$100 Gas Rebate suggested by Repubs

[NewWaveChick1981]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/27/gas.rebate/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most American taxpayers would get $100 rebate checks to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

<snip>

"Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they're feeling at the pump," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday. "It also includes strong federal anti-price gouging protection to protect consumers against anti-competitive behavior by oil companies or other suppliers of gasoline. Our free market system works, but it works best when there's full accountability and full transparency."

<snip>

------------

OK, I seem to remember the "Social Security surplus" going out to taxpayers as a rebate and then failing miserably, thus putting the country in a worse position financially. The budget deficit is currently the worst we've ever seen, and the Repukes are suggesting that they send every taxpayer $100? BAD IDEA. :grr: Use the $100 per taxpayer to do something else, like restore cuts to the Federal budget in critical areas like education.

Just when you think things can't get any more ludicrous, the neocons come up with something like this... :mad:

[texastoast]

1. Are the O&G companies giving it to us?

Save mine for public education if not.

:eyes:

[NewWaveChick1981]

Doesn't look like it.

Bush and Friends are trying to protect their oil buddies. It appears to be coming out of the Federal budget, if I read things correctly. (If not, I stand corrected.)

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. And would that $100 have to be included in next year's tax declaration?

Just as the $300 "rebate" when Asswipe cleaned out the SS funds, am sure this "rebate" would have to be declared as income on everyone's 2006 taxes next year.

[NewWaveChick1981]

12. You can bet on that.

It's politically motivated; therefore, it's hogwash. The Repubs in Congress want to make Bush look better. The $100 is just a smokescreen.

[tulsakatz]

41. it's just one more attempt to try to buy some votes n/t

[NewWaveChick1981]

44. Absolutely. W's tanking in the polls, and he's trying to prop

himself up.

[electron_blue]

56. I thought that money was just an advance on our tax refund, which

is even worse.

[stopbush]

62. You are correct. It wasn't a rebate, it was an advance.

[Whoa_Nelly]

65. According to my CPA, I had to include that $300 "rebate" as income

when I filed for that year.

[Shilohtd16]

3. That is such bullcrap

here is an idea, fund green energy... and get the oilmen out of the whitehouse.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. I like your idea!

:-)

[DS1]

4. It's also a flat-out slanted giveaway to the "heartlanders"

Since

A) They get more out of the Federal Government they put in

and

B) They've suffered the least of the country regarding gas prices

Leeches

[ComerPerro]

10. We use a lot of gas. And we don't have public transportation

at least, not as widely availible as the coasts seem to

[SoCalDem]

33. Make that coast..singular

Other than San Francisco, there is NO public transportation of any consequence on the "left coast".. We spend most of our lives out here "gassing up".. People travel great distances to and from work.

When gas was $1.70-something we were spending $300+ a month for my husband's work commute..

He cannot carpool because he needs his vehicle once he's AT work, and he never knows WHEN he'll have to go to a bid opening or job walk, so he cannot risk being car-less at work that day. if he took someone to work with him, and he ended his day 150 miles from the office, it would be a long wait for that person until he got back there to pick him/her up and then drive the clogged freeway home.. That could be a 500 mile-day..

[huskerlaw]

34. Really?

Ever had to pay to gas up a combine? A tractor?

Ever tried to find public transportation in Nebraska?

Didn't think so.

[DS1]

45. That's irrelevant

If you're up 25% and we're up 75% and we both get a check from the Gov't for the same dollar amount, you're better off.

[ComerPerro]

5. They're buying votes, plain and simple.

And, lets see, $100 bucks? Really? But prices will stay the same and go up?

What a deal! 33 free gallons of gas, and then I gotta go back to spending $50 to fill up my 4-cylinder car...

[BOSSHOG]

6. Another dumbass idea from the dumbasses

That would just be another federal subsidy for the oil companies. And their little ploy is designed to have the dems disapprove it then be labeled anti-little guy. It really must be incredibly pathetic to be a republican or a citizen who supports them. I drive very little but that $100.00 won't do squat for me.

Republicans make my hate more rational every day.

