"Gas Tax Vacation" is it a good idea?

There is current discussions about dropping the federal tax on gas ( roughly 18.4 cents a gallon) on fuel purchases made between Memorial Day and Labor Day to make it easier on summer travelers.
But is this a good idea and will it really do any good? Some states including my state, NY, have also considered dropping their state tax on gas for the same time period, but so far have decided not to because of a large potential decrease in much needed revenues to fund highway projects. Many projects in this state are already underfunded and in trouble, and removing the gas tax for the summer will put those projects in further peril. I also feel that if the Federal government drops the gas tax for the summer , similar issues could result as a decrease in funding that the gas tax pays for could result.
I also feel that even if the gas tax is lifted just for the summer months that would not stop the oil companies from taking advantage and raise prices even more.
What are your feelings concerning this issue? I heard one report on the national news tonight that for the average driver, dropping the federal gas tax would only equate to a savings of roughly .30 cents a day. Not much when you look at it that way.

I also feel that even if the gas tax is lifted just for the summer months that would not stop the oil companies from taking advantage and raise prices even more.

Technically just a bandaid fix but most likely won't make any difference.

That is the part I agree with. But threaten them or hit them up with a punitive windfall profits penalty and maybe they will think twice about taking advantage.

Also, the government should release oil from the strategic reserves.

Also, the government should release oil from the strategic reserves.
Although I have heard that term over the past couple of decades or so, I don't really know all the facts about these strategic reserves. i understand why we have them but for how long would we see any benefit if oil is released from these reserves? To me it doesn't seem like it would have that large of an impact and to use a term you have already, merely a "band aid effect".How much would be released and how long would that last us. Also wouldn't that put the country in jeopardy if a large percentage of the reserves is released, and something should happen where we would need it in an emergency?

From what I recall it is used in the event of a real big national emergency or for the big war. IMO even if 50% was released it would be no big deal since it is continually resupplied. Technically this country is in a state of emergency. Maybe we should declare war on OPEC.

From what I recall it is used in the event of a real big national emergency or for the big war. IMO even if 50% was released it would be no big deal since it is continually resupplied. Technically this country is in a state of emergency. Maybe we should declare war on OPEC.
Do you think that would do much good? :dunno: Seeing as we only get just over 50% of our imported oil from them.:lol:

Only?? :lol:

Just kidding but we could declare an oil war on two fronts not just against OPEC but against Mexico directly. After all when they nationalized the oil back before WWII all they did was steal everything from the American and European oil companies. A lot of our oil refined in my neck of the woods in West Texas is Mexican Pemex.

Of course many will say Iraq is another oil war front but evidently that didn't do much good. :grinno:

The Federal gas tax is 18.4 cents a gallon. At $4 a gallon that would be 4%. Anybody can cut their consumption by 4% easy with out robbing our highway districts of the funds they need. I don't know about the roads in your area but ours need some serious work.

Actually one of our state reps had the same idea about state gas taxes way back in 2005 and this is the link to the op-ed piece I wrote for the paper then on this subject: http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A155199

I'm thinking we raise general taxes on everyone and gas drops. Sounds off but heck why not? You'll be paying it out anyhow, might as well see what it does. :rolleyes:

Another idea is stop raising the prices. There really is no need. There is plenty of oil for centuries let's tap our own or take over the middle east or wherever. no one cares...except them. :D

And now Clinton has suggested making the oil companies pay the tax instead. What a laugh. Oil companies don't pay taxes, they just collect the taxes by including them in the price of gas and passing your money to the government.

Dropping the gas tax is a good example of robbing peter to pay paul..

Some people are making a lot of money off the cost of oil. I personally would like to see the bottom fall out. (think "trading places" starring Eddie Murphy)
I wonder if they would have the guts to tell a sob story about how they went bankrupt??

Regardless of everyone's views on the federal excise and state taxes on gas states have other ways of making money to repair roads, bridges and general maintenance. For example in Texas the last time I checked I thought auto registration and vehicle state sales tax was supposed to go to road and bridge maintenance.

The bottom line in this country is we are taxed on everything and way too much. :shakehead

Also, the way municipalities manage traffic lights is an abortion. Probably the biggest waste of gas in this country next to people that do not conserve or drive gas guzzlers. :grinyes:

I think in order for us to do away with the high prices at the pump, we need to get to the root of the problem. I personally feel that it is the lobbyists and corrupt politicians. The oil companies send their lobbyist out to pay off the politicians indirectly, so of course they have no interest in stopping this thievery. It's disgusting!

