GOP Backs Off From Oil Tax Increase

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

Stupid idea anyway, glad to see them back off it

 

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, under pressure from business leaders, retreated Monday from a plan that would have used a tax increase on oil companies and other businesses to fund a $100 gasoline rebate for millions of motorists.

 

Aids to several Republican senators, including some who support the proposal, said Monday they have received generally negative feedback from the public in telephone calls and e-mails.

 

"There are some who say this is a Band-Aid and they want a real solution. .... There are people who say, `Do you think I can be satisfied so easily,'" said Don Steward, an aide to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. He said almost all of the comments received about the rebate — which Cornyn has characterized as "a theatrical response" — have been negative.

 

Another Senate staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the senator was among those who have been pushing the GOP energy package, said voters know that with gas costing more than $3 a gallon the rebate likely will pay for only a couple of tanks of gas.

 

"It's probably one fill-up for a Sequoia," added the aide, referring to the Toyota SUV that gets 15 miles to the gallon in city driving.

full story

[Ravens 03 0]

Is sending a $100 check to every car owner a rebate?

 

How about lowering the tax for a period of time.

 

Thus, if you drive alot and have paid alot, you will save alot.

If you drive a little, and have paid a little, you will save a little.

 

 

And if you have a car and haven't driven it - you have not been affected by the prices and don't deserve a $100 check.

 

[Toro 1]

Hey, I have an idea. Let the market handle it naturally.

[mighty_thor 115]

Good. I wasn't going to be eligible for the $100 anyways.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Hey, I have an idea. Let the market handle it naturally.

 

The problem with gas and oil is that it affects the price of everything. Unless you want to have some major inflation, they better do something soon.

[Jeff Garcia 8]

Typical, now watch Congress go back into the closet for a few months about this subject. They are just putting on a show, acting like they want to do something about it. When in reality they could care less, their allegiance is to big money.

[Toro 1]

The problem with gas and oil is that it affects the price of everything. Unless you want to have some major inflation, they better do something soon.

 

So you suggest that the government steps in to adjust the market unnaturally?

[mighty_thor 115]

Hey, I have an idea. Let the market handle it naturally.

 

I kind of agree with the hands off approach. Now, maybe people will start conserving gas and we will become less dependent on the middle east.

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

And if you have a car and haven't driven it - you have not been affected by the prices and don't deserve a $100 check.

Like those scooter driving phags

[hoytdwow 202]

No blood for oil!

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

So you suggest that the government steps in to adjust the market unnaturally?

 

It happens all of the time. If you let it happen "naturally" then you run the risk of inflation. Ever hear of the Federal Reserve?

[Toro 1]

It happens all of the time. If you let it happen "naturally" then you run the risk of inflation. Ever hear of the Federal Reserve?

 

No, I understand that there are steps to be taken so that we don't have a late 70's episode.

 

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that alternatives are not going to be pushed into the market place until the demand goes up. The only way demand goes up is the price of oil goes up. Did you watch Meet the Press on Sunday?

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

No, I understand that there are steps to be taken so that we don't have a late 70's episode.

 

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that alternatives are not going to be pushed into the market place until the demand goes up. The only way demand goes up is the price of oil goes up. Did you watch Meet the Press on Sunday?

 

There are short term steps to be taken and long term steps. The short term steps are necessary to prevent inflation and the long term steps are necessary to reduce our reliance on oil. However, those long term steps have been necessary for 30 years and nothing has changed.

 

I think that you mean that demand goes down if the price goes up. That is basic economics.

 

No, I did not watch Meet the Press. I don't need people to tell me that there needs to be some action taken in both the short and long term to address the problem.

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

No blood for oil!

Too late

[Toro 1]

There are short term steps to be taken and long term steps. The short term steps are necessary to prevent inflation and the long term steps are necessary to reduce our reliance on oil. However, those long term steps have been necessary for 30 years and nothing has changed.

 

I agree.

 

 

I think that you mean that demand goes down if the price goes up. That is basic economics.

 

I meant exactly what I wrote. I want the demand to go up, so that price goes up, so that companies begin to spend more on R&D for alternative fuel vehicles and that the car companies are forced to raise MPG to keep up.

 

No, I did not watch Meet the Press. I don't need people to tell me that there needs to be some action taken in both the short and long term to address the problem.

 

I guess I am a dummy that needs to listen to the Secretary of Energy and other Senators about the current developments regarding the energy situation. I guess next time I will just call you.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I guess I am a dummy

 

Umm. OK, I guess.

 

 

I meant exactly what I wrote. I want the demand to go up, so that price goes up, so that companies begin to spend more on R&D for alternative fuel vehicles and that the car companies are forced to raise MPG to keep up.

 

Here is what you wrote

No, I understand that there are steps to be taken so that we don't have a late 70's episode.

 

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that alternatives are not going to be pushed into the market place until the demand goes up. The only way demand goes up is the price of oil goes up. Did you watch Meet the Press on Sunday?

 

If the price goes up, then demand goes down. If the demand goes up, then the price goes up. Two totally different things.

[Cdub100 3,380]

Has anyone blamed Bush yet?

 

 

BUSH!!!

[parrot 789]

Umm. OK, I guess.

Here is what you wrote

If the price goes up, then demand goes down. If the demand goes up, then the price goes up. Two totally different things.

If I can speak for Toro, I think he means that as the price of oil goes up, demand for alternatives goes up. I tend to agree with him, the only way America is ever going to get serious about alternatives is if the price of oil stays high.

