Rendell rules out gasoline-tax reduction

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | 5/26/04 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[Josh in PA]

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gov. Ed Rendell is strongly opposed to a Washington County legislator's effort to reduce the state's gasoline tax by 12 cents per gallon for the next six months.

Rendell said yesterday that oil-producing countries, especially those in the Mideast, are the major causes of skyrocketing prices for oil and gasoline. He said the state would only be hurting itself by lowering its gasoline tax temporarily, as proposed by Rep. Peter Daley, D-California.

Rendell said Saudi Arabia may increase its oil production somewhat, which could bring some relief on gas prices, but the best thing Pennsylvania can do is develop alternate sources for gasoline, like turning coal waste into gas, which he said is already being done by an Indiana County firm.

Daley said a projected state budget surplus of about $400 million for the fiscal year ending June 30 could be used to cushion the loss of gasoline tax money, but Rendell said if there is any surplus it will be needed to make up for reductions in federal funds for the state.

[Josh in PA]

"Big Ed" made no friends today.. Callers on a local TV station's "talkback" were irate to say the least.

[adam_az]

"but Rendell said if there is any surplus it will be needed to make up for reductions in federal funds for the state."

In other words, he's whining that his spending is outpacing the flow rate at the Federal Teat.

This scumbag also complains about the Federal Deficit.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=125-04062004

"The past three years have left states in the worst fiscal crisis in half a century a crisis compounded and made worse by the growing federal deficit. As governors of states struggling to overcome this crisis, we have continued to serve our citizens and make progress despite little or no help from the federal government."

Sincerely,

Vilsack / Richardson / ***Rendell*** / Sebelius / Holden / Wise / Locke / McGreevey /Minner / Doyle

YA CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, RENDELL!!!

[I still care]

The difference between a democratic state and a republican one.

Here in FL, we are getting a gas and clothing tax break in August - voted in a couple of weeks ago.

[ObiJuan]

Too bad that difference in the state doesnt translate into a federal gas tax reduction. Didn't President Bush promise to cut the gas tax?

[stremba]

Under the system of federalism, since when is it the responsibility of the federal government to fund the state governments? Oh, I forgot. Rendell and the other Dims don't believe in federalism.