Also, the way municipalities manage traffic lights is an abortion. Probably the biggest waste of gas in this country next to people that do not conserve or drive gas guzzlers. :grinyes:
To add to that topic, the "Right on Red" rule needs to be revisited and applied to more intersections where it could decrease congestion and "wait time" at certain intersections.
I'm also think that many intersections should be re-evaluated for traffic flow and at off peak hours, (i.e night hours, or after rush hours,) a flashing red or yellow light mat be sufficient enough to control traffic flow. Too many times I've sat at a red light late at night while there is no other traffic in the vicinity.

Too many times I've sat at a red light late at night while there is no other traffic in the vicinity.

Tell me about it Tom. Really sucks too. With technology the way it is today and computer automation to include communications systems you'd figure more cities and towns would look at that issue seriously. Just a sign of government at all levels in this country not doing it job and contributing to the crisis we have today. :banghead:

Back to the subject of gasoline taxes Texas hits us up with 20 cents per gallon by itself so sum it with the 18% federal that is $38 cents per gallon in taxes. :rolleyes:

As I mentioned earlier states have other ways to get road maintenance and transportation funds. So if you look at it closely we are getting taxed needlessly and to death. For example in Texas $10 of the annual vehicle registration fee is used for bridge and road maintenance. Also, property and sales taxes (aka sales and use tax) are used.

Berkeley ITS Department ran a Texas study several years ago that still holds true today except the revenues are much higher due to the population growth, amount of vehicles on the road and higher taxes to include property we now pay. See link below.

Click here (http://www.its.berkeley.edu/research/localoptiontax/texas.pdf)

Also, remember the old 55 mph speed limit which a lot of us remember and experienced. Don't be surprised if this issue isn't revisited. :uhoh: For 21 years, from 1974-1995, the speed limit was 55 mph in response to the mideast oil crisis back then.

Oil companies are getting rich off fuel , way to rich, I declare it a monopoly ! We should all strike !

Thier's no real reason fuel should cost so much, it's not like it's "better fuel". I see dozens of grain trucks heading to the bio fuel plants every day, thier cant be a shortage.

I've just quit driving excessively, probley cut vacations closer to home..... so tax that uncle sam! :lol:





ps- thanks for the headers G.W.B. !

Also, remember the old 55 mph speed limit which a lot of us remember and experienced. Don't be surprised if this issue isn't revisited. :uhoh: For 21 years, from 1974-1995, the speed limit was 55 mph in response to the mideast oil crisis back then.
It would also have the effect of providing more revenue in the form of speeding tickets. I wouldn't be surprised if it was lucrative enough to increase the size of the enforcement divisions just to handle the extra work.

The bottom line in this country is we are taxed on everything and way too much. :shakehead

Live overseas much? :shakehead

Live overseas much? :shakehead

Yeah. 6 years in Germany, 3 years in Saudi Arabia, and 3 years in S. Korea. So? What of it? And your point is?

How about you?

3yrs in Italy You should know they tax more genius and that our gas is nothing compared to theirs.

Obviously the point goes over your head or you never paid enough attention to anything. Common sense thing, tends be lacking lately.

3yrs in Italy You should know they tax more genius and that our gas is nothing compared to theirs.

Obviously the point goes over your head or you never paid enough attention to anything. Common sense thing, tends be lacking lately.

What has Italy got to do with our taxes? You're comparing apples to oranges. Use your common sense. :biggrin:

3yrs in Italy You should know they tax more genius and that our gas is nothing compared to theirs.

Obviously the point goes over your head or you never paid enough attention to anything. Common sense thing, tends be lacking lately.

I can appreciate your comments, but Bnaylor has lived overseas, so he has a right to his opinions too. I don't see the need to be sarcastic. We are all being affected by the high price of fuel, so we all need to come up with ways to get the costs down because as we can all see, our government is not willing to lend a helping hand. A couple years ago it was proposed that we boycott one company such as Mobil, and I was totally on board. I spread the word in different forums, and people hurled insults at me. Well I'm spreading the word again because we need to try something!

Regardless of everyone's views on the federal excise and state taxes on gas states have other ways of making money to repair roads, bridges and general maintenance. For example in Texas the last time I checked I thought auto registration and vehicle state sales tax was supposed to go to road and bridge maintenance.

I assume "other ways of making money" is tax shifting? Reducing the gas tax and shifting it to registration taxes just penalizes those who drive less but still own a car. My mother in-law drives less that 600 miles a year. Why would you increase her taxes to cut yours? I firmly believe in the “pay as you go” gas taxes rather than raising cost for people with a lesser impact and ability to pay.

To add to that topic, the "Right on Red" rule needs to be revisited and applied to more intersections where it could decrease congestion and "wait time" at certain intersections.

