The Dems are doing something about the gas prices...help em out!...

[Acebass]

Dear Friend,

Today, Democrats proposed an amendment to provide immediate relief to
consumers. The amendment introduced by Senator Menendez will provide
more than $6 billion in relief directly to the American people by
eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days. During the
period of this 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 the tax breaks and giveaways to big oil.

With your help, we can make real change. Help democrats get 50,000
citizen cosponsors on their petition by visiting:

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

Thanks!

[CountAllVotes]

1. done and a K/R!!

:kick:

[MadHound]

2. Sorry, but that won't work

All that will happen is that the price of gas will be hiked up the 18.4cents or 24.4 cents by the oil companies, and they will reap the benefits, not us. Meanwhile, those programs that are funded by that tax will go into steep decline.

Sorry, but rather than offering band-aid proposals that fix nothing and benefit those it shouldn't, the Democrats should come out with a comprehensive program for transitioning our country off of gas and onto clean, renewable alternatives that we have available now, and that are fully capable of powering our country throughout the 21st century. Wind, solar, biodiesel, all of these and more are ready to go, off the shelf, and fully capable of taking up the load now currently carried by oil, coal, gas and nuclear.

Band-aids won't cure anything, what is needed is long term solutions.

[Jayhawk Lib]

3. This is not good....

Our government needs the revenues and the only thing to encourage Americans to drive less and find alternative sources of energy is high prices.

Before you flame me...think about it... Our energy situation is only going to get worse and we really need to find alternatives

[seriousstan]

4. 60 days? After that what? This is no more than a bandaid

and that is insulting the bandaid.

[cascadiance]

5. Need added tax benefits on hybrids and high mpg cars...

... and put a penalty tax on cars/trucks that get lower mileage. Find a way to exempt real truckers who are relying on lower gas prices for their primary source of income, but other than that, tax the higher consumption that way.

[TheFarseer]

39. I think part of the car tax shoud be based on mpg

Republicans like the fair tax because "you can control how much tax you pay" Here you go. Here is a plan we can implement so that you the individual can control how much tax you pay.

[Acebass]

43. How would you monitor it?...

[TheFarseer]

51. based on manufacturer's rating

is about the best answer I can give you. I guess we'd have to have someone check that their ratings are accurate.

[Acebass]

52. I can agree with that!...n/t

[Acebass]

6. Well then pay the high prices...

and figure something out for yourself...I don't get it everyone bitchs about Dems not doing anything and when they do you bitch again...

I give up, work it out on your own at least I tried...

What do you expect he'll be lucky to get this thorugh but he's making a statement...they are out numbered and really can't do a hell of a whole lot...

Just forget...

[blm]

20. Actually there is a better idea from Democrats out there....

Kerry Introduces Bill to Repeal Wasteful Tax Giveaways for Oil Companies at Time of Record, Windfall Profits


Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry:

“For a moment, President Bush finally stopped talking like an oil company executive. Farmers, commuters and American families struggling with record gas prices need help more than oil interests which are giving their CEOs $400 million golden parachutes. I will introduce legislation today to repeal the president’s earlier tax giveaways for oil companies. The top oil executives told Congress they don’t need these tax breaks, and I hope the president was sincere today and will work aggressively to get this passed.

“It’s clear every time people fill up at the pump that the current energy policy is broken. The current policy works for big oil interests, not average Americans. Americans need a real plan that will end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Continuing to leave our economy and national security entirely at the mercy of the OPEC-controlled petroleum markets is disastrous. We need affordable, clean and reliable transportation fuels that will bring economic growth and stability very soon, not in 30 years.”

[Acebass]

25. Thats great!...I'm all for better Democratic ideas!...

It sounds like part of the legislation the petition is supporting but I'm glad to see the Democrats taking this stand. It's an area they can build on for the Nov. elections...

Hell don't just sign this petition write your congressman and sign any other petitions that come along, as long as you agree with what they are saying and trust who it came from...

btw this is supported by Harry Reids web page

on edit: that was the site paid for by friends of Harry Reid

[blm]

26. I'm all for hitting them with everything and see what catches.

.

[Acebass]

28. So far they've had us on the defense...

We need to give every Democratic Senator and Congressman a vote of gratitude right now, just to see what reaction we'd get...I think this horse is about ready to run, we need to give it some reins...maybe we can light a fire under them!...