[FSogol]

7. Drilling in Anwr is included in the Repub "deal" n/t

[texastoast]

15. Fuckers, fuckers, fuckers

:mad:

[bunkerbuster1]

21. Imagine everyone's shock and amazement?

Drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been the Gooper energy "solution" for years.

[Disturbed]

26. Another stupid idea from RW Con Artists.

This is another desperate idea to sooth Americans and make it seem like Rethugs care about "The pain at the gas pump."

[tulsakatz]

49. that figures....

They always think drilling in anwr is the solution!!!

The truth is.......even if they are able (by some miracle) to get someone to approve the anwr drilling, it won't solve anything!!

I heard Stevens has been trying to get that thing approved for 25 yrs!! And even if it is approved, they don't even know how much oil is there or even if there is oil there. And even if they do find anything, it won't go to the US, it will more likely go to Asia since it is geographically closer.

[partylessinOhio]

50. Yes, that is true. Just discussed on CNN.

For $100 you will be giving these repugs the right to drill in Anwar!

DEAL or NO DEAL?

:yoiks:

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. hmm...just like those huge tax cut checks. tiny band aid on a big sore,

and I just don't think that people are in the mood to buy it!

[Missy M]

9. What a ridiculous idea....

what do they think that will accomplish. With gas at 3.00 plus it would buy three tank fulls and that's about it. Is it supposed to stimulate the economy or is it to ease our pain at the gas pump for a total of three weeks. They can keep my $100.00 and use it to come up with alternatives to oil.

[etherealtruth]

20. I was thinking 2 tanks by the time "they" get around to it.

"They can keep my $100.00 and use it to come up with alternatives to oil."

No joke

[central scrutinizer]

11. more borrow and spend economics

If it feels good, put it on the card, print some more money. Just like drunken pirates on shore leave with a stolen credit card.

[azurnoir]

13. Can we have some beads and trinkets

with that or maybe some blankets? For the love of something -if people fall for this sh** I just give up. America your prez is an OIL man his family and business cronies have something to do with gas prices and they are holding the country hostage and making an obscene amount of YOUR money doing it.

[bryant69]

14. Will this end up being just a forward on our tax rebate?

The way the last one was?

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[jedicord]

Or, take away some tax incentives from the oil companies.

Or put a profit ceiling on them. Don't tell me this can't be done, they do this to cab drivers. Who, I might add, are really feeling the crunch from high gas prices.

Besides, a $100 rebate? Excuse me? Rebate on what? If it was a rebate, the oil companies would be cutting the checks.

I just don't know any more...

[NewWaveChick1981]

28. EXACTLY.

If it were a true rebate, the Honky MoFos at Exxon et. al. would be rebating it. Nope, this is a suggestion to have taxpayers fund their own "rebate" and then get taxed on it the following year. :grr:

[bunkerbuster1]

16. This is when we find out just HOW stupid Joe Stupid really is.

If the public eats up this shit, well...

there are times when I just shake my head and think there's nothing that can be done to fix stupidity. This would be one of those times.

IF Joe Stupid really falls for it, that is. I sure hope not.

Seriously, at this point, nobody should have to explain to Joe Stupid that the Federal Government can't magically find $100 to give to them to go spend on bonbons and treats. It has to come from somewhere. Like that three grand per year everyone's on the hook for, to fund the war in Iraq? Where do these fucking GOOBS think it comes from?

I'd like to think they know, by now. But I'm wrong about Joe Stupid so very often.

[RobertSeattle]

17. I will give my $100 to some Demcrat to be named later!

(And that Democrat better have voted against this craven act)!

[shraby]

18. Let me get this straight...$100 to all taxpayers

paid from their own tax money and probably will have to be claimed as income on their tax returns. For many that's just 2 fill-ups, 3 at most with a couple bucks left over. Sounds like a good deal to me..:sarcasm:

[LSK]

22. and are they raising taxes on the oil companies or rich

You know, to pay for this????

[MissB]

23. Maybe if they added an extra zero at the end

they might get people to buy into it. There are plenty of greedy people, after all and $1k is nothing to sneeze at.

But $100? When gas is $3.00 a gallon? :rofl: Morans.

[flobee1]

25. Does anyone know when

It comes up for a vote?
What time?

