Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks

CNN ^ | 04/27/2006 | From Dana Bash

[HOTTIEBOY]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Democrats are also expected to offer their own competing proposal, as members of both parties jockey for political position on the gas price issue.

The energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.

Under Senate rules, either the GOP amendment or the Democratic alternative would probably need 60 votes to pass, which is considered unlikely. However, the amendments would give senators a change to cast votes on measures designed to help constituents being hit by high gas prices.

[RJS1950]

If you don't live in a city that has mass transit that becomes a lot harder. And yes, I carpool where I can and cut back on my trips as much as possible. I also live only 2 miles from my work and drive a reasonably fuel efficient car. When you live in a largely rural state driving is essential to conduct business and get to work. City busses are down to minimal routes, if they exist at all. The largest part of the driving public lives in areas where adequate mass transit has never existed or faded away long ago. There have been pushes to get some of those bucks to rebuild bus systems and build a mass transit system that would adequately serve the population, but that money is always funneled to the large cities on the coasts who have already built up the systems over many years.

[Final Authority]

As soon as I heard of this plan I thought, "prebate".

Just as I have written for the past five years, a check to everyone is exactly what the corrupt, liberal politicians will do to buy compliance from the masses instead of doing the right thing. It is amazing what $100 will buy. Imagine what a "prebate" will buy. For many of the farttaxers who can't wait to receive it, it will be the most they ever "earned" in their lives.

[MaineVoter2002]

Well, maybe the $100 will last us until we start buying OUR oil from Cuba

[MaineVoter2002]

Tell Congress to SUPPORT U.S. Oil Exploration!

http://capwiz.com/sicminc/issues/alert/?alertid=8341651&type=CO

[Joan Kerrey]

Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans

This says it all about the GOP's respect for voters. I guess we can now expect to be paid off everytime there is a tough issue facing our reps.

This is downright scandalous behavior and a huge insult.

[pigdog]

You thought wrong, Finial. The prebate is nothing like this out and out give away which is based upon nothing at all.

The prebate is a refund of some of the taxes paid while the gas rebate is based upon merely the purchase price of gas and has nothing at all to do with the taxes involved.

The Pubbies didn't raise gas prices to their present level and this is certainly a foolish idea and wouldn't "buy compliance" from anyone. Neither will the prebate which is a totally different concept as it represents a refund of taxes paid up to the poverty level rather than "buying compliance".