I find the idea of three senators who are currently part of a U.S. Congress that has recently voted for higher mandatory automobile mileage requirements and, at the same time, remain opposed to increasing the domestic supply of oil and then argue about keeping or suspending a gasoline tax that is less than 20¢ per gallon... for lack of a better word... disingenuous.
While I agree with Sen. Obama's take, I'm sure we have different reasons. Sen. Obama simply likes taxes as a way for the government to manage the way society should operate. I think that if the federal government is going to pay for the Interstate Highway System, then a small tax is appropriate. Of course, parts of that system are toll roads which may be more appropriately pay-as-you-go... an alternate approach to taxing everyone. One could argue, however, that we all benefit from from better traffic flow due to non-toll roads, including the more efficient movement of goods transported by trucks.
Sen. Clinton and McCain simply miss the point. It's not the 20¢ per gallon that is riling people. It is the constricted supply that is allowing the price of this commodity to rise rapidly.
It is constricted supply caused by a Congress that believes their rules and regulations and mandates have no unintended consequences.Astute Blogger [Sen. Schumer's name again] and Coyote Blog have some further thoughts about that.
..