Lawmakers Scramble to Ease Gas-Price Pain

Associated Press ^ | 4/27/06 | Josef Hebert

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Senate Republicans proposed a $100 rebate check for millions of taxpayers Thursday to counter high gasoline costs, but linked the assistance to drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge, assuring the measure would face stiff opposition from most Democrats.

Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee called the proposal "a bold package that will give consumers some relief" from gasoline prices that have passed $3 a gallon in many parts of the country.

"We are going to ease the burden," added Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., at a GOP news conference unveiling the measures. Frist said he hoped for a Senate vote next Tuesday.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Republican is now synonymous with Moron. This is a "bold" package? How about standing up to enviro-twits and opening up offshore and ANWR drilling, permitting new refineries and power plants, reducing boutique blends of gas, cutting fuel taxes and opening up other federal lands for exploration? Where's the supply-side of the solution? Instead these freaking idiots propose we tax ourselves to redistribute a measly $100 check to the have-nots.

Increasingly, there isn't a shred of difference between Rep and Dem.

[mlc9852]

Just when we thought our elected officials couldn't be any more idiotic, they prove us wrong. Why not lower the tax???? Either these people are very stupid or they think we are very stupid.

[CharlesWayneCT]

This is a simple thing. Not good, but clever.

They open ANWR to drilling, which brings in a certain amount of money. They take that money, and give it to all americans to offset the costs of gasoline.

So it doesn't raise the deficit, they look like they are helping us all out, and we all see how much it will cost EACH of us if the democrats block ANWR.

[skip_intro]

Great, this means I'll be able to fill my truck up - once.

Of course, my neighbor will do better. He doesn't drive, but he'll still get the same $100.

[brownsfan]

"Republican is now synonymous with Moron."

Absolutely! The paper cost of sending $100 to taxpayers would probably double the amount spent. And if they have that much to just p*ss away, then they're taking to darn much in taxes. How about another tax cut and proposing something logical?

[CharlesWayneCT]

BTW, I don't think we should eliminate the gas tax. The gas tax is a fair way to collect money for our road system. The more you drive, the more gas you use, the more you pay for the roads.

And if you don't want to pay the gas tax, you can get a high-mileage vehicle, or move to where you work closed to home, or cut down on trips, or use mass transit.

The gas tax is a regressive tax, but it serves a rational purpose.

[backhoe]

Either these people are very stupid or they think we are very stupid.

Both, I think... I have been covering, ( Or, as Seamole calls it...-backhoe's pseudoblog--... ) pseudo-blogging, this issue for years, so allow me to drop out of Lurk & Link mode for a rare bit of commentary-- we all need to get serious about our dependency on foreign sources of energy, and use our own resources.

Our consumer-based economy is driven by and dependent on readily-available, reliable energy-- choke that off, and we'll all be back to using one rotary dial phone in the dining room, watching one TV, and driving one car per family-- probably a Hudson Hornet or a Rambler...

We need to

1) end the nonsensical ban on offshore drilling off California and Florida--read & weep:
Castro Plans to Drill 45 Miles from US Shores, But We Can't

2) build a lot of next-generation nuclear power plants, not just for electricity, but for any process requiring heat, power, or steam.
And if we replaced our existing nuclear plants with this one there would be significant benefits.

3) end Jimmy Carter's idiotic ban on recycling nuclear waste, and reprocess the stuff rather than fighting over where to bury it. Europe has done this for decades.-- what to do with spent nuclear fuel? Answer here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1468321/posts?page=50#50 hattip:  Mike (former Navy Nuclear Engineer)

4) use the 300-500 years worth of coal we have on our own land, using the new clean-coal technology.
-Clean Coal Centre--

5) and finally, there's nothing wrong with conservation, we should all practice it- but you can't conserve your way out of a shortage. Nor is there anything wrong with "alternative" energy sources- except they don't supply the vast ( not to mention readily-available ) amounts of power we need at a price competitive to more conventional sources. Then again, there is this to ponder:
Energy From the Gulf Stream
http://www.energy.gatech.edu/presentations/mhoover.pdf

We do need to get serious about this before we get strangled by a bunch of petty thieves and dictators who don't like us much.

My tongue-in-cheek collection of energy-related links:

Sticker Shock-$3 a gallon gas? Click the picture:

And kindly note, and note well-- the first reply to this post ( when gas was $1.45 a gallon ) was derisive... so, who's laughing now?

[manwiththehands]

$100 !? I am not worthy! I am not worthy!

[yoe]

Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee called the proposal "a bold package that will give consumers some relief" from gasoline prices that have passed $3 a gallon in many parts of the country.Call Frist's office and tell this senator that a real bold package would be for the Federal Government and State governments to ROLL BACK THE TAX ON GAS !!!! FORGET THE DUMB REBATE !!!!

Senator Frist
Washington, DC
202-224-3344
202-228-1264 (fax)

[ex-snook]

"Senate Republicans proposed a $100 rebate check for millions of taxpayers Thursday to counter high gasoline costs,"

Republicans believe in the free-market still?

[samadams2000]

Behold..our leaders!

[zerosix]

I now refer to my Republican Senators as "Banana Republicans."

[KarlInOhio]

The gas tax is a fair way to collect money for our road system. The more you drive, the more gas you use, the more you pay for the roads.

I'm glad someone on FR understands that. Although I have a problem with federal funding of highways, the gas tax is a better way of funding them than putting in on the income tax.

Thomas Sowell hit a home run today with his comment on Congress discussing gasoline prices: "If there is anything worse than partisan demagoguery, it is bipartisan demagoguery."

[GregoTX]

"Increasingly, there isn't a shred of difference between Rep and Dem."

I dont agree with that statement as it pertains to the wide variety of issues, BUT on some issues, such as the gas price issue.... you and I agree completely. I read allot about the House and Senate making promises on this gas issue, I dont believe any of them.

[stockstrader]

I agree. The Republican Party looks more pathetic every day. If we can't get approval to drill ANWR with a Rep President, a Rep Senate, and a Rep House--it won't ever happen. Sad. Not sad, pathetic.

If you think gas prices are high now---wait until any, or all of those three, change hands to democratic control.

We'll just 'tax our way to cheap gas'! We all know that bigger and more government control and bureaucracy is the way to get more oil and cheaper gas.

[Realism]

Senate Republicans proposed a $100 rebate check for millions of taxpayers

Why are they wasting our time? Invest it into something that will actually be worthwhile.

[The Shootist]

Republican is now synonymous with Moron.

Vote buying sellouts

[KarlInOhio]

So, what are the odds that Congress will screw this up completely and instead of buying gas at $3/gallon, we'll not buy gas at $2.50/gallon. How much per gallon are you willing to pay to avoid 1970s style gas lines?

[tomahawk]

The Republican Party has become a sick joke.

Whores, almost every single one of them.

[stockstrader]

Because if this 'bold' move (shameless pandering and vote buying is a better description) is offerred by Frist and the republicans,,the democrats will take it to the next level--saying we can't afford to give it to everyone--so only low income people will get it.

I WANT MY $100!! <--big sarcasm--off