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Drive less, pay more
Waterbury Republican-American ^ | July 30, 2008 | Editorial

Posted on 07/30/2008 9:35:13 AM PDT by Graybeard58

Paraphrasing, here's how the exchange went between congressional Democrats and the president over lifting their respective bans on offshore drilling: President Bush: "We need to lift the bans. Americans are being hammered by high gasoline prices."

Democrats in Congress: "You go first."

President Bush: "OK, I hereby lift the presidential ban on offshore drilling. Your turn."

Democrats in Congress: "Forget that. Gasoline prices are too low. Let's raise the gasoline tax 56 percent instead."

Why would they propose that? Because next year, the Federal Highway Trust Fund, where gasoline-tax receipts collect, will be at least $3 billion in the red; at the start of 2006, it had a $10 billion surplus.

What happened? First, transportation spending is out of control. But Americans also are driving less because Democrats and their green cronies have made gasoline so damned expensive, so excise-tax receipts are coming in below projections.

Democrats have decided to do something about this: reward cash-strapped Americans for conserving energy by raising their gasoline taxes at least a dime to 28.4 cents a gallon. They say if they retain control of Congress, that increase will be "the cornerstone" of the 2009 federal highway bill. That measure is expected to map out $90 billion in annual transportation spending over six years, but that's well below the $225 billion yearly appropriation recommended by the nonpartisan National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. To fund that much work, the gasoline tax would have to be raised to 71 cents. At today's rates, that would push total motor-fuel taxes in Connecticut to more than $1.20 and the pump price to $4.90.

In 2009, congressional Democrats will have three choices: a) spend less, b) tax more, or c) some combination of the two. Logic and compassion dictate otherwise, but the smart money is on b.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 110th; 2008; congress; cultureofcorruption; democratcongress; democratparty; democrats; democratscandals; domesticoil; drillheredrillnow; drilling; elections; energy; gasolinetax; gasprices; gastax; greens; highwayfunds; nobama08; obama; oil; pelosi; reid; taxes; worstcongressever
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1 posted on 07/30/2008 9:35:13 AM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: pinkpanther111; BlessedBeGod; KosmicKitty; ballplayer; warsaw44; Grizzled Bear; Tunehead54; ...

Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.

If you want on or off this list, let me know.


2 posted on 07/30/2008 9:36:09 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Ich bin ein Berloser - Barak Hussein Mohammed Obama)
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To: Graybeard58

“democrats and their green cronies have made gasoline so damn expensive...”

every democrat comes with a reservoir end, a feather for tickling the electorate, and a psychotic, adolescent, psychopathic attitude that’s oiled for extra slipperiness.


3 posted on 07/30/2008 9:40:47 AM PDT by ripley
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To: Graybeard58
Obama '08 - Drive Less - Pay More
Now that's a bumper sticker the masses may get.
4 posted on 07/30/2008 9:42:56 AM PDT by FlashBack (www.proudpatriots.org/www.woundedwarriorproject.org/www.moveamericaforward.org)
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To: ripley

If our people are driving less, the highway department doesn’t need extra money since the highways aren’t being used as much.


5 posted on 07/30/2008 9:43:36 AM PDT by RC2
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To: Graybeard58

Waaaaa. the price of gas is so high people are cutting back on driving. Waaaaaa how do we make up the shortfalls of gas tax collections since people are driving less.

they just raise the gas tax, and make gasoline more expensive so even less people drive.

Hang the “Out to Lunch” sign on the idiots door.

Besides, if we are driving less, why the need for newer and better highways?


6 posted on 07/30/2008 9:47:08 AM PDT by o_zarkman44
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To: RC2
If our people are driving less, the highway department doesn’t need extra money since the highways aren’t being used as much.

That makes too much sense. Way over liberal heads.

7 posted on 07/30/2008 9:47:39 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Ich bin ein Berloser - Barak Hussein Mohammed Obama)
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To: RC2
If our people are driving less, the highway department doesn’t need extra money since the highways aren’t being used as much.

You are assuming, of course, that the gasoline tax receipts are actually being used to fund transportation, and not being siphoned off for other things. Seeing how Congress has treated Social Security, I am unwilling to make any such assumption, myself...

the infowarrior

8 posted on 07/30/2008 9:49:30 AM PDT by infowarrior
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To: infowarrior

You are assuming, of course, that the gasoline tax receipts are actually being used to fund transportation, and not being siphoned off for other things. Seeing how Congress has treated Social Security, I am unwilling to make any such assumption, myself...””

Gray Davis did that in California not one, not two, but 3 times. He virtually left IOU’s and put the money into the General Fund, where it rapidly disappeared into nothingness.
Now the roads in California are badly in need of repair, and too many people have a very short memory about where the money went.


9 posted on 07/30/2008 9:55:27 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Graybeard58

Get the $$$ from the USELESS N. or some of the dictaers the’re so fond of.


10 posted on 07/30/2008 9:59:38 AM PDT by Waco
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To: ridesthemiles
Gray Davis did that in California not one, not two, but 3 times. He virtually left IOU’s and put the money into the General Fund, where it rapidly disappeared into nothingness.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution rests its case...

the infowarrior

11 posted on 07/30/2008 10:00:09 AM PDT by infowarrior
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To: Graybeard58

Let us not forget that the highway trust fund is a source for the pork so near and dear to congressional hearts. Bridges, roads, etc, etc. And Pubs are not immune to this form of Potomac Fever either - remember Sen Stevens’ Bridge to Nowhere?


12 posted on 07/30/2008 10:05:29 AM PDT by surely_you_jest ( Obamarrhoids are a pain in the ass . . . .)
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To: Graybeard58

If we all ran our own budgets like the federal government does, we’d be out of the street with out hat in our hands in no time.

How’s this for an idea, Congress - when revenues drop, cut spending.


13 posted on 07/30/2008 10:09:08 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic ("And how can this be? For I am the Kwisatz Haderach! " - Barack Obama)
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To: Graybeard58
Democrats have decided to do something about this: reward cash-strapped Americans for conserving energy by raising their gasoline taxes at least a dime to 28.4 cents a gallon. They say if they retain control of Congress, that increase will be "the cornerstone" of the 2009 federal highway bill.

Crikeys!! There's "clueless", then there's "Clueless Democrats". I'm just speechless.

14 posted on 07/30/2008 10:10:58 AM PDT by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: FlashBack

Universal Health Care = Get Off Your Butt and Walk


15 posted on 07/30/2008 10:24:06 AM PDT by Semperfiwife (Common sense is in short supply in Washington)
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To: DustyMoment

Crikeys!! There’s “clueless”...”

I don’t suppose they get the hint that when cost goes up revenue goes down. Supply-side economics anyone? Anyone?

Nah..


16 posted on 07/30/2008 10:42:38 AM PDT by y6162
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To: Graybeard58

The two trees I planted coupled with the amount of gas I have been conserving should surely provide me with enough carbon credits to offset any fuel taxes. I was planning on banking my carbon credits but may have to start spending them. Now to find the standard form for redeeming credits.


17 posted on 07/30/2008 10:50:03 AM PDT by WinMod70
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To: RC2

“if our people are driving less, the highway department doesn’t need extra money...”

liberals don’t become rich by lowering taxes.


18 posted on 07/30/2008 10:59:01 AM PDT by ripley
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To: Graybeard58

bump


19 posted on 07/30/2008 11:23:05 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: WinMod70
I was planning on banking my carbon credits but may have to start spending them.

Invest them in "big oil".

20 posted on 07/30/2008 12:00:33 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Ich bin ein Berloser - Barak Hussein Mohammed Obama)
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