Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rendell urges fuel conservation, weighs more drastic steps
PennLive.com/AP ^ | 9/1/2005 | PETER JACKSON

Posted on 09/01/2005 12:44:33 PM PDT by Born Conservative

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell on Thursday urged Pennsylvanians to conserve gasoline and said he is considering more drastic steps if gas prices continue to rise, including rationing fuel or suspending the state's 31-cent-per-gallon fuel tax.

While stressing that such actions are not inevitable, Rendell said his administration is closely monitoring soaring gasoline prices, which exceed $3-per-gallon in parts of Pennsylvania, and spot shortages of fuel that have occurred elsewhere.

To temporarily lift the state gas tax, the governor said he would have to call the Legislature into special session and obtain its approval. He noted, however, that such a move could seriously disrupt funding for highway and bridge work across the state.

"I'm looking at whether we could do that for a short period of time and somewhat mitigate the cost to our highway construction and maintenance program," he said.

If gasoline supplies are disrupted and shortages occur, the state could require fuel rationing, he said.

Rendell said he could declare a fuel emergency — and take over authority to prosecute fuel sellers for price gouging from state Attorney General Tom Corbett — if he becomes convinced that gas prices in Pennsylvania are "beyond what market conditions dictate." He said he did not yet know what that threshold would be.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: fasteddie; gasprices; katrina; rendell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: jscd3
suspending the state's 31-cent-per-gallon fuel tax

While a good thing, this would have absolutely no affect on gas prices, only on who the cash associated with gasoline purchased flowed to


Quoted for truth.
41 posted on 09/01/2005 1:13:57 PM PDT by paulcox1978
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Kozak
Isn't it kinda schizophrenic to propose rationing, and then suggest cutting taxes, which would tend to drive up demand. Democrats aren't very good at economics are they?

Fast Eddie is a democrat -- which is to say he has no ability to reason.

42 posted on 09/01/2005 1:15:17 PM PDT by Tallguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: fortunecookie

My poor mom...premium gas is over 4/gallon :(


43 posted on 09/01/2005 1:15:32 PM PDT by cyborg ("I want to know how God created this world. I want to know His thoughts..." A.Einstein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: atomicpossum
I'm not sure what problem Rendell is trying to solve

He's trying to solve the political problem associated with looking like an incompetent waste of skin when major events are occurring that he is powerless to affect.

Just a guess...

44 posted on 09/01/2005 1:17:28 PM PDT by jscd3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: cyborg

Indeed! ;-( I wonder how soon for the rest of us. I'm hoping that after the initial crunch and race to top off tanks and fill that things will settle and prices will stabilize or fall. It's folks panic to fill up that is causing a stir. At least for now. The pipelines and oilrigs are the next task.


45 posted on 09/01/2005 1:18:00 PM PDT by fortunecookie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
Houston would fair much better in a Katrina type storm since Houston is on higher ground, but it would still be very very bad.

Houston is on higher ground. The refineries aren't.

46 posted on 09/01/2005 1:19:27 PM PDT by dirtboy (Drool overflowed my buffer...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Casekirchen

RAISING the price of gas is exactly what would encourage conservation. Price caps would keep the price artificially low, people would start hoarding and then we'll see the shortages. Kinda like we're seeing in Atlanta now.


47 posted on 09/01/2005 1:20:14 PM PDT by Tatze (I voted for John Kerry before I voted against him!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

Sure, suspend the tax now to pay it back double later.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is no thrill at all;
robbing Paul to pay Peter makes for a happy Peter.


48 posted on 09/01/2005 1:22:19 PM PDT by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be exorcised.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jscd3

That was my guess. :-)


49 posted on 09/01/2005 1:23:27 PM PDT by atomicpossum (Replies should be as pedantic as possible. I love that so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
prosecute fuel sellers for price gouging

When gas prices go from $2.19 to $2.99 in one week that's what I call it Eddie, price gouging?????

