Sen. Durbin: ‘I Paid $1.51 A Gallon’ – ‘We’re Missing An Opportunity’ To Hike Gas Tax

Cybercast News Service ^ | February 9, 2016 | 11:27 AM EST | Eric Scheiner

[Olog-hai]

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says, current gas prices have gone down and the government is "missing an opportunity" to increase the gas tax.

At a press conference in Chicago on Friday Durbin said, "Two weeks ago I paid $1.51 a gallon for gasoline in downstate Illinois. Clearly, the price of gasoline has gone down dramatically, as has the price of a barrel of oil -- which I think is below $30."

"I think we're missing an opportunity here -- a 5-cent increase in the federal gas tax can really fund an infrastructure program that can help create new jobs in this economy and help businesses. Now is the time to do it." ...

[kiryandil]

April 15 - Dependence Day

[TruthWillWin]

Was in S Cal last week, paid $2.79 per gallon for regular.

[TruthWillWin]

Forgot to mention, after buying that expensive gas made the mistake of taking 73 freeway, then paid $7.43 toll for going about 8 miles.

[yuleeyahoo]

Only 5%? Why not 10,000%? Let’s really rev up the economy.

[Rusty0604]

The price should be whatever the free market dictates. Liberals not only like to raise taxes, they would love to fix prices too.

[fella]

Prices go down so “they” want to raise our taxes and when the prices go up, and we know they will, “they” will still want to raise taxes.

When only the oligarchs are represented can “we the people” claim that it’s taxation without representation?

[Defiant]

I have a great idea. For every 2 cents below $1.50 per gallon that a gallon of gas is sold, the government gets 1 cent. Give the government an incentive to keep the price of gas below $1.50. I bet you’d see some changes in their behavior. Incentivize the feds.

[Defiant]

When prices go up, they love getting a percentage. When prices go down, it’s got to be a flat fee.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

"I think we're missing an opportunity here -- a 5-cent increase in the federal gas tax can really fund an infrastructure program that can help create new jobs in this economy and help businesses. Now is the time to do it." ...

Really, a Democrat thinks a price break on fuel is an opportunity to raise taxes? Shocking.

What happened to all of the "shovel-ready" projects that received billions in federal stimulus funding which were supposed to fix the nation's rotting infrastructure, create new jobs and help businesses?

[Dick Bachert]

It’s what these assholes do EVERY TIME the price of some essential commodity drops hoping the DUMB MASSES (say that quickly for maximum effect) won’t notice. Most do not. Those would mainly be democrats!

[IronJack]

Liberals: never met a tax they didn’t like.

[seeker7_dj]

Why do you moron Illinois people keep voting him in?

[Just mythoughts]

Gas near me is $1.23...

[Ancesthntr]

Ah, Senator Dick Douchebag.

Moron, lower gas prices act like a giant tax cut for EVERY person and EVERY business in this country - even if you don’t fill up. Petroleum is THE key input into the cost structure of EVERY good and EVERY product in the country. The only people hurt are those in the oil and gas business, and that is ameliorated by the fact that their goods and services also cost less due to lower prices. More money in the hands of people and business means more economic activity, which means more tax revenue.

I swear that Michael Savage is correct: Liberalism IS a mental disorder.

[chulaivn66]

Plunder.

[Theodore R.]

Durbin’s right: there is nothing people in IL would like better than to pay more at the pump!

[Kay Ludlow]

Didn’t we get a nickel a gallon tax on gas about 25 years ago for roads and bridges? Aren’t we still paying that? And he wants another???

[Theodore R.]

The American people don’t know the word “incentive”. It’s way beyond their vocabulary.

[Theodore R.]

IL doesn’t just vote him in: he wins by huge margins, often with the most mediocre opponent.

[nascarnation]

Obama really screwed up with his $10/bbl crude oil tax proposal.

If he started at $25, Congress would have given him $10 and breathed a sigh of relief.