Harold Ford Jr: Cut The 18.4 Cent Federal Gas Tax For At Least 30 Days

[Jackson4Gore]

http://haroldfordjr2006.blogspot.com

Tennesseans shouldn't pay for Congress' and President Bush's inaction, nor should they line the pockets of oil company executives

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. is once again urging congressional leaders to pass a 30-day suspension of the 18.4 cent/gallon federal gas tax. Ford made the following statement earlier today:

"While President Bush and the Republican leadership in Washington dither on what to do about gas prices as high as $4 for some Americans, I believe a 30 day suspension of the 18.4 cent/gallon federal gasoline tax should be adopted. This temporary relief would provide much needed relief for the working man and woman in Memphis and our state.

"After the first 30 day suspension, we would assess whether it should be extended. The fact that this country, more than four and a half years after we were attacked, has no real energy plan to get us off Middle East oil is inexcusable. In the meantime, I believe temporary relief for Tennesseans is better than nothing, especially as we learn that oil company CEOs are pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars while we are all left to pay more than $3 a gallon. We can pay for this tax suspension with a temporary windfall tax on oil companies.

"The long term answer is to invest in the clean development and safe use of bio-diesel, wind, solar, coal and nuclear energy to fuel the enormous energy appetite of our country. We need a new energy policy for America that rewards energy efficiency through innovation and conservation.

“In the meantime, Congress should also pass legislation to do three things. First, we should provide incentives for automakers to deploy technology to dramatically increase mile per gallon standards, commonly called CAFE standards, in their new cars and trucks. Second, we should enact more aggressive tax credits for renewable sources of energy and provide tax breaks for companies in Oak Ridge and the East Tennessee Technology Corridor to develop technology that will reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. Third, we should promote technology that will allow farmers to convert crops like soybeans, corn and Tennessee switchgrass into alternative sources of energy.

“The President should stop blaming President Clinton for problems, and start fixing them. Tennesseans and the American people have had enough of the blame game. They want answers, and, most of all in the short term, lower gas prices."

Following the sudden spike in gas prices after Hurricane Katrina Congressman Ford was an original co-sponsor of the “Gas Tax Relief Act of 2005” (H.R. 3683). Under the bill, funding for state highways will not be reduced so states will not have to increase taxes.

According to Tennessee law, if the elimination or reduction in the federal gas tax results in reduced funding to Tennessee from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, then the state gas tax will be automatically increased to off-set the decrease in funding. H.R. 3683 includes a provision preempting state law and preventing states from increasing their state gas tax as a result of the suspension of the federal gas tax. In addition, the bill specifically appropriates funds out of the general fund to offset the funding shortfall to the Federal Highway Trust Fund that would have been caused by the suspension of the federal gas tax.

[northzax]

1. oh sure

why not cut out the middleman and simply write the check to the oil companies? anyone think that the price of gas would actually go down 18.4 cents? please.

[bigscott]

3. exactly

18 cents is less than 6% of the cost right now. My gas station has raised prices more than that this week alone. None of this bullshit is solving the problem - oh yeah right - a problem caused by Clinton SIX years ago - Fuck *

[Lib Grrrrl]

4. Not Only That

but did you really think the oil companies would, out of the goodness of their hearts, eat the proposed "windfall tax" and not pass that right on to the end consumer?

We're fucked no matter WHAT anyone does...until this criminal regime is behind bars where it belongs, anyway.

[napi21]

2. I agree that COULD temporarily reduct the $$ at the pump, BUT

it's taking $$ out of the Treasury that isn't there, and not impacting the profiteers at all!

[Kansas Wyatt]

5. Republican Party: Now wait just a damn minute

'If we do that, then we'll have to start cutting Corporate Welfare. Next you'll be saying those poor helpless Corporations would have to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and work harder. That is just wrong and mean spirited.'

[DUHandle]

6. Tax cuts are not a solution

[Coastie for Truth]

7. Wrong Solution

Raise CAFE to 45-50 MPG - good temporary fix to postpone the inevitable - see "The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century" by James Howard Kunstler.

[Roland99]

8. This will save, what, $10/mo. for the avg driver?

Wow...what a boost.

[triguy46]

9. And exactly how does that decrease demand?

What we don't need is more incentive for mindless consumption.

[tishaLA]

10. The "feel-good" stupid solution

Is it too much to ask for Ford to have a fucking brain? I don't hate him like many DUers do, but jeebus! That sounds exactly like a non-solution a republicon might suggest.

[ClassWarrior]

11. I've come to not trust Ford...

Cut the gas taxes, let all the profit go to Big Oil, and privatize the highway system? I don't think so, Hal.

