That $100 Rebate

The Washington Monthly

PANDERING FOR DUMMIES….I realize that high gasoline prices bring out the worst in everybody, but Senate Republicans have surely given new meaning to the word “pandering” with today’s proposal:Most American taxpayers would get $100 rebate checks to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday….”Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they’re feeling at the pump,” Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday.

A hundred dollar rebate! It’s bad economics, bad policy, bad optics, and the palpable stink of election-year desperation all rolled into one fetid package.

“Bad optics?” I guess that means “short-sighted.”

Anyway, I agree 100% with Kevin Drum on this. What a stupid idea.

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Comments

  1. John the Marine wrote:

    This is embarassing and STUPID! Congress should keep the $100 rebate and make the tax cuts permanent. Which would be worth something to the middle class taxpayer instead of this fool’s errand.

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 11:02 am

  2. Karl Rove wrote:

    Election-year is/are the operative word(s). Can anyone save the Republican party? [Not Karl…]

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 11:46 am

  3. John the Marine wrote:

    “Can anyone save the Republican party?”

    Karl,
    Absolutely! Believe it or not, just when you think the Republicans couldn’t “F” it up any worse, the morons that make up the Democratic Party will rescue them with new lows in stupidity of their own. You can bank on it.

    (See: John Kerry vs. Pres. George W. Bush - 2004)

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 12:10 pm

  4. Chief RZ wrote:

    I agree, this is a bad idea, unless it might be an income tax write-off for child care or hospital visits by increasing the price per mile. This actually will be done as it has every year. It is called keeping up with inflation and the real costs of business (S-Corportations), etc.

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 1:02 pm

  5. Marcoblogo wrote:

    Just suspend the federal gas tax for a period and you will get the same results.

    Execpt the people that are actually feeling the pinch (those using the gas) would benefit.

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 1:48 pm

  6. The Sanity Inspector wrote:

    If I get one, I’m sending it back with a nasty note.

    Besides, by summer’s end $100 may not even fill up your typical Ford Bronto.

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 4:28 pm

  7. MCPO Airdale wrote:

    How about if my state, PA, suspends their .48 cent per gallon gas tax?? That would help more than a check for $100. Let’s see, .48 plus .18 . . . WOW, that’s .66 a gallon!

    Posted 28 Apr 2006 at 11:49 pm

  8. TC@LeatherPenguin wrote:

    A C-Note? That barely covers a Friday night bar tab.

    Posted 29 Apr 2006 at 12:21 am

  9. CDR Salamander wrote:

    When I first read it, I thought is was a joke.

    Now that I know it is real; it still is.

    That explains the Senate Republicans right there. If that is their idea of power, they don’t deserve it.

    Posted 29 Apr 2006 at 7:46 am

  10. commissar wrote:

    Phib,

    You thought it was a joke. LOL. It is. Our friggin’ so-called leaders just don’t know it.

    Posted 29 Apr 2006 at 1:34 pm

  11. Shawn wrote:

    Dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. The Democrats can’t get out of their own way. If they want to fix the problem, end the oil subsidies and the tax on gas. It’s very simple.

    Posted 29 Apr 2006 at 11:33 pm

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