[MacDuff]

44. Doesn't do a thing to address the problem

and when you are called on it, you get mad?

It's simple - OIL prices are at an all-time high - so not surprisingly, GAS prices are at an all-time high - and since federal taxes make up that nice 18.2 cents of the total price - this will do NOTHING except make the Federal budget deficit worse!

So again - demand for oil is increasing, supply is plateaued or even in decline (OPEC members regularly lie about their reserves so that they can sell more oil) - when demand outpaces supply, buyers bid up the price - remember, this is happening globally - not just here in the US - you think it's hard to fill up your SUV or dually pickup? try being a farmer in a non-oil producing African nation! Who do you think gets knocked out of the bidding for scarce oil? it's not the US...

As others have mentioned, our oil is too CHEAP, not too expensive - we need to change our lifestyles to use less oil - before it's too late, and lack of oil changes us...

please read this statement by the editors of The Oil Drum (a peak oil site)

[texastoast]

7. Done n/t

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

8. Did you see Pelosi and Stupak today?

They and two others had a press meeting on CSPAN today. Here is an excerpt of what Pelosi said.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64559
WASHINGTON, April 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined House Democratic Caucus Chair James Clyburn, Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut at news conference today to discuss skyrocketing gas prices and Democratic plans to address this issue. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"When the oil men, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, strode into town, the showdown began between big oil and the consumer. With the price of gas doubling during the time of the President's presidency, big oil has won big. Prices have doubled, profits have tripled, and oil companies already are making historic, obscene and record profits. And while they do that, the Republicans in the Congress of the United States gave them billions of dollars in subsidies. Even the Department of Energy said the Republican energy bill would increase the price at the pump for America's consumers.

"More than six months ago, Democrats, led by Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, introduced legislation that gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explicit authority to investigate and prosecute companies engaged in price gouging. Congressional Republicans voted three times against acting on this Stupak legislation.

"Democrats, led by Congressman Brian Higgins of New York, introduced a bill that would rescind billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for these oil companies, roll back these subsidies, tax breaks, and royalty relief given to big oil and big gas companies, and use those funds to help low-income Americans, farms, and small-businesses struggling under the weight of gas prices. And yes, the Republicans voted over and over against rolling back the subsidies even after they knew the oil companies were making historic, obscene, and record profits.
~4 paragraphs allowed.
Looking for a link to Stupaks remarks, he was awesome!

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

9. CNN has a tiny excerpt of Stupaks speech

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/26/congress.gas/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As the debate over what to do about high gas prices continued on Capitol Hill, Democrats on Wednesday called for a new energy bill and federal legislation to punish price gougers.

"There's no reason why we can't put forth a real energy policy that addresses the needs of this nation," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "from gouging to market manipulation to biofuels. We can do it."

~He went on to explain the manipulation these folks are getting away with.

[Acebass]

11. Here's his letter to Bush

April 24, 2006

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

During your trip to California this past weekend, you specifically expressed concern for the potential of gasoline price gouging, repeatedly stating that price gouging should be prosecuted.

Earlier today, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader wrote to you, asking that you direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate price gouging of gasoline.

The government has a responsibility to protect consumers from price gouging. While we are encouraged that the White House and the Republican Leadership have begun to talk about price gouging, it will take much more than just talk to stop predatory pricing of oil and gas.

Currently, the federal government has limited authority to prosecute price gouging. Congress has never accurately defined what price gouging is and has not given the FTC and DOJ the tools necessary to properly prosecute price gouging.
This Federal Response to Energy Emergencies (FREE) Act, H.R. 3936, would provide immediate relief to consumers by giving the FTC and the DOJ the explicit authority to investigate and punish those who artificially inflate the price of energy. For the first time ever, the FTC would develop a price gouging definition, taking into consideration the guidelines established in HR 3936. The FTC and the DOJ would also be empowered to exercise this new authority at each stage of the energy production and distribution chain, and would apply this authority to oil, natural gas, home heating oil, crude oil and propane.
Earlier attempts to address price gouging, such as the “Gasoline for America’s Security Act” (H.R. 3893), contained weak provisions that do not effectively address the issue. Because of its weak price gouging provisions, H.R. 3893 has failed to garner broad bipartisan or bicameral support.


