Help Democrats Lower Gas Prices Now (Harry Reid)

[Sapphire Blue]

Email from Harry Reid...

Help Democrats Lower Gas Prices Now

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

[Inland]

1. Gax tax relief = half the cost of occupying Iraq

If that. Six billion over sixty days vs six to ten b a month for Iraq.

[rockymountaindem]

2. K & R

Lowering taxes on the people and raising them on mega-corps who get giveaways they don't need? What a great idea!

[xynthee]

3. Pure brilliance!!

Here's another article on Raw Story:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Democrats_to_propose_cutting_gas_tax_0425.html

snip:

Democrats will propose eliminating federal gas taxes for sixty days; 18 cents a gallon

John Byrne
Published: Tuesday April 25, 2006

Mulling proposal to give feds more power to target price gougers

Democrats are set to introduce a measure that would create a "federal gas tax holiday" by eliminating the federal tax on gas and diesel for sixty days, RAW STORY has learned.

The measure, proposed by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), would reduce the cost of gas by $0.184 per gallon and the cost of diesel by $0.244 per gallon. The move, aides say, will provide $100 million dollars per day in relief.

Democrats say the money will be made up by cutting six billion dollars in tax breaks to oil firms. Currently, the money from the federal gas tax goes to the Highway Trust fund.

The Democrats' move come in the wake of two decisions by President Bush today -- one, to temporarily relax environmental regulations in an effort to speed up delivery of fuel and dampen prices, and two, to halt delivery of oil to the U.S. strategic petroleum reserves.

end snip

This is lose-lose for the Republicans and win-win for the Dems (and the country).

I love it!!

K & R

[Mrspeeker]

4. so for 60 days we would get 18 cents off a gallon LOL

Folks its time to come up with a real solution, our leaders cannot lead.
They have failed us time and time again.

Gas is 3.19 here for regular unleaded..umm thats like 3.01 a gallon and only for 60 days still a 100% mark up from when Mr. Bush took office and went to bat for the gas and defense company's.

I would say to Mr. Reid that a 60 day solution that only lowers gas by .184 is a bad idea, we need long term goals in this country to make Americans feel secure about our source of energy!

What happened to America? We use to be so proud and could achieve any goal. Now we just pander to the corporations as they now own everything!

[gully]

5. OUR leaders can lead. REPUBLICANS cannot.

THAT is the issue. We are the minority party and have not had an opportunity to "lead" since the Clinton years.

Also, the 60 day solution can/will help the economy in various ways. For some people 5 bucks at the gas tank means milk and bread for their children.

[Mrspeeker]

7. yeah still 100% mark up

and gas is still going up, how about a price cap. If its 3.19 now and Mr. Reid did get this passed which he won't, then the prices would just go up to 3.37. Mr Reid's plan would bring it back down to around 3.19 I'm sorry thats not a great plan or great leadership!

And as far as Democrats or Republicans leading or showing leadership type quality's, remains to be seen unless of course its in the best interest of their donors!

[gully]

9. Democrats have had numerous bits of legislation blocked

by Republicans, legislation designed to address price gouging. However, this particular solution is an attempt to "lower taxes" and as such, one might consider it a brilliant political move which demonstrates the leadership you claim to desire.

As to the "donor" remark, I AM a donor. One might want to actually familiarize themselves with the current DNC fund raising techniques before tossing out an old Nader talking point?

How bout that guy in your avatar? Democrat, no?

[Mrspeeker]

10. LOL

well I can't argue with you all day my reference to donor=lobbyist like Exxon or another huge corporation that donates trillions to their cause.

You are way off the topic now and looking for personal attacks.

You still havent addmitted that 18 cents off a gallon for 60 days is a joke and is not a solution to the problem!

[gully]

14. What is "their cause?"

Define that for me. There is a "common cause" which people like Bush and Nader fail to understand, however.

[Mrspeeker]

17. control

[SoFlaJet]

6. I refuse to believe

that "nothing can be done" so what are the alternatives?Do nothing?If this were the Clinton Administration he would have at least addressed it without the pie in the sky that the GOP does.

[Mrspeeker]

8. I'm not saying nothing should be done by any means!

I'm saying that a 60 day 18 cents a gallon so called solution is not a solution but more like a lets brush this off for a bit and see if they will forget about it. And of course in 60 day same problem again except now its worse!

What should be done well of course the administration should show some accountability and tell their #1 donor they will not take anymore had outs and are actually going to get serious about corporate accountability and regulations.

This would be a big turn around from the close doors meetings with the vice president promising them world oil domination and record profit margins.

alot needs to be done to provide America with a affordable energy source and its just not getting done because of the overwhelming support for corporation and their lobbying of Capitol hill.

[theboss]

11. This would be falling into a Republican trap

Once the Republicans get rid of a tax, they are not going to bring it back.

So, we would be playing into the "Starving the Beast" strategy while not addressing the fundamental issue.

[Mrspeeker]

12. thank you

Someone thats looking at the overall picture!

[theboss]

13. Someone is missing an easy opportunity to be a leader here

Some Democrat needs to step forward and offer a real energy policy. Offer a reduction in the federal gas tax for a trade off along the lines of permanent protection for ANWR. Make the Republicans choose lowering taxes or destroying the environment.

As a bone to the right, offer allowing more refining capacity, which is a legitimate problem and should have been addressed 20 years ago.

Then throw some federal money at alternative fuels to make the environmentalists really happy. Maybe even allow some sort of short-term increase in nuclear power to make the right-wingers happy.

Consolidate the various blends of gasoline.

Toughen up price-gouging laws. Demand hearings on oil industry practices.

Basically, come up with a bill that gives everyone something AND addresses the real issues of:
1. Simple Supply and Demand, and
2. Over-reliance on fossil fuels.

[Hun Joro]

19. I agree...this is not a solution.

[jsamuel]

15. this is smart, it will help, great idea, we must also realize that this is

only going to help temporarily and that a more permanent solution has to be found SOON, in other words, during the tax break...

[NanceGreggs]

16. K & R!!!

:kick:

[Klukie]

18. Gladly signed!

[Clarkie1]

20. Makes sense to me. n/t