Despite soaring gas prices, senior Democrats calling for ‘higher taxes’

Have you checked the price of gasoline lately? Regular is selling for $3.75 a gallon where I live.

But the Democrats think you should be paying more. From the Senate Republican Communications Center:

Despite Soaring Gas Prices, Senior Democrats Are Calling For ‘Higher Taxes’
Avg. Price Of Gas Nationwide Now: $3.52 Per Gallon(“Daily Fuel Gage Report, Current Average, Regular,” AAA, 3/9/11)

Senator Schumer Urges A Minivan Tax Of  ‘Over 40 Billion Dollars’
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “In Oil And Gas Alone We Could Save Over 40 Billion Dollars...” (Sen. Schumer, Remarks To The Center For American Progress, 3/9/11)

“A Group Of Senate Democrats Favors Raising Taxes On Oil And Gas…” (“Tax Hikes Resurrected In Obama Budget Proposal,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2/15/11)

The President’s Budget Includes “Higher Taxes On … Oil And Gas.” “The budget President Obama, who was at a Maryland school yesterday (above), proposed for fiscal year 2012 includes more than $1.6 trillion in new revenue from higher taxes on wealthy Americans, oil and gas companies, and multinational corporations.” (“Obama’s Budget In Red State,” The New York Post, 2/15/11)



Some Democrats Rejected A Similar Tax Hike Last Month
“A Week Ago The Senate Voted 54-44 To Reject Raising Taxes … Seven Democrats, including Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Begich of Alaska, opposed that tax plan.” (“Tax Breaks For Oil Targeted,” The Houston Chronicle, 2/9/11)

“Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) Offered Another Amendment To Repeal The [1099] Provision But Paid For It By Issuing New Taxes On Oil...” (“Senate Repeals Part Of Health Care Law,” Politico, 2/2/11)

•    BI-PARTISAN REJECTION OF ENERGY TAX HIKES: Sens. Begich, Bingaman, Conrad, Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Pryor, And Webb Voted Against The Levin Amendment. (S.Amdt.28 to S.223, CQ Vote #7; Amendment Rejected 44-54: R 0-48; D 42-7; I 1-0, Begich, Bingaman, Conrad, Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Pryor, & Webb Voted Nay, 2/2/11)

Sec. Chu Wants To ‘Boost The Price Of Gasoline,’ President Obama Wants ‘A Gradual Adjustment’ To High Prices
STEVEN CHU: “Somehow We Have To Figure Out How To Boost The Price Of Gasoline To The Levels In Europe.” (“Times Tough For Energy Overhaul,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/12/08)

CNBC'S JOHN HARWOOD: “So Could These High Prices Help Us?” SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): “I Think That I Would Have Preferred A Gradual Adjustment.” (CNBC's “Special Report,” 6/10/08)

“In A CNBC Interview Taped Monday In Raleigh, N.C., Obama  Suggested That The Main Problem With High Gasoline Prices Is Their Rapid Rise, Not Their Total Of About $4 A Gallon. ‘I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment,’ Obama said.” (“One Down, More To Go For Republicans Aiding McCain,” The Associated Press, 6/12/08)

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