Here's a way to fight soaring gas prices

Thursday afternoon I recieved an email from NY State Senator Jim Seward with the subject line, "Here's a way to fight soaring gas prices." I was hoping for some grand energy independance initiative that would stick it to the oil companies that are making all these profits and do something about climate change and increased oil usage. Here's the email:

Dear David,

I am supporting legislation to suspend New York State's taxes on gasoline from Memorial Day to Labor Day so we can offer pocketbook relief from skyrocketing gas prices.

You would save approximately 33 cents per gallon in taxes ($6-7 on a fill up) if the bill were passed. It also offers local governments the option of waiving their local sales taxes of approximately 15 cents per gallon. If the federal, state and local governments all temporarily suspended their taxes from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you would save 65 cents per gallon ($12-$14 on a fill up) at the pump.

Our plan would reduce costs for hardworking families, local businesses who have to fuel their delivery trucks, students and commuters. Lowering gas costs will lead to cheaper prices for consumers across the board.

To support my gasoline tax relief plan, please click here >>  Sign Sen. Seward's petition  -- and you can join my fight to lower gas prices in New York State. Our last petition effort was instrumental in defeating new, higher gas taxes that the governor wanted as part of the state budget.

You can also search a non-government web site for the lowest gas prices in your area and check out some helpful tips on how you can save additional money at the pump.

Sincerely,

Jim

Senator Jim Seward

P.S. Feel free to forward this e-mail to your friends.

I spent a few minutes thinking about the email, did some research from other news agencies and replied with the following:

Hello Senator Seward,

I would love to be able to reduce my fill-up cost by $5 or $10, but I fear that reducing the 33 cents will just be met with the oil companies raising their prices by 33 cents. They will increase their revenue, we will continue our high demand, and the state will have less money to use for budgets for schools, counties, towns, and cities – as well as state roads and police.

It was tried at the county level and appears to have failed to make a difference to the gas tax payers, as noted here in Onondaga County:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS01/80424034/1006

I’d like to see the NY Senate Leadership make some strides in supporting public transportation – more buses and trains; in supporting alternative vehicles – hybrid car rebates; in supporting bicycle trails, bicycle lanes, bicycle parking, perhaps bicycle tax rebates; in carpooling – discounted turnpike fees; in actionable items that will lower the demand for gasoline. If you invited me to support those plans I would be happy to sign on to your petition.

Thank you,

David Makar
Car owner and driver since 1993

Town of Dryden, NY
607-342-3009 (Cell/Office)

Cheaper gas only drives up demand - increased demand will be met with increased prices - so we will be in the same place we are now, except the state will lose all of that income and the oil companies will gain all of that income. I thought we were trying to make this an improvement for the people.

Here are some other posts relating to the gas tax holiday:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/news/international/usgas_price/?postversion=2008050109

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15404.html

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/192585.php

Comments

[James Keaveny]

I heard a great summation on the news this past weekend. We need an energy policy that increases renewable demand and decreases petroleum demand. With tax credits expiring for hybrid cars and energy conservation while oil companies getting tax credits, our nation's energy policy has no future. This isn't just a presidential issue. Democrats have held congress for almost 2 years and it's the same old same old. Before you cast a ballot in November, ask yourself.. Will this person as president change the status quo in regards to energy? It's hard to give a definite yes to all 3.

Thanks for giving me a place to rant Dave!

[KAZ]

So true, Dave. In addition, this has no chance of passing Congress by this summer when it's supposedly going to happen, so his support of it is just pandering for those of us simpleminded enough to think tax rebates of a few hundred dollars are meaningful ways to jumpstart a failing economy. Our gas taxes are lower than almost anyone's--in Europe they're 75% of the cost of a gallon in some cases, which does have an impact on what and how much people drive.

[Julie (sister)]

Mass is attempting to do the same thing here for $0.21. People will say that it is good thing, but they tend to forget how they will feel when the tax break ends and jumps up twenty to thirty cents. People will scream then. I believe it what you wrote, but it is too bad that not many people will listen.

[gary]

the usual republican bullsh!t: fool people into saving a nickle just so we will vote for them in November?