Works Department and demand they get the same treatment.
Who gave the DNCC carte blanche to use the facilities in the first place? Who told who to open the gate?
This is a political party event and those are not even government vehicles. That’s tax evasion, similar to avoiding government taxes on cigarettes, isn’t it?
Wait, ARE they using government vehicles????
Dusty on July 22, 2008 at 8:19 PM
In some very far off land,hopefully not in the near
future,it has come to this,
Up ahead is the obligatory fuel nazi check point:
May I zee your licenez and papers please,well everysing
zeems to be in proper orderenze,waitz a tickenzee.
I zee you haves fueled upenzee your vehiclenzee,I hopenzee
you haves za proper fuelenzee receipt,yessenzee.
No fuelenzee receipt,Oh boyenzee,are you screwdenzee,her
guardenzee,its another one!(Snark).
*(canopfor regrets any likeness,and doesn’t mean to
besmirch any germans,Germany,or any language that
might be misconstrude of said likeness!)
canopfor on July 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
In other news, Al Gore brings extra tanks to fill up. When asked to comment, “I’ll use it in a more responsible way then you. My hoarding of energy is helping the planet.”
- The Cat
MirCat on July 22, 2008 at 8:26 PM
I just hope they used gas of black, silver and gold octanes to stay within the spirit of their required multicolored convention.
Bishop on July 22, 2008 at 8:26 PM
And if those libs didn’t fill up with the green-handled diesel, I will say “SHAME ON YOU! ITS GREEN!”
Bishop on July 22, 2008 at 8:27 PM
The story came up because the transportation people wanted permission to get their money back, was it going to be free gas for the convention before this?
Gwillie on July 22, 2008 at 9:08 PM
wait it sounds like the DNC chickens are coming home to roost…..
unseen on July 22, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Need we point out that this will be declared a distraction. Criminal behavior is not criminal behavior if a liberal does it. In that case it is striking a blow for the revolution against the evil oppressive establishment. Remember the “political prisoner”, Eldridge Cleaver, who was considered a “political prisoner” because he claimed he raped white women as a political statement. Similar thing here, revolutionary Democrats stealing overpriced gasoline as a statement against the greedy oil companies that have jacked up oil prices by refusing to drill in areas with no prospect of finding oil.
KW64 on July 22, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Does Faatz think this is somthing new to the democrats????? They have had this attitude for the 30 years I have been watching them.
Exactly.
allrsn on July 23, 2008 at 12:42 AM
For those interested in filing a government fraud, waste, and abuse complaint:
http://www.gao.gov/fraudnet/fraudnet.htm
Send_Me on July 23, 2008 at 1:05 AM
Come on guys and gals, it’s just a little Boston Tea Party democrat style. Dump tea–no representation. Taxless gas–our just due as representatives of the “people.”
TimothyJ on July 23, 2008 at 2:09 AM
I still think ‘Mayor Hickenlooper’ is a nom de plume or something. It just sounds too silly. He should have went with ‘Mayor Burgermeister Meisterburger’ though. That would have moved it from ’silly’ to ‘cool’ :).
Kevin M on July 23, 2008 at 6:19 AM
Since when has it ever been any different.
Al Gore, telling the proles use bikes or mass transit to get to his speeches, while he and his entourage ride in a fleet of SUV’s and leave them running with the AC on while he gives his speech.
MarkTheGreat on July 23, 2008 at 7:19 AM
I can’t believe you people still don’t understand the concept of elitism. Get with the program, folks.
Kafir on July 23, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Democrats FEEL so much more for the environment… and that’s the litmus test. We would fail their test because our emotional compassion for the environment cannot match theirs. (But actions and real-life habits are not part of their test…)
ricer1 on July 23, 2008 at 11:31 AM