GOP split on response to growing cost of gas

[sabra]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060503-122144-5188r.htm

GOP split on response to growing cost of gas
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Republicans on Capitol Hill are deeply divided over how to respond to escalating gasoline prices, with some proposing new taxes on oil companies, some calling for investigations and others willing to ride out the storm on the forces of the free market.

No Republican plan has gathered as much attention as the multipronged proposal made last week by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and other Senate Republicans that would give increasingly frustrated drivers $100 rebates, use federal tax law to encourage development of refineries and hybrid vehicles and allow the president to tighten fuel-economy rules.

"The really insulting part of the whole proposal was that somebody would offer $100 to every American family over this," House Majority Leader John A. Boehner said yesterday. "This is not going to solve the problem."

Asked whether there was some tension with his Senate counterpart, the Ohio Republican replied, "No, I just think that trying to satisfy voters with a $100 voucher is insulting. I didn't know it was Frist. It doesn't make any difference who it is. I'm not referring to him. I don't like the proposal, as you can probably tell."

[gratuitous]

1. Oooh, a puzzle

Insult the big money or alienate a heueueueuge swath of the voting public? Decisions, decisions. My guess is they'll serve mammon and not the people.

[billybob537]

2. Oh how sad for them

It's an election year and some of the scumbags will surely be replaced with human beings. Sit back and watch the RATS dessert this sinking Load of shit BADMINISTRATION!!!

[DUHandle]

3. Frist could be pandering to his constituency on the $100 rebate

Annual income in Tennessee is very low, so much so that a $100.00 check would have a lot of value to the bottom two or three quintiles.


http://www.cbpp.org/pa-tn.htm

[libodem]

4. Yep, The repubs sit in meetings and make goals to get the oil

up to $100.00-120.00 dollars a barrel in the next year and then they turn around and tell the people how sorry they are that gas costs so much. The only reason they give one flying monkey is because the rising gas prices are inversely proportional to the King's approval rating. Ya, know what, King George, does NOT care. He has no ability to feel compassion, empathy, or sympathy. He is, a borderline personality disorder case, of the highest order. If gas was $8.00 a gallon and half the people in america were homeless, they would build debtors' prisons.