100 bucks for gas for everyone.

[Phlegm]

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Democrats are also expected to offer their own competing proposal, as members of both parties jockey for political position on the gas price issue.

The energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.

Under Senate rules, either the GOP amendment or the Democratic alternative would probably need 60 votes to pass, which is considered unlikely. However, the amendments would give senators a change to cast votes on measures designed to help constituents being hit by high gas prices.

As outlined by the senior GOP leadership aide, the energy package would give taxpayers a $100 rebate, repeal tax incentives for oil companies and allow the Federal Trade Commission to prosecute retailers unlawfully inflating the price of gasoline.

The measure would also give the Transportation Department authority to issue fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles, expand tax incentives for the use of hybrid vehicles and push for more research into alternative fuels and expansion of existing oil refineries.

The GOP senators are also calling on the Bush administration to suspend deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for six months to increase the nation's oil supply. President Bush announced Tuesday that he would halt new deposits into the reserve until after the summer driving season.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats on Wednesday called for a new energy bill and federal legislation to punish price gougers.

"There's no reason why we can't put forth a real energy policy that addresses the needs of this nation," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "from gouging to market manipulation to biofuels. We can do it."

And leaders of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday asked the Internal Revenue Service to let them examine the tax returns of the nation's 15 largest oil and gas companies, as part of a "comprehensive review" of oil industry profits.

"I want to make sure the oil companies aren't taking a speed pass by the tax man," said Grassley, the committee's chairman, in a written statement.

[Martrae]

Yay, another government handout.

[kaharthemad]

this is the buy a vote campaign.

If they were really concerned they would kill off the fucking taxes at the pump. almost 1.00 here when you figure in everything.

[Minrott]

A $100 rebate for runaway gas prices is like handing out bandaids to people under attack by renegade warlords.

Oh wait, yeah that seems in check.

[Jay]

Super. That's a week and a half's worth of gas for me =\

[DangerPaul]

It is 2 days maybe 3 worth of gas for me

[Maeya]

That's a good 3-4 months worth of gas for me. /gleeful Gogo Honda~


However I'm not real keen on the idea because I know people will find a way to abuse the system.

[Martrae]

Yeah, it goes to all taxpayers whether or not they drive.

[Jay]

I shoulda bought a Honda Civic

[Darcler]

It's 2 or 3 months for me as well. I drive a Neon. But the real reason is because I just dont go anywhere.

[Snero]

it really is a buy a vote program, giving people 100$ solves nothing

I just wish somebody could prove collusion, the free market system doesn't work when all the suppliers get together to fix prices artificially high

[Captain Insano]

I like the idea of drilling for oil in alaska wildlife preserves. I mean why is everyone so pissy about this? It's not like animals don't have legs.. They can run away from the machinery and go live somewhere else.

I drive a fucking sports car for godsakes. I need cheap gas not wildlife preserves in some frozen shitpile of a state.

[Snero]

if you mess up the artic, where are you going to find baby seals to club ralf?

[Captain Insano]

Hmm...you do have a point.

[Gidan]

HAHA at the next election you will be seeing right wing adds saying X candidate voted against giving citizens $100 aid to help pay high gas prices. That will be followed by a left wing add of Y candidate voted to pour oil over the arctic.

[Phlegm]

if you mess up the artic, where are you going to find baby seals to club ralf?

Go to antartica and club penguins. I'll bet they squeal just like the baby seals.

[brinstar]

this is the buy a vote campaign.

yeah, not to mention it's attached to a big bill for funding the increasingly unpopular war in iraq

[Harrison]

I forgot the part where wars were popularity contests...

[horhay boosh]

the whole thing is stupid as hell..... they should be taxing the shit out of gas because of the true value of it, the damage to the environment, the strain it puts on foreign relations, the wanton use of it.....

100$ will do little to ease the burden on america.... though it will buy half a tank for all of the ass clown boneheads driving that they don't need and don't use for their intended purpose....

[Martrae]

The only halfway decent part of this proposal is the elimination of the gas tax for the summer.