50 posted on 09/01/2005 1:23:55 PM PDT by eeriegeno
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
Disrupt funding for road work???
I think he meant to say disrupt the subsidies for Philly & Pittsburg's public transit.
Filled up in Lancaster Co. this am at 2.79... wonder what it will be when I leave work tonite?
51 posted on 09/01/2005 1:27:14 PM PDT by Sisku Hanne (Deprogramming the left, one truth at a time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HamiltonJay

There are nationwide news programs suggesting major price increases so people across the country are filling up and topping off. The greatest supply of stored gas in this country by far is in the 200 million private vehicles. When Americans make a decision to fill up instead of just getting $20, that makes a huge difference in stored gasoline supplies. It does not require "panic", just speculation about prices increases and that's what's happening right now.


52 posted on 09/01/2005 1:28:50 PM PDT by palmer (If you see flies at the entrance to the burrow, the ground hog is probably inside)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

Yeh! But will he strip the welfare rolls of the DEAD?


53 posted on 09/01/2005 1:29:46 PM PDT by litehaus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: HamiltonJay

Am about 20 miles east of Pgh. Thanks for the info regarding where our gas comes from.


54 posted on 09/01/2005 1:30:27 PM PDT by cjshapi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

"including rationing fuel or suspending the state's 31-cent-per-gallon fuel tax."

Rationing fuel will have no impact on prices.

Suspending the tax is self-defeating. The oil cartel thugs will merely raise the price even higher to reap a bigger profit.

Bush should call the CEOs of the major oil companies into his office for a heart-to-heart talk.

He should say something like this:

"Look, I know you're all patriotic Americans who love your country and are merely out to make a reasonable profit (sarcasm). However, this is a national emergency. We need fuel oil and gasoline and we need it at reasonable prices. I know refineries and wells were put out of commission and I know we really should have more built and dug and I agree with you boys on that (sincerity).

But this IS an emergency. Now if you boys do your part and behave and prices return to reasonable levels -considering the state of events - everything will be fine.

If, on the other hand, you decide to continue to be greedy and take advantage of this national emergency, I will be forced to go before Congress and request that they pass a bill nationalizing all oil production and distribution until the emergency ends. Lincoln did it with the Railroads and I reckon I can do it with the oil industry,

I know you'll make the right decision.

See you later pardners."


55 posted on 09/01/2005 1:32:03 PM PDT by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kozak
Democrats aren't very good at economics are they?

Jimmy Carter was a genius.

56 posted on 09/01/2005 1:40:11 PM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
Refineries are well above sealevel 12' at least. I know as worked on the Shell Oil refinery in Deer Park long long time ago. Not sure how high Exxon at Baytown is, but I am sure it is similar. Texas City refineries are older but they too are well above sea level.

I am not saying the Houston area refineries could ride out a katrina like storm without serious damage. Just that after the storm the refineries would not be under water and the to and from roads would not be underwater either. Also keep in mind that Houston is 50 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico.

Hopefully there will be no more Katrinas this year. Local folklore has it that every winter with snow is followed by a major huricane, Houston had a white Christmas last winter.

57 posted on 09/01/2005 1:41:00 PM PDT by jpsb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: ZULU
Now if you boys do your part and behave and prices return to reasonable levels -considering the state of events - everything will be fine.

Except for the subsequent shortages that would result in gas not being available at *any* price. Other than that, just peachy.

58 posted on 09/01/2005 1:44:20 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent (That's great. What?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

I'm shocked at the number of people here proposing that that oil companies are price gouging. We have just had a major supply disruption. Natural market forces dictate the price will rise greatly. If you want to avoid shortages, you must raise the price.

Look at the NYMEX Gasoline futures. Yesterday they were at $2.60. That's wholesale. Of course price at the pump will be in the three dollar range.


59 posted on 09/01/2005 2:45:05 PM PDT by zforce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

You know, if Eddie really wants to save gas he ought to kill the tolls on the Turnpike.


60 posted on 09/01/2005 4:34:07 PM PDT by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson