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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: gas tax

gas tax stories: 16 news summaries

(Newser) - As the US moves away from a gasoline-only auto culture, researchers and the government are investigating alternative taxes to fund road-building and maintenance, the Kansas City Star reports. The leading idea to supplant the gas tax is a by-the-mile approach endorsed by a federal commission. “If you’re committed... More »

MORE ABOUT:
driving • GPS • electric cars • gas tax • hybrid car • automobile • gasoline • mileage

OPINION

Raise Gas Tax, But Reduce Payroll Tax

Drivers don't lose, government doesn't gain: Krauthammer

Jan 9, 09 4:53 PM CST
(Newser) - Raising the tax on gasoline makes sense for all kinds for reasons, writes Charles Krauthammer in the Weekly Standard, but it amounts to political suicide. His solution? Jack up the gas tax by $1 but reduce the payroll tax by $14 a week. Consumers don't lose money, and the government... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fuel economy • gas tax • payroll taxes

Oregon Mulls Mileage,
Not Gas, Tax 

State worries about tax shortfall as vehicles get more efficient

Jan 3, 09 9:57 AM CST
(Newser) - Worried that the rise of fuel-efficient and hybrid cars will wipe out revenue for road repair, Oregon is considering taxing drivers by the mile instead of by the gallon, reports the AP. Lawmakers—aware that hiking gas tax is a political kiss of death—believe a mileage tax is the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
taxes • fuel efficiency • Oregon • GPS • gas tax • hybrid car • taxation

OPINION

 Obama, Please 
 Impose a Gas 
 Tax: Friedman 

'Systemic approach' essential for environment, economy

Dec 28, 08 10:07 AM CST
(Newser) - It may be hard to sell, but a gas tax would be a “win, win, win, win” move—for the environment, the economy, the war on terror, and America’s standing in the world, Thomas Friedman writes in the New York Times. Barack Obama still has the popularity to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • environment • terrorism • gas prices • gas tax • economy • carbon emissions • President Obama

ANALYSIS

How Cheap Gas Hurts Green Initiatives, Feds' Bottom Line

Driving less not great for gov't coffers

Nov 24, 08 9:15 AM CST
(Newser) - Americans are driving less and burning less fuel, but it could be too soon for conservation fans to celebrate. That dip, and global economic gloom, has sent oil and gas prices spiraling down, Joseph White writes in the Wall Street Journal, depriving the government of taxes it needs for transportation... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • conservation • gas prices • oil price • gas tax • Department of Transportation • financial crisis • gasoline prices • President Obama

OPINION

Look to Danes for Energy Know-How

Tiny nation responded to '73 crisis with bikes, wind, oil tax: Friedman

Aug 10, 08 9:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Hey, America, looking for a way to solve the energy crisis? Try following Denmark's lead, writes Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times. The country has a few simple fixes that go a long way: Friedman observes half the rush-hour traffic is bicycles; wind provides 20% of the country's... More »

MORE ABOUT:
alternative energy • Denmark • gas prices • gas tax • wind power • energy policy


 Cash Tolls Race 
 Toward Extinction 

'Open-road' payment systems catch on nationwide

Jul 28, 08 7:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Cash toll booths are going the way of the Model T as "open-road tolling"—which lets drivers pay electronically without having to slow for booths or gates—gains traction, reports USA Today. Supporters say killing the cash-based system cuts down on everything from congestion to pollution to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Texas • traffic • tollbooth • highways • gas tax • open-road tolling

 US Driving Continues to Brake 

Americans drove 29.8B fewer miles through May '08 than same span in '07

Jul 28, 08 2:57 PM CDT
(Newser) - Driving in the United States continued to drop, the Washington Post reports, with May marking the steepest dip in vehicle-miles traveled for that month in the 66 years statistics have been tallied. Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in May 2008 than May ’07; in the first five... More »

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driving • public transportation • gas tax • cars • telecommuting