[NewWaveChick1981]

31. The article says Thursday, which would be either today

or next Thursday. I don't know about the timing.

The Three Stooges would have done a much better job in Washington than the current asshats in charge. I'd take Larry, Moe and Curly any day.

[BlooInBloo]

24. 10 to 1 it's not even REALLY a rebate. Betcha it's just an ADVANCE...

... like the same bamboozlement the republicans did a few years ago...

[Democrats_win]

29. Exactly that pitance went for fees. We got the raw end of that deal

[NewWaveChick1981]

42. And think about the millions of dollars it costs to process

and mail out those checks. So in addition to the "rebate," there are labor, postage, paper, and other processing costs, sinking the budget deficit further and further into oblivion.

[tulsakatz]

57. I remember that....

....they said it was a rebate but it was really just an advance on the next year's taxes.

Let's face it, these guys are nothing more than con men!

[NewWaveChick1981]

69. Oh, but didn't you know? A rebate IS an advance on next year's taxes!

:sarcasm: A little spin makes everything just dandy.

It makes me sick. :puke:

[katty]

27. a $100.? that's it?...how about every WEEK, greedy bastards?!

yes, for troop armor, education, housing, Katrina repairs and on and on and on...we just PAID your friggin' tax bill-NOW you throw a $100. at the slaves?!

[NewWaveChick1981]

54. Katty, you're right on! nm

[shantipriya]

30. $100!!!???

Are we borrowing from China to be paid back by our children?what a stupid idea? No wonder this country is in a bad shape. We need intelligent and well educated people in the Congress -- and in the White House too!!!!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

32. But they want to tie it to drilling in ANWR.

I read something this morning to that effect.

Reminds me of the David Cross bit about the rebate: (paraphrasing) "So you get to appoint supreme court justices that will forward your agenda, but I get $300? All right!"

[NewWaveChick1981]

37. David Cross is right on target!

I think he's hysterical too! :)

I agree with an earlier poster---if ANWR drilling is the energy solution the GOP has been waiting to implement, they're insane. :grr:

[sable302]

35. those greedy people, always looking to the government for

a handout.

Sounds like hush money to me. After all, the $600 a few years ago got them a bump in the polls.

Why is it that when it's food stamps, it's always a handout, but when it's cash, it's just 'givin' your money back to you?'


Gets me all confused.

[tulsakatz]

36. strong fed'l anti price gouging protection

Ok, what kind of anti price gouging measures are they proposing? And would it really fix the problem? If it would fix the problem, I have to wonder why they haven't tried this before now?

And even though they say it should be a transparent system, I don't really believe this will work. These guys like keeping everything secret too much and even if it is transparent, I still don't see it solving anything.

While I would love a rebate, I don't think that's a solution either. Somehow, I believe the excessive gas prices will return later............especially if the White House is still occupied by oil men, as it is now.

[NewWaveChick1981]

51. The only effective "anti-price gouging measure" I can think of

would be price caps, and that comes with its own problems.

[racaulk]

38. What a horrible idea!

If this thing passes, the funds need to come from the oil companies' record profits, not from the federal treasury. The treasury is stretched thin enough as it is. If oil companies are able to afford to give one retiring executive a multi-million dollar retirement package, then they can certainly afford to pony up the cash for this.

But no, they are going to take our taxpayer money and give it back to us, just so we can give it to the oil companies by paying out the nose for gas. Just one more way our federal government is subsidizing the oil industry with tax breaks.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that the freepers will be all over this. They will proclaim what a wonderful idea it is that the government is giving them cash money and not think twice about the consequences. And when the Democrats in Congress don't immediately sign on to this half-brained scheme, they will slam them for "raising taxes," or at least being against reducing them.

Morans.

:rant:

[partylessinOhio]

39. This is just pure bullshot! Just lower the price AT THE PUMP!

How far do you think $100 would go - how many inflated gallons? Some people are paying an extra $100 a week now to get to work.

This wacky idea is connected to tax paying persons only. I would never see it just as I never saw the $300 tax refund - and don't call me a liar on that again as you did before and you know who you are. Many of us did not get that refund malarkey.

