Kennedy Calls for Suspension of the Gas Tax
Democrats Offer Partisan Politics; No Solutions

	Kennedy was instrumental in obtaining a $500,000 grant to start the Soybean Plant in Brewster

St. Paul, Apr 26 - Congressman Mark Kennedy sent a letter today to Speaker Dennis Hastert asking him to bring up H.R. 3683, the Gas Tax Relief Act. This bill would suspend the 18.4 cents per gallon national gas tax for 30 days. Highway Fund revenue would be replaced by the general fund.

“As prices continue to soar at the pump, Congress should act immediately to help Minnesotans in the short term by suspending the gas tax,” said Mark Kennedy. “Now is not the time for political hot air, but real ideas and solutions.”

Democrats have tried to politicize high gas prices this past week by blaming Republicans while offering no solutions of their own. Chuck Schumer, head of the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee claimed, “10 of the 34 Senate races this year had scheduled campaign events this week focusing on gasoline prices.” (Michael Janofsky, “Democrats Eager to Exploit Anger Over Gas Prices,” New York Times, April 21, 2006)

In addition to his efforts for a temporary suspension of the gas tax, Kennedy last year introduced a bi-partisan bill that would redirect $2.5 billion in oil company tax incentives and instead use that money to double incentives for alternative fuel sources like hydrogen, hybrid, and E85. Kennedy also provided the deciding vote last fall to increase refining capacity in the U.S. and make price gouging a federal offense. This bill is now awaiting passage in the Senate and we can’t wait another four years for action.

“Publicity stunts won’t lower the price of gas. I wonder if any of the Democrats politicizing gas prices will mention it was the obstruction of Senate Democrats that blocked an Energy Bill for the past four years,” added Kennedy. “Had Senate Democrats not blocked the Energy Bill for four years, we’d be seeing the results today – more hybrid cars, more cars that run on ethanol, more ethanol and bio diesel – not suffering through another round of gas price hikes.

“The people of Minnesota want common sense solutions, like temporarily suspending the gas tax, redirecting tax incentives for alternative energy and increasing refining capacity, not partisan politics. We don’t need politicians offering angry words and empty promises, we need real solutions that will lower gas and energy prices for Minnesotans.”

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