Ballooning
Gas Costs Fuel Mass Protests
in Europe

Hefty taxes double
the pump price in US

May 29, 08 9:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Skyrocketing fuel prices are hitting Americans hard, but drivers across the Atlantic are shelling out twice as much, Time reports. Europeans pay an average of $8.70 for a gallon of gas, and the hefty price hikes this year are leading to protests that threaten to shut down cities, ports,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
European Union • Europe • gas prices • gas tax • fishing boat

 Barack
 Bounces Back
 From Pastor Flap 

Most approve of his handling of controversy

May 5, 08 3:58 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama appears to be recovering—mostly—from the furor over his former pastor's incendiary remarks, according to the latest CBS News/New York Times poll. His lead over Hillary Clinton has increased from 8 points to 12 points—50% to 38%—among Democratic primary voters, who also approve of how... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • Democrats • gas prices • gas tax • independents • economy • Rev. Jeremiah Wright • primary voters

 Obama, Clinton
 Spar on Iran, Gas 

Dems hit competing morning talk shows

May 4, 08 1:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - Obama likened Hillary's stance on Iran to George Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" on Meet the Press today, while Clinton took to ABC to defend the gas tax and told voters mired in the Jeremiah Wright controversy "We should move on." Tim Russert ignored her advice, however, and devoted... More »

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Iran • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • NBC • ABC • Tim Russert • Clinton 2008 • Obama 2008 • NAFTA • NBC News • gas tax • campaign • George Stephanopoulos • Meet the Press • Election 2008 • ABC News • Indiana primary • North Carolina primary • Iran war

House Scuttles Gas Tax Holiday Proposal

Dems warn proposal will be DOA in the House

May 2, 08 4:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - The gas tax holiday backed by Hillary Clinton and John McCain will be DOA in the House, lawmakers have warned, reports the Hill. The measure has been left off House energy proposals that could be tacked onto the Iraq spending bill because "there’s no reason to believe that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Nancy Pelosi • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • gas prices • gas tax • House Democrats

 Economists Slam Clinton,
 McCain Gas-Tax Cut 

Oil companies would be winners in plan that fails 'Economics 101'

May 1, 08 1:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - Economists and a leading House Democrat are blasting the gas-tax cut proposed by both John McCain and Hillary Clinton, the Washington Post reports. Economists say most of the savings would flow right to the oil companies' bottom line, rather than into voters’ pockets. That's because the tax vacation would raise... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • economics • Steny Hoyer • gas prices • gas tax

Clinton, Obama Split on Federal Gas Tax 'Vacation'

Hillary wants to suspend it; Barack says that's shortsighted

Apr 29, 08 9:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton has joined John McCain's call for a summer holiday from the federal gasoline tax, but Barack Obama says the move will hurt more than it helps, the New York Times reports. Clinton says she’d pay for it with a windfall-profits tax on the oil companies. “... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • Clinton 2008 • Obama 2008 • gas tax • tax breaks

 McCain Pitches 
 'Gas Tax Holiday,' 
 Drug, Pork Limits  

Candidate lays out slate of economic initiatives

Apr 15, 08 12:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain used a tax day appearance to propose a summer “gas tax holiday,” calling his plan to suspend the 18-cent levy “an immediate economic stimulus.” Among other economic initiatives the candidate outlined today were upping prescription drug premiums for wealthy retirees, declaring a moratorium on... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • prescription drugs • gas tax • pork barrel spending • financial aid • economic stimulus package

DOT Chief: Two-Wheelers Don’t Count

Writer protests claim that bike funding harms roads and bridges

Sep 14, 07 6:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - Bicyclists and green activists beg to differ with Mary Peters, the US transportation secretary who decreed last month that bicycle and walking paths shouldn’t fall under her funding purview, and spending on them may be to blame for the poor state of roads and bridges. Advocates of pedal power... More »

MORE ABOUT:
transportation • bridge • gas tax • Mary Peters • bicycle

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