A bird in hand beats TWO in the bush. Lower the price and quit the crap!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[dapper]

40. Will we be taxed on this?

We were taxed on the gas once, I'm sure we will be taxed on the so called "rebate".

Coincidentally, how much do you think we were hosed by Oil and Gas over the past few years? $100 isn't going to cover it. $100 isn't going to come close.

I will not accept $100 (or whatever amount it is *after* taxes) to keep quiet and let the oil companies get away with murder.

Dap

[NewWaveChick1981]

43. Since the money isn't coming from the sources originally

paid (i.e. the gas and oil companies), you can bet we'll be taxed on it. If this idiotic idea passes, we should all send ours back specifically earmarked for Federal programs whose budgets were cut by the rat bastards.

I resent being forced to pay taxes only to have them handled in this manner. :mad:

[tulsakatz]

59. Republicans are always complaining about high taxes

They're always tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts!! As if all of the world's problems could be solved with more tax cuts!!

Someone should mention this to them. It doesn't make any sense to get a rebate which will, no doubt, be taxed. Then when you have to fill your tank, you're taxed again!!

Why aren't they worried about these kinds of double taxes?

[EstimatedProphet]

46. So, in other words, their answer is to buy us 2 tanks of gas?

That makes up for months of price gouging?

[NewWaveChick1981]

48. Of course!

:sarcasm: We love watching oil companies take more and more of our hard-earned money to line their pockets. And the lovely Repukes are just gonna make things fine by sending us $100 OF OUR OWN MONEY, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON AGAIN to smooth things over.

Don't you think that's great??? :sarcasm:

[long_green]

47. Take the thirty silver pieces and be your own Judas!

nm

[Betty]

52. BIg Fucking Deal

which is what I said when I got my tiny $300 tax refund (bribe) from gw asshole. How about repealing the enormous tax cuts for the oil companies and the richest 1% and using that money to fund research on alternative energy? And how about incentives to get people to save energy instead of being energy HOGS? Why don't you send a check to help off set fixing our homes up to be more energy efficient???? What a bunch of losers.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

53. A couple fill-ups

Not enough. Not NEARLY enough.

But if they send it, I'll damn well spend it!

[EstimatedProphet]

55. If they send it I'll donate it to the DNC

[gizmo1979]

58. This is how they got their taxcuts

for the rich passed.Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.

[Sapere aude]

60. That does not solve the problem. It is a political stunt. They want you

to think they care. "Here Mr & Mrs. Joe Sixpack, here is $100 now shut up about gas prices and vote for us because we gave you a couple of free fill ups, that is providing you don't use it to pay on any other bills."

[spanone]

61. The Bastards have tied the 100 bucks to ANWR Drilling.

I can't believe these fuckers......:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[gulliver]

63. And of course, there will be a letter with the check.

Just like last time. God, I hate these people.

Here's the letter. I can already see it coming.

Dear Taxpayer,

This tax rebate is being sent to you in response to a new law, The Affordable Gasoline Act of 2006. This law was enacted by the United States Congress and signed by President Bush in response to the current temporary rise in gasoline prices. These prices, which resulted from tight oil supplies and environmental restrictions, are hitting the pocketbooks of working men and women like yourself. Your leaders in Congress want you to know that they are doing everything in their power to relax the restrictions causing these high prices and to encourage exploration and drilling to increase America's supply of energy.

Another tax rebate is planned for October 31, 2006 in response to the President Bush's order to "leave no stone unturned" in helping Americans afford the energy they need and encouraging industry to provide it.

Sincereley,

President of the United States George W. Bush (R) - smiling color picture here
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R) - smiling color picture here
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R) - smiline color picture here

[elehhhhna]

64. They want to borrow a hundred bucks from China to BRIBE me, then

make my kids pay it with interest? Nah. Sorry.

[mdmc]

66. they should make Mobil . Exxon pay us all 100 bucks

[RagAss]

67. I got your $100 ...swingin over here.....

[NewWaveChick1981]

70. LOL!

:rofl:

[The Wielding Truth]

68. Great . It will be more paperwork at tax time. They are selling off our

nature reserves to the oil companies, and giving us less money for social infrastructure. A repuke friend has told me that business is not there to care, it's there to make a profit.

Oh don't we know it!