$100 gas rebate plan ignites angry backlash

[Judi Lynn]

April 30, 2006, 11:19PM
$100 gas rebate plan ignites angry backlash
GOP senators say constituents of all stripes are calling the offer paltry, insulting

By CARL HULSE and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
New York Times

WASHINGTON - The plan by Senate Republicans to mail out $100 checks to soothe taxpayers' misery about gas prices is drawing scorn from the very people it was intended to help.

Aides for several Republican senators reported a surge of calls and e-mail messages from constituents ridiculing the rebate as a paltry and transparent attempt to pander to voters in advance of the midterm elections in November.

"The conservatives think it is socialist bunk, and the liberals think it is conservative trickery," Don Stewart, a spokesman for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, noting the criticism came from across the ideological spectrum.

Constituents have asked, "Do you think we are prostitutes? Do you think you can buy us?" said another Republican senator's aide, who was granted anonymity to discuss the feedback because the senator had supported the plan.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/3831036.html

[maddezmom]

1. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2256624