Erie Times News Editorial

May 11,2008

The fact that neither Hillary Clinton nor John McCain have introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day tells you that their promotion of a gas-tax holiday has been little more than pandering to voters.

The gas-tax suspension effort is also playing out in the 3rd District Congressional campaign between incumbent Republican Phil English and Democratic challenger Kathy Dahlkemper.

English has introduced his own plan in the House, the Affordable Fuel For Consumers bill.

To his credit, English's bill includes some ideas that involve energy policy, such as temporarily stopping oil flowing into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and offering tax breaks to help expand the nation's refinery capacity.

But the centerpiece of this plan is rolling back the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax for 60 days.

Dahlkemper doesn't favor the gas-tax holiday. Her position is more aligned with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

"This is a Band-Aid for a major problem, and an election-year ploy, in my opinion," Dahlkemper said. "What we should be doing is finding a long-term solution to our energy needs. As difficult as it is to pay these high gas prices now, if we do not make the hard decisions that will lead us to energy independence in the future, we will continue to revisit this issue for years. We need elected officials in office who will make the difficult but necessary decisions today that will promote a better future for our children and grandchildren."

English defended his proposal by pointing out that truck drivers, small businesses and farmers have been traumatized by skyrocketing pump prices and deserve a break. "I would argue to you that consumers would welcome the relief I'm talking about," English said.

This time, there are no villains, such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to blame for rising pump prices. The current surge in gasoline prices didn't originate with an OPEC production cut.

The devalued U.S. dollar, rising demand for gas in China and India, and a shaky Wall Street, drove up pump prices as oil companies continue to move slowly to increase production to meet consumer demand as the busy summer driving season approaches.

A gas-tax suspension actually could increase demand, which could spark increases at the pumps.

Americans and the next president need to make difficult choices about alternative energies and the motor vehicles we drive. Suspending the federal gas tax for the summer isn't a good idea.