The republicans want to buy us off with $100 to let them drill in Alaska

[bigtree]

Alaska: Price for rebate

Fabian Sifuentes
http://www.uh.edu/campus/cougar/Todays/Issue/opinion/oped3.html

To counter rising gasoline cost, Senate Republicans proposed giving taxpayers $100 gasoline rebate checks. Right now, that will pay for three tanks of gas (provided you sport a Scion like I do). By the end of summer, I might get lucky to get two tanks out of it if gas prices continue to increase. Nevertheless, the money would be very useful.

Not so fast. In order to help everyone out so they can continue to be gas gouged, the Republicans threw in a blurb about drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Imagine that. They have a chance to pass legislation that would benefit every driver in the nation no matter what party affiliation they are, but they won°Øt do it unless there is something for them to gain politically.

--------------------------------------------

Senate Republican Energy Plan has Merit: Bodman

REUTERS
April 28, 2006

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-energy-usa-bodman.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A plan by Senate Republicans to soften the blow of rising gasoline prices by giving taxpayers a $100 check and suspending a retail fuel tax has merit, U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said Friday.

Bodman's comments to CBS television were taken as an indication the White House could support a proposal advanced by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday.

``It certainly has merit,'' Bodman told CBS. ``Whenever you have a proposal of that sort there's always the question of unintended consequences, so we will be doing analysis.''

Frist's bill would give all but the wealthiest U.S. taxpayers a $100 check to ease the burden of high pump prices.

However, Bodman reiterated the White House will not support a plan to tax oil industry profits, which some Democrats have proposed.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-energy-usa-bodman.html

[elehhhhna]

1. It's a BRIBE. Mepublican's answer to everything.

[chaplainM]

2. A sham within a sham

The $100 is our money to begin with!

[bigtree]

4. sure is

!

[FrannyD]

10. You mean China's money

More deficit spending for sure.

[chaplainM]

12. At today's exchange rate...

...how much is $100, in yuan?

[bigtree]

13. two tanks of gas here

[ananda]

3. Why is everything such a scam these days?

The oilco's get Bush to deregulate, and now they're getting the Senate to sneak Alaskan drilling in on the rebate bill.

Ugly.

Sue

[FrannyD]

9. Because they get away with it

No accountability, no consequences

[nonconformist]

5. And dollars to donuts, just like the tax "rebate" a few years ago

You will have to claim and deduct it from your refund on your next tax return.

And the dumbshits will just eat it right up.

[global1]

6. Here's What The Dems Should Do.....

Frist threw this out so that the Dem's would shoot it down and then he could blame the Dems for not wanting to give American's relief at the pump.

I think what the Dems should do is call his bluff and up the ante. Let's say how about $100/month to all Americans until gas prices come down to $1.75/gallon.

Let's play the same game they are playing - let them shoot that one down.

[Ian David]

8. Great! And a $0.05 / share tax on trading oil company securities. n/t

[brentspeak]

7. Sorry, Repubs. Bribe not accepted

I prefer that the oil industry profits be taxed over your little bribe that you hope will shut me up.

[OregonBlue]

11. The Repugs understand BRIBERY

Not only is it bribery, it's disgusting that the Repugs have so little respect for the American people that they think they can bribe us into destroying one of our last remaining wilderness areas for $100.

The oil companies will make billions off of it and all they are offering us is a meer $100.

That's why they refused yesterday to eliminate the royalty subsidies that Wyden was lobbing against, they will get billions in royalty subsidies, of our taxpayer dollars, off of ANWR.

Hope dems come out really strong on this one and point out how low an opinion of the public these guys have that they think they can rape our wilderness, reap huge taxpayer benefits and pay us a pitiful sum for being allowed to do it!!

[dogday]

14. With the large deficit we already have, how

are we going to justify this??? This amount does not do crap for anybody, however it just adds more to the federal deficit.... This is a pity gesture for the politicians....

[Jack Rabbit]

15. They can keep the $100

It might go to better use to start a radical and intensive alternative feul program.

If they want to do something symbolic, they can reinstall the solar panels that Reagan removed from the White House roof in 1981.

[callous taoboy]

17. I'd send mine directly to DNC n/t

[Javaman]

16. Nothing more than mafia hush money, they can shove it. nt

[triguy46]

18. $100?

Not exactly, we'll have to declare this as common income won't we? So less your nominal tax rate, etc.

[bigtree]

19. yup

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

20. There they go again! Trying to destroy the last pristine wilderness

for oil that even if they did drill wouldn't be available for a decade and wouldn't do much to fix the total problem.

They are such slime. Gotta watch them every moment.

:puke: