|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Scientists recover complete dinosaur skeleton
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
Scientists expose mystery behind northern lights
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
Cyprus reunification talks on Sept 3
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
US strengthening Zimbabwe sanctions
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
Extradition appeal deadline for Karadzic closer
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
Attacks kill 9 in Kashmir, including mom, 4 kids
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
South Korea struggles to probe tourist death
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
Military Sri Lankan fighting kills 45
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
Food industry bitten by its lobbying success
Southern Ledger - July 25, 2008
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
GAS TAX HOLIDAY BECOMES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ISSUE.
May 7, 2008 -
May 14, 2008
Skyrocketing gasoline prices have finally attracted the attention of presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. While their proposed solutions to prices surging past $3.60 a gallon at the pump range from the muddled to the misleading, a key point of friction between the candidates has been their support or opposition to a Federal gasoline tax “holiday.”
The federal gasoline tax collected at the pump is currently 18.4 cents a gallon. John McCain and Hillary Clinton have both embraced the idea of eliminating that tax this summer in order to give drivers a break. The “gas tax holiday” would reduce federal tax collections by about $9 billion dollars, which has sparked disagreement between Clinton and McCain. Clinton wants to make sure the federal government doesn’t lose any money, and has proposed an “excess profits” tax on Big Oil companies -- who would promptly pass the tax along to consumers as part of the price at the pump.
McCain acknowledges that the “gas tax holiday” is not a long term solution to energy problems plaguing the nation, but notes that it would give low-income drivers “a little break.” McCain has not proposed any tax increases to make up the difference to the Federal treasury, nor has he suggested any specific cuts in Federal spending either. He is apparently happy to simply run up the national credit card.
Unfortunately, at least for Tennessee drivers and those in several other states, a Federal “gas tax holiday” may not help much…if at all. Tennessee Code Section 67-3-206(a) provides that if the Federal gasoline tax is reduced, even temporarily, then “the existing state tax imposed on the sale and/or use of such products shall be adjusted so as to maintain the amount of funding for the Tennessee department of transportation generated by the federal tax. The adjustment in the state tax shall become effective simultaneously with the reduction in the federal tax.”
That law is intended to insure that Tennessee road construction money is not lost, including that which comes from the Federal Highway Trust Fund. The last time a “gas tax holiday” was discussed, the Tennessee legislature put a moratorium on enforcement of this law through July 1, 2008. Thus, if Clinton and McCain are successful in pushing their “gas tax holiday” through Congress, Tennessee drivers will get the benefits of the plan for roughly the first month of the “holiday” – unless the Tennessee legislature extends the moratorium before adjourning. Many other states have a similar “snapback” provision to deal with reductions in the Federal gas tax.
Barack Obama has called the “holiday” a political ploy because it will only save the average driver $28 over the course of the summer, which breaks down to about thirty cents a day. He bases his math on the average driver filling up about once every ten days. While most families fill up a bit more often than that, nobody is claiming that the “holiday” will solve the gas crunch, it is simply intended to help...a little.
More importantly, Obama voted for a “gas tax holiday” at least three times while serving in the Illinois State Senate. He supported temporary elimination of the state’s 5% gasoline tax when prices were around $2 a gallon, but now opposes a virtually identical plan when drivers face $3.60 a gallon prices. Obama claims he doesn’t trust the oil companies to pass the savings on to consumers. Yet, he apparently believes these same companies will accept new taxes on their profits without passing those new costs on to those same consumers. Really?
While the candidates quibble over the details of a “gas tax holiday” they do seem in agreement when it comes to reducing supplies of oil by continuing to ban drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), thereby increasing prices. And they all seem supportive of higher federal gasoline taxes (after the election is over) and/or new taxes to punish the oil companies, thereby increasing prices at the pump. Unfortunately for American drivers, their agreements are likely to cost us a lot more than their minor areas of disagreement on dealing with gasoline prices this summer.
### |
 |
 |
BARACK GETS A "DO-OVER" ON WRIGHT. -
April 28, 2008 -
May 4, 2008
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but for Barack Obama a second chance to deal with the radical rantings of his preacher may put his suddenly faltering campaign back on track.
When Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s vitriolic sermons gained national attention a month ago, Obama was reluctant to disavow him. He danced around what he knew, what he had heard and not heard from the pulpit ever the past twenty years at Trinity United Church of Christ, and whether he ever confronted Wright about his s... |
 |
|
DEMOCRATS ARE THE SOURCE OF OUR PAIN AT THE PUMP. -
April 14, 2008 -
April 21, 2008
“Democrats have a plan to lower gas prices…join Democrats who are working to lower gas prices now.” – Then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), April 19, 2006.
The average price of gasoline hit $3.33 a gallon last week, a stunning $1.14 higher than it was when the Democrats took control of the U.S. House and Senate following a campaign built in large part on campaign promises to dramatically LOWER gasoline prices. The price of a barrel of oil was $56 the day Nancy Pelosi took over the S... |
|
|
LIBERAL TALK RADIO HAS A REALLY BAD WEEK. -
April 9, 2008 -
April 16, 2008
The important Spring ratings period for radio is not starting out with a bang for the already beleaguered liberal talk radio format. Millions of dollars have been poured into liberal talk networks by Democrat Party activists determined to create a supposed counter-balance to conservative talkers. But despite these efforts to create a powerful new weapon in the Liberal arsenal, both listeners and advertisers have turned away. The turmoil, financial and otherwise, that has plagued liberal talk rad... |
|
|
TENNESSEE LEGISLATIVE RACES WILL BE KEY BATTLEGROUND IN 2008. -
April 7, 2008 -
April 14, 2008
Most politically savvy Tennesseans have been focused almost exclusively on the Presidential race over the past year. The continuing battle for the Democratic nomination, and the looming war for the White House between John McCain and whoever prevails in that fight, will draw the lion’s share of attention in the next few months. But, unless Tennessee somehow emerges as a battleground state in the presidential race, the real focal point for Tennessee politics will soon shift to the legislative rac... |
|
|
IS AL GORE STARTING TO MAKE HIS MOVE? -
March 30, 2008 -
April 6, 2008
In recent weeks, talk of the potential emergence of former Vice President Al Gore as a consensus candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for President has increased in volume. Newsweek columnist Eleanor Clift and Time columnist Joe Klein have both noted that Gore could provide the Democrats a winning exit strategy from the protracted Obama-Clinton primary battle, a fight that promises to get bloodier in the weeks ahead. One Democrat Congressman and Super Delegate, Tim Mahoney of Florida, h... |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Keep up with Steve, join our G-Mail List to receive Gill Show updates and Steve's weekly column... |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
