Democrats' Plan On High Gas Prices: Raise Taxes On Energy Producers

Democrat's Solution To High Gas Prices -
Raise Taxes On Producers -
Thus Increasing Gas Prices Even MORE!

Today in Washington, D.C. - March 29, 2012:
The Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2230, Democrats’ “Buffett Rule” tax hike bill.  Earlier today Democrats’ latest bid to raise taxes on American energy producers, S. 2204, failed (51-47) to get cloture. Yesterday, the Senate voted 59-39 to confirm Miranda Du as District Judge for the District of Nevada, and 96-1 to confirm Susie Morgan as District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The House this morning passed H. Res. 600 to HR 4281 (266-158) which will allow a 90 Day temporary funding extension of Highway funding.  The House and the Senate have been unable to resolve the differences between the original House passed bill and the Senates changes to the bill. Senate Democrats are insisting that Speaker Boehner and the house Republican majority have to pass the modified $109 billion two-year Senate bill.  However, if the Senate Democrats do not accept the 90 day extension which they (Democrats) themselves are in the famous for doing in the past, highway funding will cease on Saturday and Congress will be out of session for a two-week spring break except for potential pro-forma meetings.

This afternoon the House is expected to vote on Republican budget proposals that with variations cuts spending, repeals ObamaCare, promotes small business job creation and expands American energy production.

The Washington Post reports today, “The national average [gasoline price] is $3.91 [per gallon], compared with about $3.70 last month and just below $3.59 this time last year. Across the country, the price of gas has risen for 20 consecutive days, with only three days of decline in three months.” Yet Senate Democrats and President Obama are pushing a bill that will do nothing to lower the price of gas and will instead raise taxes on American energy producers.

Speaking on the floor before the Democrats’ latest bid to raise taxes on American energy producers failed to get the needed 60 votes, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wondered, “Is this the best we have to offer folks who are staring at $4 a gallon gasoline?  A bill that even Democrats admit won’t do anything to lower the price of gas? And a process that blocks any other idea from even coming to the floor for a vote? Does anybody think the Senate’s really done its job on this issue?”

Even Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) blasted this futile Democrat exercise, “We should have a real energy debate, not this show and tell for campaigning purposes.” He explained, “[W]e will have wasted 2½ days doing nothing on real energy policy in this country, and people are still going to be paying higher gasoline prices.”

A recent Gallup poll shows 65% of Americans say they personally worry “a great deal” about gas prices and 67% say they’ve cause financial hardship in their household. Eighty-five percent (85%) would like to see “immediate” action by the president and Congress on gas prices.

Dems Say Gas Prices 'Not The Issue'

Unfortunately, progressive / liberal democrats pushed a retread bill which they have tried to pass before.  Following the Obama administrations lead they seek a tax increase on American energy companies. However, they cannot explain how raising taxes is supposed to lower gas prices. Democrats never even tried, admitting, “This was never intended to talk about lowering prices,” as Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told CNN. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) said, “You know, this is not going to change the price at the gasoline pump. That's not the issue.  I don't see that as an issue at all.” Disgusted, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) took to the Senate floor the last time her fellow Democrats were pushing this plan to declare, “It will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.”

Senator John Boozman(R-AR) spoke for mid-America this morning stating before the vote was taken: "American families and businesses deserve a plan that will help bring down the price at the pump. The legislation before this chamber proposes to raise taxes on American energy producers. This won’t change the supply or the demand, but it will drive the cost up. Once again hardworking Americans will be left with bill.”  He also said, "The reality of our country’s nonexistent energy policy is it forces us to rely on the Middle East for oil. We import about 9 million barrels of oil every day, about half of our supply. This is costly to our economy, our citizens and threatens our national security.  This is the only developed country in the world that refuses to use its natural resources. Opening up Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and increasing offshore exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf is a step in the right direction that puts us on the path of energy independence. More we can also boost our domestic energy supply through the development of the Keystone XL pipeline.  The proposed 1,700-mile pipeline would transport 700,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to U.S. refineries in the Gulf Coast and allow us to get reliable and secure oil from our largest trading partner and trusted ally."

GOP Leader McConnell expressed frustration: “Senate Democrats have put on a clinic this week in how not to run a serious legislative body. And if they’ve achieved anything at all this week, it’s to make Americans even more frustrated with Congress, as if that were possible. Faced with skyrocketing gas prices, Senate Democrats turned to a bill that even they admit doesn’t lower them. And then to make matters worse, they blocked Republicans from offering anything that might. That was their brilliant plan on how to deal with gas prices: raise taxes on energy companies; when gas is already hovering around $4 a gallon, then block consideration of anything else — just to make sure gas prices don’t go anywhere but up. Somehow they thought that doing this would set up some kind of a political win for them, which I never really understood. I mean, I can’t imagine anybody giving them any high-fives for not lowering the price of gas. But anyway, that was the plan. . . . [I]t’s getting tedious. Day after day, Senate Democrats ask us all to come out here not so we can make an actual difference in the lives of working Americans and families struggling to fill up the gas tank, but so we can watch them stage votes for show.”

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