Senate
Dems Want to Keep Federal Gas Tax
Since 07-12-08
CNSNews.com
Friday, July 11, 2008
By Josiah Ryan,
Staff Writer
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=32233
On the Spot (CNSNews.com)
- Despite high gas prices, some Senate Democrats said Wednesday that they do
not support cutting the 18.4 cents per gallon tax currently levied by the
federal government on gasoline, because it would damage the economy by
costing many construction workers their jobs.
“The federal gas tax cut is a trick. It’s a trick that (GOP presidential
hopeful Sen. John) McCain wants to do so he can avoid talking about his ties
to the oil industry,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told Cybercast News
Service. “I don’t think the McCain plan works. I think it would cost us
construction jobs in states like Ohio.”
“Removing the gas tax would introduce a serious deficit into the highway
trust fund, which we already have a serious problem with,” Sen. Patty Murray
(D-Wash.) told
Cybercast
News Service. “I don’t think anyone wants to lay off construction workers or
halt construction projects. That wouldn’t solve anything.”
The 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax currently goes to finance a federal
trust fund that provides state and local governments money to pay for road
maintenance and repair. McCain’s proposed gas tax holiday plan would have
relieved Americans of the 18.4 cent per gallon tax between Memorial Day and
Labor Day.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), a vocal McCain supporter who caucuses with
Democrats, told
Cybercast
News Service that he supports gas tax relief.
“Oh yes, I have endorsed it, but I don’t really think it’s getting much
traction,” he said.
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) also said he supports a reprieve, but several
other senators declined to give a definitive answer, including Sen. Bernie
Sanders (I-Vt.).
“It’s too complicated. I can’t answer,” Sanders told Cybercast News Service.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y) also declined to giver her position on whether
to reduce the gas tax.