[Toro 1]

If I can speak for Toro, I think he means that as the price of oil goes up, demand for alternatives goes up. I tend to agree with him, the only way America is ever going to get serious about alternatives is if the price of oil stays high.

 

That's what I was trying to say. Man. I haven't even started drinking yet.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

If I can speak for Toro, I think he means that as the price of oil goes up, demand for alternatives goes up. I tend to agree with him, the only way America is ever going to get serious about alternatives is if the price of oil stays high.

 

I think that he meant that he wants the price of oil to be so high that alternatives become more viable options. I agree with that, but that is not what he said.

 

He said that if the price goes up, demand goes up and that is not the case. He should have said that if demand goes up, then the price goes up.

 

I have no problem with the premise that we need to have alternatives and we need to have them soon. I disagree that we should let that happen naturally or we are going to have inflation that is going bring the economy to its knees (even worse than it is already).

 

Take away the tax breaks for the oil companies and give them to the alternative energy companies.

[Strike 3,968]

I think that what Toro meant to say is he doesn't care how high the price of gas is since his MIL pays for his anyways.

[torridjoe 0]

If I can speak for Toro, I think he means that as the price of oil goes up, demand for alternatives goes up. I tend to agree with him, the only way America is ever going to get serious about alternatives is if the price of oil stays high.

 

The government can do plenty to encourage alternative fuel research and production. And they can also impact supply by raising CAFE standards on fleets, and quit exempting heavy vehicles from inclusion in those fleets. There's no reason at all to sit back and let Mexxoil rape us all summer while Congress does nothing.

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

I think that what Toro meant to say is he doesn't care how high the price of gas is since his MIL pays for his anyways.

[parrot 789]

The government can do plenty to encourage alternative fuel research and production. And they can also impact supply by raising CAFE standards on fleets, and quit exempting heavy vehicles from inclusion in those fleets. There's no reason at all to sit back and let Mexxoil rape us all summer while Congress does nothing.

The government isn't going to do those things until the public demands they do those things and the public isn't going to demand they do those - or be willing to endure inconvenient and painful change - until the price of oil demands such change.

[GobbleDog 816]

a tax increase on oil companies and other businesses to fund a $100 gasoline rebate for millions of motorists.

 

Wouldn't the "oil companies and other businesses" just pass this new tax increase onto the consumers?

 

So everyone gets a rebate, and then everyone has to pay higher prices.... What kind of plan is that?

[torridjoe 0]

The government isn't going to do those things until the public demands they do those things and the public isn't going to demand they do those - or be willing to endure inconvenient and painful change - until the price of oil demands such change.

 

how about some focking leadership for a change? Nobody demanded we invade Iraq, either.

[spork in the road 2]

Generally I'm not in favor of government interference because I think politicians are often tempted to do things that are good in the short-term but not in the long-term. That being said, if congress wanted to do something effective they can provide more incentives to build refineries. There hasn't been a new refinery built since the 70's.

 

The $100 rebate idea is just stupid from a macroeconomic standpoint. It wouldn't change anything and would represent a huge cost when we are already running up enormous deficits.

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

Wouldn't the "oil companies and other businesses" just pass this new tax increase onto the consumers?

 

So everyone gets a rebate, and then everyone has to pay higher prices.... What kind of plan is that?

A Republican plan

[Toro 1]

I think that he meant that he wants the price of oil to be so high that alternatives become more viable options. I agree with that, but that is not what he said.

 

Actually, Captain English. If you look what I said:

 

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that alternatives are not going to be pushed into the market place until the demand goes up. The only way demand goes up is the price of oil goes up.

 

You will notice that in the first sentence I directly relate the word demand to alternatives. Thus, in the second sentence, I used demand in the same context as the previous sentence and further qualified the use of price as it relates to oil, not alternatives. Subsequently, I was correct in my statement. It was you who made an incorrect inference that I meant the demand for oil, not alternatives.

 

Rusty - can we get a ruling on this?

[Isotopes 1]

Wouldn't the "oil companies and other businesses" just pass this new tax increase onto the consumers?

 

So everyone gets a rebate, and then everyone has to pay higher prices.... What kind of plan is that?

 

Almost...

 

Everyone gets a rebate but only those buying gas have to pay it back. So the people driving have to pay for the rebates the non-drivers got. Brilliant!

[parrot 789]

how about some focking leadership for a change?

 

Good one torrid!

[Recliner Pilot 61]

how about some focking leadership for a change? Nobody demanded we invade Iraq, either.

 

First, if Clinton had not vetoed a Bill authorizing drilling in ANWAR back in '95 we would be pumping it into our tanks today. Maybe these high prices will cause the current pols to grow a pair and pass a bill to do just that.

 

Second, Saddam pretty miuch demanded we invade Iraq by refusing to adhere to the Cease Fire agreement and 17 UN resolutions.

[hoytdwow 202]

First, if Clinton had not vetoed a Bill

Clinton/Kerry's fault

[phillybear 364]

Bunch of retreads running this mother humping gubment.

 

I want my focking $100. NOW.

 

That will buy me a bus pass for 5 weeks.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

Clinton/Kerry's fault

 

The FACT Clinton vetoed the bill means we have less oil of our own. Libs and Eco-Nuts are making the same argument today they did ten years ago: "But we won't see the oil for years".

 

Shortsighted idiots, like we won't need oil ten years from now.