I am not writing to take a position on the gas tax, but quoting a report from 2000 that the savings aren't passed on does not address the mechanism Clinton proposes to make sure it does. She wants to have the FTC enforce the pass on. If that's a bad/unworkable/etc idea then fine, someone criticize it. But ignoring it is so MSM, don't-cha' think?

is a mirage...

Easy enough to make a proposal that has no chance of actually becoming reality, but then to make a lack of enthusiasm for that proposal into somehow being afraid of "Big Oil," well that is just more of the pointless cynical and empty posturing that has so thoroughly turned me off of Clinton's campaign.

I know, I know. Spoken like a true Obamatron elitist. We now rejoin the letters thread for the usual exchanges.

Tax the gas coming out of Hillary. The Pander in chief. Like she has the power to get a gas tax "holiday" approved..

She'll put her lot in with Mark Penn. Isn't this the same kind of anti-intellectual pandering that George W. Bush greased his way to the White House and on to all sorts of disastrous Presidential decisions with?

Wasn't this bad idea originally cooked up by McCain?

So which of our two potential candidates first took this idea and ran with it? And wouldn't it have been a better idea to come up with an economic solution of our own, instead of allowing the right to dictate the conversation?

And here is why - most US Americans think that this will result in them paying LESS in July than they are now. Given increased summer demand, we all know that gas prices rise over the summer. Likely in excess of the .18 (assuming the oil companies pass that savings on, LOL).

The savings is relative, not absolute - as the cost of gas trends up. The "out of pocket" still goes up.

So, Clinton expects Americans to say "well, I am paying $4.18 now...but thank God for Hillary, because were it not for the tax holiday I'd be payin $4.36." That is silly. They'll see red.

And these people, who will still see higher prices even if the tax holiday is passed on to them by the oil companies, will burn the Democratic congress for this if they ar stupid enough to pass it.

So we lose seats.

Burning the party down AND losing control of Congress...all in the name of 'electabiity'!

Priceless.

Do you have a link that points to more detail from the Clinton side on this particular point? My understanding is that revenues would be re-couped from a "windfall profits tax", which seems to be different than ensuring that tax 'savings' are passed on; I haven't heard about the FTC bit.

My first impression is that involving the FTC would be a regulatory nightmare, even assuming they had the resources, and the proper legislation in place. It's a big supply chain from the point where the tax is currently assessed to the retail gas station. Unless prices are fixed through the supply chain (another nightmare), prices will fluctuate and the FTC will have to make a judgement call as to when the profit margin becomes "excessive" at each point along the supply chain.

If Clinton wants to wave a magic wand to make the FTC ensure that the gas tax isn't passed on to consumers, why doesn't she just wave the magic wand to stop the current gas tax from being passed on to consumers?

So we're going to replace the existing producer tax with a different producer tax, and magically violate the laws of supply and demand which produces a short-run best-case consumer savings of somewhere between $30-60 dollars per household. Clearly anyone who opposes that is a pointy-headed elitist Obamaton or something. I thought McCain's plan was just silly, but Clinton managed to top him with a plan that is both offensive, gimmicky and silly.

How are you going to get this windfall profits tax passed?

Why would the GOP hand you this victory in an election year, in so doing screwing its oil pals?

Is there a way you keep W from vetoing such a bill?

This ignores the fact that you have about 3 weeks to get it done and passed.

Thanks for playing.

... how she plans to get a new tax on oil companies through a Senate that still has enough Republicans to block it with procedural maneuvers, and signed by a president who would almost certainly veto it.

That has got to be one of the most simplistic and glib responses I have ever heard.

As another reader pointed out the price of fuel effects everything from food to shipping to travel and all the industries and people that rely on them.

Yet another example of Obama's inexperience.

First, this is a political campaign where one of two Dems is going to have to face John McCain. The gas tax thing may be pandering, but you can bet your sweet bippie that some folks on the edge will vote based on who supports the idea of saving them a few pennies.

Two, if you think the above is wrong and that people won't vote for someone because of the gas tax holiday proposal, just think about the way many people will drive for miles to save a nickel a gallon right now.

The gas tax holiday may not be good policy, but it's damn smart politics. Give the issue to McCain at the peril of losing the election.

i can see the ads in november....

john mccain wants to cut your taxes and save you money.

barack obama voted against cutting your taxes, don't vote for a tax and spend elitist liberal.

bush would of course veto it but it would still be one hell of a campaign commercial.

and the democrats wonder why they always lose?

Lots of people are pro-war and anti-abortion.

I agree, let's all get behind invading Iran and overturning Roe v Wade. That way the white men will love us!

Great rationale!