Dingell (D-Mich.) to propose 50 cent gasoline tax increase

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dingell-to-propose-50-cent-gasoline-tax-increase-2007-07-07.html

Dingell to propose 50 cent gasoline tax increase
By Chris Good
July 07, 2007

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) will propose a new carbon tax that would increase the gasoline tax by 50 cents, the lawmaker said in an interview on C-SPAN's ‘Newsmakers’ airing Sunday.

In the interview, Dingell acknowledged that voters may not be willing to bear the cost of limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and that he would propose the new tax “just to sort of see how people really feel about this.”

“I sincerely doubt that the American people are willing to pay what this is really going to cost them,” Dingell said in the interview.

Since 1955 Dingell has represented Dearborn, MI, home to Ford Motor Company’s headquarters. The Michigan lawmaker has said he will push legislation in the fall that would restrict carbon emissions from both automobiles and electric utilities.

In addition to raising the gasoline tax, Dingell’s new proposal would institute a “double digit” tax on each ton of carbon dioxide emitted.

[devilgrrl]

1. How about a 50 cent tax increase on BIG oil? How about a tax increase for corporations?

Sorry, I'm sick of average citizens having to foot the bill any more. :shrug:

[AndyTiedye]

2. OK If It Gets Spent on Rebuilding Our RAILROADS

[depakid]

12. LOL -not if Dingell has his way

That man's a whore for the auto (and coal) industries to the nth degree.

A better example of what's wrong with the American political system would be difficult to come by.

[AndyTiedye]

14. GM Used To Build Locomotives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GM-EMD_locomotives

[depakid]

20. The smart move would be to invest in them again

because that's where much of America's transportation future lies.

Of course, "forward looking" and "innovative" aren't exactly adjectives one associates with GM.

[Vincardog]

How much will mr. Dingell’s plan raise CAFE standards?

Does he plan to use the money raised for SOLAR or WIND power?

[orleans]

3. hummm...someone doesn't want to be reelected.....

that's a great idea. wait till prices on gas start dropping a little and quick! hike them up 50 cents!

WHY DOESN'T HE FUCKING PROPOSE RAISING THE CAFE STANDARDS???

[kurth]

4. This will REALLY help Democrats win elections

Stupid idea.

[bluestateguy]

5. As I have said before about gas prices

It will be the working class people hurt most by dingbat ideas like this one. Rich people will just pay the taxes and keep on driving as they always have been. Rural people also will pay disproportionately because it is less likely that they can just stop driving and take public transportation. Public transportation is less available or not available at all in rural communities.

[msongs]

6. hey dingle, get rid of the GM/FORD overpaid failure management and build electric cars nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Simply brilliant!

:argh:

[liberal N proud]

8. And this will help the American public HOW?

:banghead:

[MADem]

9. The people who will initially love the idea will be those who don't realize what it will do to their

costs of EVERYTHING.

That's a regressive tax, really. The poorer you are, the more it will hurt. Wanna send flowers to grandma? The florist needs an extra fifty cents because of gas prices...no, more like a buck, because he had to go to the flower market to pick them up, too. That milk that came by truck, that will cost more, as will that bread, and so on, and so on.

It's not just the people in the SUVs--luxury, or crappy old ones--that will be ponying up for the gas--everyone will, even if they don't own a car.

It will be the poor people who cannot afford to live NEAR their workcenter who will get nailed the worst by this kind of tax.

I dunno--I don't see this as the way to do it. How about reducing taxes down to damned near nothing on subcompact, fuel efficient vehicles? And raising them to the roof on the Luxury and Large Engine Gas Pigs?

How about encouraging car manufacturers, with tax breaks, to offer low interest loans to people who are willing to trade in a gas pig for a fuel efficient car?

And closing the SUV loophole that allows small businessmen to buy HUGE SUVs and give them to their WIVES to drive? Make small businessmen put their logo on the car (painted on, no magnets) and submit a log of vehicle miles and business purpose with their tax returns--that'll cut that shit out. I live in a town FULL of ladies whose husbands write off their Lexus SUVs--it's fucking offensive.

That fifty cent tax will raise the cost of everything, and affect the poorest first. And affect the poorest hardest. It's a lousy idea. The push should be to persuade people to drive cars that use less gas, not punish everyone NOW because they don't have the dough in the bank today to buy a Prius...

[InkAddict]

10. How about we tax the big STOCKHOLDERS in corporations

that refuse to cut their emissions, won't support development of alternative non-polluting energy sources, and continue to raise the expectations and consumer levels of foreign workers while trashing our country's resources, natural and human, and enabling global rackateering and profitteering.

[partylessinOhio]

11. Dingell is INSANE! There is no need to put any more burdens on the

working persons. He would do well to bring the price of gasoline down if it takes price controls. These oil barons are driving up costs for food and other products while wages and good paying jobs are disappearing.

Dingell is a democrat and is as disappointing as the democratic governor of Ohio who just cut the homestead exemption for poor elderly and disabled by taking off the income limits. So now even millionaires will get the homestead exemption. Instead of a tiered system where the poorest got the most help, it will be a flat lower amount for all (whether they need the help or not).

I am really sick and tired of politicians masquerading as Democrats, getting elected and then cutting our throats.

[BlackVelvet04]

13. Dingleberry......

In the interview, Dingell acknowledged that voters may not be willing to bear the cost of limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and that he would propose the new tax “just to sort of see how people really feel about this.”

Here's a clue on how we feel about this: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[VP505]

21. Dingle

berry, berry stupid me thinks!

[HeeBGBz]

15. This will only hurt the poor and working class

I'm already spending one quarter of my weekly paycheck on gas to get back and forth to work.

Is this asshole trying to give away the Dem majority or what?

[Rydz777]

16. Dingell is not serious about this. He knows it won't pass. He is

just spitting in the eye of those who are seriously looking for alternatives to the suicidal economic dependency on oil that we have gotten ourselves into - with a lot of help from myopic auto manufacturers in Detroit.

[dkf]

17. 100% tax credit for solar panels.

nuff said.

[Toots]

18. I am going to let a big loud smelly fart in church also..

:shrug:

[heidler1]

19. He's just trying to poison the well so nothing will happen to hurt Mich. jobs.