Here in Idaho we are not only allowed to turn "Right on Red" but we are also allowed to turn left on a red light when turning onto a one way street and "when turning with the direction of traffic". Duh

Here in Idaho we are not only allowed to turn "Right on Red" but we are also allowed to turn left on a red light when turning onto a one way street and "when turning with the direction of traffic". Duh
Actually it may be Federal law, at least it's allowed in many states in the US. You would not believe how many people do not know they can legally do this. Every three years I take a defensive driving course to get the insurance rate deduction , and 9 times out of 10 I am the only one in the class that correctly answers that question when it is posed by the instructor.( Q. Can you ever legally make a 'left on red'?)

I assume "other ways of making money" is tax shifting? Reducing the gas tax and shifting it to registration taxes just penalizes those who drive less but still own a car. My mother in-law drives less that 600 miles a year. Why would you increase her taxes to cut yours? I firmly believe in the “pay as you go” gas taxes rather than raising cost for people with a lesser impact and ability to pay.

Obviously you missed my subsequent post. :eek: See quote below. For example states like Texas are already doing that and it is not a matter of choice. I made no mention about increasing anyones' taxes to reduce mine and/or tax shifting. :grinno:

Plus let us not misconstrue what the federal excise tax is about. See link below. Pay special note to the last two paragraphs at first page.

Click here (http://www.cnie.org/NLE/CRSreports/06May/RL30304.pdf)

So if your mother in-law drives less than 600 miles a year why should she have to pay the federal excise tax at all?


Back to the subject of gasoline taxes Texas hits us up with 20 cents per gallon by itself so sum it with the 18% federal that is $38 cents per gallon in taxes. :rolleyes:

As I mentioned earlier states have other ways to get road maintenance and transportation funds. So if you look at it closely we are getting taxed needlessly and to death. For example in Texas $10 of the annual vehicle registration fee is used for bridge and road maintenance. Also, property and sales taxes (aka sales and use tax) are used.

Berkeley ITS Department ran a Texas study several years ago that still holds true today except the revenues are much higher due to the population growth, amount of vehicles on the road and higher taxes to include property we now pay. See link below.

Click here (http://www.its.berkeley.edu/research/localoptiontax/texas.pdf)

3yrs in Italy You should know they tax more genius and that our gas is nothing compared to theirs.

Obviously the point goes over your head or you never paid enough attention to anything. Common sense thing, tends be lacking lately.

Looks like somebody has a case of the "Mondays". :uhoh: :tongue:

I can appreciate your comments, but Bnaylor has lived overseas, so he has a right to his opinions too. I don't see the need to be sarcastic.


Thanks for pointing that out. We allow opinions within reason, however, we do not allow what is clearly a personal attack. :nono: Therefore, it is highly recommended to brush up on the forum guidelines. See below.

For what it is worth my experiences overseas/abroad is based on service in the US Armed Forces and defense contracts.

Please be warned and advised that the strongest debates on AF occur here in the Political forum.

There are extremely opinionated individuals on both (or even all) sides of most of the debates.

Although emotions can run high when debating something that you feel strongly about, remember that you are not debating someone else's intelligence (or lack thereof), background or location, but rather the topic itself and their position on the topic.

For best results :D try to back up your assertions with some sort of evidence, and also be prepared to have others find evidence against your assertions and shoot holes in what you have said.

Personal attacks will just get threads closed or worse, so avoid attacking the messenger and stick to attacking the message.

Enjoy the war, er, I mean the spirited debates to be found here.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=675792



Now having said that I'm still waiting for him (Damien) to support his position or at least carry on an intelligent debate on how gas prices or the taxing system in Italy or Europe for that matter has any bearing or relevancy on our issue. See below.

I'm assuming he is implying that we should act like sheep and just take it up the you know what when it comes to the high cost of gasoline and the disparate or archaic taxing systems imposed by the federal and state governments. :rolleyes:



Gasoline and the American People 2007

AND COMPARED WITH OTHERS?
Gasoline prices vary widely across national borders. In the United States, they are at the low end compared with many other nations. The reason is not the cost of crude oil, which trades at a world price, but because of tax policy. In the third quarter of 2006, US motorists were paying an average of $2.86 a gallon for regular unleaded. Mexico was a little cheaper--at $2.78 per gallon--while Canada was higher--at $3.49. Japan and India were virtually tied at $4.42 and $4.34, respectively. Of the countries surveyed here, China's prices were the lowest, at $2.21. The big spenders are the Western Europeans, where motorists spend more than double that in the United States--France at $6.20 a gallon; Germany, at $6.33; Italy, at $6.46; and Britain, at the top of the league, with $6.50 a gallon.