Americans are being forced to pay more and more each day just to drive to work or pick their kids up at day care. Our constituents are looking to the federal government for relief. It is our duty to provide the FTC and the DOJ with the tools to end price gouging to protect consumers from the increased financial hardship that price gouging creates.

Please lend your support to HR 3936, the Federal Response to Energy Emergencies Act. I would also ask that you work with the U.S. Congress through Speaker Haster and Majority Leader Frist to enact the FREE Act.

We look forward to hearing the Administration’s position on HR 3936.

Sincerely,



BART STUPAK
Member of Congress


try this link http://www.house.gov/stupak/

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

15. Thank You for posting his Bush letter

Guess his speech today should be up tomorrow. One of these days, I ought to learn how to start a thread instead of riding on someones elses.

[Acebass]

21. I had hoped that the link at the bottom would give more information...n/t

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

38. I checked, It wasn't up yet

at the time you posted the link. Thank you all the same. Perhaps tomorrow.

[Acebass]

41. I'll post anything I find...n/t

[Wisconsin Larry]

10. Done, K/R. I think this is a great idea so what if it isn't the total

solution? Let's see the Repugs try to defend tax breaks for big oil making record profits instead of relief to consumers! Just keeping the Repugs tax breaks for big oil in the news helps define both parties. Let's see... We have the Dems trying to make the situation better and the Repugs trying to make it worse. Works for me.

[Acebass]

12. They plan to pay for this so I say try it!...

at least their not kissing the oil company's butt...

[helderheid]

13. done K & R

[NMDemDist2]

14. done, kicked and nominated! Go man GO!!! n/t

[Joanne98]

16. 19 cents per gallon? You got to be kidding.

[Acebass]

17. Give me a break it's in the right direction at least...

and it's a start...if your going to whine when when just beginning this isn't going to be a fun trip...

Remember the likely hood of this passing is slim...The GOPs still run the place so in order to get anything considered you have to start small...

Nothing comes easy so we'll have to work for it but give em crdit for doing something at least...

[Joanne98]

29. Don't you think a tax rebate on hybrids would be more useful?

Sorry I don't mean to whine.

[Acebass]

36. LOL...I'm a sarcastic old fart sometimes...

but I mean no harm... sure I think we should do that and more...but as long as we have Republicans, with dollar signs in their eye's, running things...we'll be doing good to get what they propose but the Republicans are now on the defensive...the thing is the Dems have played their card now the Repugs could trump them but hey thats to our favor...thats why I say we need to show some support to those people who are bring this up and let them know we support this and more if we can get it...

We don't run the store...Yet!...

[Wisconsin Larry]

18. If you don't start somewhere, it will not get better, 19 cents here,

19 cents there, and the next thing you know, it's down a buck. But if you never start ...

[Acebass]

22. Figure it took him 5 years to get us here...

It's going to take a while to get everything fixed...I just hope we remember this the next time the Repugs want to put a contract on something...

[Joanne98]

30. I just thought the taxes were higher than that. Sorry.

[Acebass]

33. No problem...

I'm just a reactionary type from the 60s...:hippie:...the taxes on gas are higher, thats just the feds cut...

[Joanne98]

34. Thanx.

[Acebass]

19. What has Bush offered?...

More gas for the oil companies to sell and dirty air...hell thats what they wanted to start with...

[Wisconsin Larry]

23. Bush has also proposed fuel cell research that may pay off

a decade from now. More time for big oil to get richer and oh, collect the research dollars as well.

Busch's proposals are best summarized in this quote from the WP,

.. could save consumers a few cents per gallon at best, energy experts said. Philip K. Verleger, an Aspen, Colo.-based oil consultant, said that Bush's proposals were "more or less like prescribing aspirin to take care of prostate cancer."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/25/AR2006042501900.html

[Acebass]

27. Once they've screwed up the Alaskan wilderness...n/t

[Joanne98]

31. Bush is the "Gouger in Chief". Nothing.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. done.

[Joanne98]

32. I signed it and asked for a tax rebate for hybrids too.

[Acebass]

35. Cool!...I think you should get it...n/t

[TheFarseer]

37. That's stupid and irresponsible

That's exactly what Hanitty and company want, but it's bad policy. The gas tax on a gallon of gas is exactly what it was last year and the year before and back when gas was about a dollar/gal. If gas went up to $8, would you still say the taxes were the main problem? No, attack the problem. The problem is oil is too high and refining costs are too high and there is no substitute for oil. That's the problem. To do anything that doesn't address those three root causes, is to do a disservice to the American people by demagoguing the issue and ignoring a problem that is only going to get worse.