NGU.

[Jackson4Gore]

13. Did anyone actually read the entire release?

"In the meantime, I believe temporary relief for Tennesseans is better than nothing, especially as we learn that oil company CEOs are pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars while we are all left to pay more than $3 a gallon. We can pay for this tax suspension with a temporary windfall tax on oil companies."

“In the meantime, Congress should also pass legislation to do three things. First, we should provide incentives for automakers to deploy technology to dramatically increase mile per gallon standards, commonly called CAFE standards, in their new cars and trucks. Second, we should enact more aggressive tax credits for renewable sources of energy and provide tax breaks for companies in Oak Ridge and the East Tennessee Technology Corridor to develop technology that will reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. Third, we should promote technology that will allow farmers to convert crops like soybeans, corn and Tennessee switchgrass into alternative sources of energy."

"The President should stop blaming President Clinton for problems, and start fixing them. Tennesseans and the American people have had enough of the blame game. They want answers, and, most of all in the short term, lower gas prices."

Following the sudden spike in gas prices after Hurricane Katrina Congressman Ford was an original co-sponsor of the “Gas Tax Relief Act of 2005” (H.R. 3683). Under the bill, funding for state highways will not be reduced so states will not have to increase taxes.

According to Tennessee law, if the elimination or reduction in the federal gas tax results in reduced funding to Tennessee from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, then the state gas tax will be automatically increased to off-set the decrease in funding. H.R. 3683 includes a provision preempting state law and preventing states from increasing their state gas tax as a result of the suspension of the federal gas tax. In addition, the bill specifically appropriates funds out of the general fund to offset the funding shortfall to the Federal Highway Trust Fund that would have been caused by the suspension of the federal gas tax."

[Mrspeeker]

12. Think the name FORD says it all

Who does this man really work for?

18 cents when gas will be 3.18 by the time this guys gets out of bed is stupid!

[Jackson4Gore]

14. Read the entire release, Ford also calls for windfall tax on oil companies

"In the meantime, I believe temporary relief for Tennesseans is better than nothing, especially as we learn that oil company CEOs are pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars while we are all left to pay more than $3 a gallon. We can pay for this tax suspension with a temporary windfall tax on oil companies."

“In the meantime, Congress should also pass legislation to do three things. First, we should provide incentives for automakers to deploy technology to dramatically increase mile per gallon standards, commonly called CAFE standards, in their new cars and trucks. Second, we should enact more aggressive tax credits for renewable sources of energy and provide tax breaks for companies in Oak Ridge and the East Tennessee Technology Corridor to develop technology that will reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. Third, we should promote technology that will allow farmers to convert crops like soybeans, corn and Tennessee switchgrass into alternative sources of energy."

"The President should stop blaming President Clinton for problems, and start fixing them. Tennesseans and the American people have had enough of the blame game. They want answers, and, most of all in the short term, lower gas prices."

Following the sudden spike in gas prices after Hurricane Katrina Congressman Ford was an original co-sponsor of the “Gas Tax Relief Act of 2005” (H.R. 3683). Under the bill, funding for state highways will not be reduced so states will not have to increase taxes.

According to Tennessee law, if the elimination or reduction in the federal gas tax results in reduced funding to Tennessee from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, then the state gas tax will be automatically increased to off-set the decrease in funding. H.R. 3683 includes a provision preempting state law and preventing states from increasing their state gas tax as a result of the suspension of the federal gas tax. In addition, the bill specifically appropriates funds out of the general fund to offset the funding shortfall to the Federal Highway Trust Fund that would have been caused by the suspension of the federal gas tax."

[Mrspeeker]

15. Oh more scapegoats

Yeah our governing body who works for the corporation best interests, would have us believe that they are the champion of the poor and a Representative of us all. But we know that is just not true and that these types of plans are usually scapegoats to lure the public into a rational that our governing body is really trying to help the little guys and girl well all the time pandering to big business.

I'm not debating you about the scapegoat plans that will be the forte for this summers political agenda, I'm merely pointing out that its the problems source of origin that is the problem itself.

If most of our elected officials are paid or work for a oil corporations, then how can we rely on them to support the publics best interests?

[Jackson4Gore]

16. Ford is winning this race

Because he is dedicated to helping all Tennesseans. Take this issue for example. He is calling for a reduction in the gas tax, while his Republicans aren't doing anything.

He really is a man of the issues and will make Tennessee a great U.S. Senator.

I hope all you guys rally behind him during this campaign as this is one of the most crucial races we have this year!