The disparity, as pointed out above, is not because of wide differences in crude oil prices around the world, but rather depends on how heavily governments choose to tax gasoline. In the United Sates, the gasoline tax (federal and state) is 39.4 cents a gallon--15 percent of the total cost of regular gasoline. In Canada, it is $1.06--30 percent of the cost. But in Western Europe, governments use gasoline stations as tax collecting offices for the national treasury. In Italy, the tax is $3.72, or 58 percent of the total; and in Britain, $4.19, or 64 percent. In the United States, there are at least two tax collectors (and sometimes localities add a third tax). The federal government takes 18.4 cents. The average state tax is 21 cents. The lowest tax state is Georgia--at 7.5 cents per gallon--as it was in the last edition of Gasoline and the American People. Last time, the top state taxer was Rhode Island, but now it is fourth from the top at 30 cents. Going up the ladder, the next is Washington state (31 cents), Pennsylvania (31.2 cents), and at the top Wisconsin at 32.9 cents.

http://www2.cera.com/gasoline/summary/

The problem with all levels of government isn't the tax (though we pay to much as it is) its the spending. Until spending gets under control, there is little that can be done about taxes.

All I know is something needs done ASAP !!!!!!

This morning I paid $3.52 for reg unleaded, at noon, it was $3.85 for the same fuel. :banghead:

I'm thinking electric car, with no plug-in charging. :grinyes:

I'm thinking electric car, with no plug-in charging. :grinyes:

:lol:

I'm thinking Japanese car that starts with the letter "H". :uhoh: And not the hybrid variety either. :grinno:

There is currently a bill going through our state's Legislature putting a gas tax vacation in effect for the summer. From what I've read there is a portion of the bill that allows the state to go after those station/stores for not lowering their prices when the "vacation" takes effect as many opponents have been saying ,(myself included.) But we all know how that goes when the government goes after those who break the law, especially price gouging during an emergency. Case in point, during several instances in the past where an emergency had been declared for some natural disaster or another and business blatantly raised their prices on commodity items like bottled water or generators or such. The governments excuse for not going after these businesses was that it was hard to prove price gouging, (BS).
Some are saying that if the Federal government and state government both declare a tax holiday on gas it could amount to .35 cents /gallon. I wonder what is going to happen post Labor Day when the price of gas, (which will in all probability be much higher than it is now,) go up an additional .35 cents or more per gallon overnight because the holiday will be over?
The problem with all levels of government isn't the tax (though we pay to much as it is) its the spending. Until spending gets under control, there is little that can be done about taxes.
I was a little surprised to hear you say this from reading your other posts in another thread on this forum concerning your high income and that you aren't concerned with high gas prices and laugh at those that do. I wouldn't have thought you'd be complaining that you pay too much in taxes after posting that:lol:.

:lol:

I'm thinking Japanese car that starts with the letter "H". :uhoh: And not the hybrid variety either. :grinno:

Yeah Bob the Hybrids are not all bad.
Our Pruis is gets around 80mpg, mostly highway though.

Gas is still $3.85 today :mad:

Yeah Bob the Hybrids are not all bad.
Our Pruis is gets around 80mpg, mostly highway though.

Gas is still $3.85 today :mad:

Thats interesting JC. For for how long? I heard the Honda hybrids don't do that well. :dunno:

Obvious the gas prices are not going to drop any time soon. I'm at $3.49 per gal regular unleaded as of today. That is for top tier gas like Chevron. A temporary freeze on the federal and state excise taxes will probably be worthless.

Thats interesting JC. For for how long? I heard the Honda hybrids don't do that well. :dunno:

Obvious the gas prices are not going to drop any time soon. I'm at $3.49 per gal regular unleaded as of today. That is for top tier gas like Chevron. A temporary freeze on the federal and state excise taxes will probably be worthless.

Since Last year , it was upgraded with some new software and I think 1-2 batterys were added... and that is with my wife driving. In town it gets about 45-50 mpg. When I drive it , it gets way less. :lol:

Personaly, I dont screw with it! Something about batterys & gasoline= exploding comes to mind, plus its still under warranty.

I still say you can make an electric car that never needs charged from an external sorce. Totaly make its own electricity and then some , cant be that difficult IMO.... ..... my next project. :sly:


ps- gas did drop here to $3.75 this after noon. :rolleyes:

Ok my wife informed me how she gets that good of MPG.

2 things, she uses mid grade fuel and she keeps it between 1000-1500 rpms and watching the energy conserve screen.... who has time for all that. lol



ps- our prius also has the "elctric only kit", which under 35mph runs on battery power only, untill gas power is needed. ;)