NPR: Pelosi Says No Way to Gas Tax Holiday

Pelosi Says No Way to Gas Tax Holiday

Not to put too fine a point on it, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi more or less said to Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain today "You know what you can do with your gas tax holiday idea."

The Washington Post's The Trail blog reports that Pelosi said this afternoon that Congress will not consider an 18-cent gas tax holiday.

"There is no reason to believe any moratorium on the gas tax will be passed on to consumers. That's first and foremost," she said. "Second, it will defeat everything we've tried to do to lower the cost of oil," noting that Democrats have been trying to shift the nation to alternative fuel sources, not promote gasoline consumption.

That puts the kibosh on that. Clinton says she will return to the Senate to introduce her measure and that she'll have several co-sponsors. But without support in the House, it's all window dressing.

9:07 PM ET | 05- 1-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I guess the Speaker has someone on staff who knows something about the Peak Oil theory, also.

Sent by Chester | 10:11 PM ET | 05-01-2008

This was a no brainer. Honestly i don't have a problem admitting that I am this financial group that is deeply afrfected by the rising gas problem (evidently there aren't many of us) but the truth is that i stopped beiong able to afford the gas prices about a dollar and a half ago and i am afraid that with the prices continueing to escalate it will only take a couple of weeks for the price at the pump to eat what ever saving we might have gotten. further more what happens when the holiday ends then gas that is more than it was before the holiday then goes up by 18 cent at one time. the is not even a plausible short term solution to the problem of getting pices down but they keep fighting for it. even though no one is buying it they keep trying to convince us that the 2 weeks of saving a couple of dollars.

Sent by J.A.WILSON | 11:26 PM ET | 05-01-2008

since the gas tax thingy was always only intended as a talking point, i guess this is the "safety catch" snapping into place.

nice to know those not currently running for high office are ready to play the role of the adult.

Sent by tim in exile | 1:53 AM ET | 05-02-2008

Obama is very clear that he thought the gas tax holiday was a bad idea. So we have at least one adult running for office. Considering the weak state of our transportation infrastructure, it was also amazing to me that McCain and Clinton would suggest reducing - even marginally - its funding infrastructure.

Sent by Carol Reid | 7:55 AM ET | 05-02-2008

I really am starting to get the impression that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is ANTI-Hillary Clinton and is staging her own run for the White House in the future...though her language is not blatantly against Clinton it is obvious to those of us that can see thru veiled political language...perhaps Speaker Pelosi wants to be the first female President of the United States and is doing what she can to handicap Clinton...I guess only time will tell...

PS: The gas tax holiday may not be the whole answer but it still communicates to everyday people and others in the transportation business that SOMEONE cares...people need action for positive impact in their daily lives NOW...not a year or more from now giving politicians time to legislate and discuss options...ever been in business meetings that only glorify the meeting process but does nothing substantial to handle the dynamics that can change even before the meeting is over...Politicians at times seem so out of touch even though they think they speak for the people...it's time they got back in touch with everyday people..

Sent by ard | 8:30 AM ET | 05-02-2008

60 billion dollars in funding going to transportation projects will do a thousand times more to stimulate the economy than this little pandering program for everyday people. I applaud those who stand up to "business as usual" Clinton and McCain.

By the way...write in sentances...your stream of consciousness is very annoying and filled with huge gaps of logic...not to mention the righteous indignation at anyone offering a different opinion than yourself...leave the poltics to the adults who don't jump on bandwagon issues and stamp their feet when people rightly tell them it's a stupid idea...yeah?

Sent by James Cutler | 8:43 AM ET | 05-02-2008

Gramma Pelosi said the Dems had a plan for high gas prices in 2006. Where has it been? Time to whip it out, Nana.

Do they think we don't see the idiocy behind those hearings on "price gouging?" Where were the "price un-gouging" hearings when prices were low?

I want my gas tax holiday!

If only to create the culture that tax money is ours, not theirs.

Sent by deek | 9:03 AM ET | 05-02-2008

ard, that's called pandering.

Sent by Sweetie | 10:27 AM ET | 05-02-2008

McCain/Clinton, the idea of your legless tax holiday is like fly by flatulence. My hope is that this stinky idea is exposed for what it is. Enough with the pandering!

Sent by Roger | 11:16 AM ET | 05-02-2008

James,

I DO like your style of writing...text messages must really annoy you, that said, we have to learn TOLERANCE of each other (even in the blog world) because after all this IS America and everyone gets to express themselves the way they choose(not that it's always the decent thing to do)...why not stick to contributing to your thoughts on the issues versus personal attacks?

Sweetie,

Whether it's appealing to "everyday" people or "elitist" types, I thought it was called politics...

PS: I don't mean to demean either of these groups...just trying to make my point...people are people and perhaps the difference (if there is one) is all in your approach.

Sent by ard | 11:38 AM ET | 05-02-2008

I enjoy being pandered to.

Sent by deek | 12:12 PM ET | 05-02-2008

deek - I think taxes are good. I don't believe in magic. If you want to have things work, you have to pay the bills. I like having the electricity stay on. I pay my electric bill. I like to drive on highways like I-35. I like the idea of paying for bridges to be maintained. I think it is a good investment. 18 cents a gallon is a bargain.

Sent by Gary | 1:11 PM ET | 05-02-2008

ard,
Pelosi is out for herself! Trying to get some attention (because she hasn't lately).

PS: Read the discussion in "Clinton Support Gas Tax Holiday Because of "Leadership", here at NPR News Blog.
* it's actually informative *

Sent by Harold | 1:29 PM ET | 05-02-2008

Gary I know, I just like the idea of thinking that government is the cause of many problems instead of the solution.

Sent by deek | 5:06 PM ET | 05-02-2008

deek wrote:
".. just like the idea of thinking that government is the cause of many problems instead of the solution."

And behold, a warped mind of a rabid conservative radical - who would push the governement into an Iraq war.

----
" ..it's all window dressing..."

It is curious that there are those - the bitter, hoodwinked rural folk she targets - who joyously go along with McCain's and McClinton's pandering. And Hillary gingerly obliges for gain.
And Monica's Billy, who would angrily try to get away with sin, pontificates against "..those who think they are better than everyone else and think they should play by a different set of rules."

"Bold Deceit and Bizarre Logic" / McCain/McClinton '08, WRONG for America

Sent by chokora | 6:59 PM ET | 05-03-2008

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