Harry Reid email Help Dems Lower Gas Prices

[durrrty libby]

I got this today and thought others may be interested.He is the first person I've heard mentioning lowering some of the obscene taxes we pay on gas. Yeah Harry.

"Dear Friend,

I was at home in Nevada while Congress was in recess last week. Driving around meeting with constituents, I saw firsthand that gas prices were once again shooting up to unprecedented levels of more than $3 a gallon. These high prices are unacceptable, and they are a direct result of the failures of George Bush, Republicans in Congress and their buddies at the big oil and gas companies.

Today, Democrats proposed an amendment to provide immediate relief to consumers. The mendment introduced by Senator Menendez will provide more than $6 billion in relief directly to the merican people by eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days. During the period of his gas tax holiday, the cost of gas will be reduced by $0.184 per gallon and the cost of diesel by $0.244 per gallon. We will pay for this tax cut by eliminating tax breaks and giveaways to big oil.

Senate Democrats need your help to show public support for this amendment. Show your support for the Menendez Amendment by becoming a citizen cosponsor today.

Become a citizen cosponsor today by visiting:

http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/gasprice

It was George Bush who promised during his first campaign that he would "jawbone" his family friends, the Saudis, into lowering oil prices. Yet every summer the price gets higher and higher. Why is your family paying more at the pump? The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights released a report last week concluding that in California, "corporate markups and profiteering are responsible for spring price spikes, not rising crude costs . . . as the oil industry claims."

Democrats want to address the problem directly, and our amendment will provide immediate relief to consumers. Senator Frist and Republican leadership believe there is no political price to pay for being in bed with big oil. Lets show them the truth. Fifty thousand of you signing up, as "Citizen Cosponsors" of this legislation would make a huge difference.

Become a citizen cosponsor of the Menendez Amendment today by visiting:

http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/gasprice

High gas prices hurt everyone. They lead to increased costs for food and place a heavy burden on those who commute to work. I receive hundreds of letters every week from Americans whose budgets are being stretched thin by skyrocketing prices. Gas is not a luxury for families--it is a necessity.

The fact is the big oil companies control the supply and know that families really have little choice in the matter - they literally have consumers over a barrel. While we are paying record prices, the oil companies are reaping record profits.

Help me reach my goal of 50,000 citizen cosponsors by visiting:

http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/gasprice"

Thank you,

Harry Reid

[iamjoy]

1. I Repsectfully Disagree

with the idea of a gas tax holiday. IMHO, we should pay gas taxes with the money being used to seriously research alternative fuels AND to fund public transportation. A gas tax holiday "rewards" the oil company executives. It says, go ahead and charge your high prices, you keep the profits and we (the government) will cut our revenue to help the American people.

What program will they cut to make up for the shortfall from gas taxes?

These "tax holidays" seem well intentioned but couldn't they also be election year grandstanding?

[theboss]

2. This is a nothing, "Republican" solution

In 60 days, the problem still exists.
And, good luck trying to re-introduce a tax with the Republican leadership.

[GDAEx2]

3. You're right, gutting environmental regulations on gas

makes a lot more sense.

:evilgrin:

[OzarkDem]

4. Bad strategy for a couple of reasons

First, its a myth that wholesale gasoline taxes are passed on to consumers.

Its also a myth that savings from eliminating retail gas taxes will be passed on to consumers.

Eliminating any gas tax will only put money in the pockets of the oil companies. Very little, if any of the cost savings will be passed through to consumers. Unless Harry's amendment has some sort of strong legal mechanism that requires 100% of the tax savings be passed on directly to consumers, then its a bad deal.

I'm really surprised that someone of his stature and experience would fall for something this stupid. Dems are being duped by the GOP into thinking if they agree to crappy legislation like this, the GOP will support it. The message is - a bill that helps a teeny bit is better than no bill at all.

Its just like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. At the last minute the GOP will make some back door change that will render it useless for consumers, while allowing them all to take credit for doing something.

Better to have good policy that holds the GOP up to public scrutiny and criticism, even if it doesn't pass. It at least keeps them from getting re-elected in November.

P.S. A peek behind the curtain will probably show some former Clinton adminstration official or former Dem congressional staffer is probably working with the lobbying firm who is pushing this bill.