[Acebass]

40. I do admire your spunk and believe me we'll catch up to you ...

I know what your saying, I feel the same way but I look at things realistically in my old age...In all reality what we have is a jackass pushing an elephant...I'll take what I can get and shoot for what you want, hows that?...

[Acebass]

42. Norquist and company have privatized our governement...

To where we'll be lucky to get any control away from Corprate America

[ComerPerro]

45. LOL, 18 cents per gallon... kinda debunks the RW lies about

how taxes are part of the reason for high gas prices.

[Acebass]

46. Gasoline Tax Rates by State...see where your's stacks up...

Gasoline Tax Rates by State
Note: The Federal Gas Tax is 18.4 cpg


http://www.gaspricewatch.com/usgastaxes.asp

Here's mine...

Kentucky 15 12 Variable based on 9% of the average wholesale price of gasoline with minimum price of $1.11 or 10 cpg. In addition, there is a supplemental highway user tax of 5 cpg for gasoline and 2 cpg for special fuels plus a 1.4-cpg underground storage tank fee. Commercial carriers pay surtax via a quarterly report of 2.2 cpg on gasoline and 5.2 cpg on special fuels.

[ComerPerro]

47. They put it right on the pump, too! But I've had people try to tell me

that the reason prices so high is because of environmental regulations and gas taxes, which are as high as $1 per gallon (bullshit, of course, but they probably heard it from talk radio) and that such taxes were passed and proposed by Democrats like John Kerry...

[Acebass]

48. Exactly...and we working class have to take their word for it...

because we're too damn busy trying to make ends meet...I'm lucky my job keeps me on line...

[Acebass]

49. This could get to be fun...

Now the Repugs are playing tough...remember pong?...Good thing is, we end up the winner in the end if we stay on em...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060426/ap_on_go_co/oil_taxes_11;_ylt=AqSedy7ElDjPSvOTQzJ2i0eAsnsA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Senate Panel Demands Oil Co. Tax Records By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
48 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - A Senate committee Wednesday announced an investigation into taxes paid by major oil companies and asked the Internal Revenue Service for the companies' tax returns.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Senate Finance Committee promised "a comprehensive review of the federal taxes paid" by the 15 largest oil and gas companies. The committee said it wanted to inspect their tax returns for the last five years.

Sen. Charles Grassley (news, bio, voting record), R-Iowa, the committee's chairman, said the panel was concerned about high profits and executive compensation at oil companies.

"I want to make

[Wisconsin Larry]

50. Yes, indeed. It will be interesting to see them turn on one another,

from another report on the same story... First they create the loopholes, now they will eliminate them. Now that there is "political fallout" they think the electorate will forget who the party of big oil is?
I think/hope not.

"The committee announcement came as Congress showed increasing concern amid political fallout over high gasoline prices and oil industry profits. Lawmakers began moving on various fronts to eliminate loopholes and some tax provisions that save oil companies billions of dollars."

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/04/26/ap/headlines/d8h80bdgf.txt

[Acebass]

53. At least it takes our minds off spying, Iraq, Cheney...

[IronLionZion]

54. But big oil needs those tax breaks and giveaways!

it's just free market forces at work. Capitalism thrives on government bailouts. :sarcasm:

There is a simple free market solution to this problem: break up big oil into smaller competing companies like we used to have. prices will fall dramatically and then stabilize overnight. Trust me.

You want to know the justification for the tax breaks and giveaways...wait for it...alternative energy research! Big oil claims it needs billions of our tax dollars to research alternative fuels like liquid coal gas. They write it off as a business loss. The level of corruption is so huge and so erratic that they can get away with it purely because no one believes it or understands it.

[Acebass]

55. As long as they have control...

Nothing will be done. There are many avenues of alternate transportation. I say it like that because this issue is bigger than the price of gas at present. It's about our future, and how we travel in it. The death knell has sounded for fossil fuels we need to think out of the box...
Needless to say the big oil companies don't know the meaning of the word...

Think past oil...