William E. Boren – 5/4/08

This page was last updated on May 4, 2008.

Blowing smoke on gas tax; William E. Boren; Beaver County Times; May 4, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I see where President Bush has joined John McCain and Hillary Clinton and wants to stop collecting the federal tax on gasoline for the summer.”

[RWC] I don’t know where Mr. Boren gets his news, but President Bush has NOT come out in favor of the tax holiday. According to The Hill, “President Bush, vowing not to wade into the ongoing presidential campaign, refused to either endorse or condemn a proposed gas tax moratorium that would ease the pain at the pump during the peak summer driving season. At a press conference Tuesday [4/29/08] in the White House Rose Garden, Bush was asked twice about the proposed tax break, which two of the three presidential candidates have endorsed, but he responded only that he will ‘take a look.’ ‘I’m going to look at everything they proposed,’ Bush said of Congress.” This report is consistent with everything report I heard or read.

Also, Mrs. Clinton isn’t really proposing a gas/diesel tax holiday. Mrs. Clinton simply wants oil company shareholders (pension plans, 401(k)s, IRAs, etc.) to pay the taxes.

“We all know, come fall, they’ll not only reinstate the tax but raise it to make up for what they lost during the summer.”

[RWC] Let me get this straight. Two months before an election, candidates will push for a tax increase?

“And is this reduction such a good thing? As I write this letter, gas is $3.59 a gallon. By reducing the 18.4 cents federal tax, it comes down to a whopping $3.41 a gallon.

“At the present price of $3.59 a gallon, 10 gallons would cost $35.90, 15 gallons $53.85 and 20 gallons $71.80. With the tax cut, you’ll save $1.80, $2.70 and $3.”

[RWC] I oppose the temporary tax cut because it’s the wrong thing to do because it would interfere with the market. Mr. Boren’s opposition appears to be because we’re not talking huge dollars. I’m glad Mr. Boren can afford to turn his nose up at the savings, even if they are small.

“So who is blowing smoke and trying to make fools of the people? If this farce goes through, can’t you hear them laughing all the way to the bank?”

[RWC] It may be simply that great minds think alike, but Mr. Boren’s main objection to the tax holiday appears to be the same as Barack Obama’s.