Bloomberg Slams Clinton, McCain Gas Plan: "Dumbest Thing I've Heard"

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg called a summer-long suspension of the gas tax favored by Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican John McCain a dumb idea.

The New York mayor, who flirted with the idea of an independent presidential bid, praised Democrat Barack Obama for opposing the plan to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.2 cent diesel tax during the peak driving months of the summer.

All three candidates covet Bloomberg's endorsement. The mayor has spoken highly of Obama and McCain in introducing the two at recent events in New York.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall, Bloomberg said of the gas tax holiday, "It's about the dumbest thing I've heard in an awful long time, from an economic point of view. We're trying to discourage people from driving and we're trying to end our energy dependence ... and we're trying to have more money to build infrastructure."

He cited those three reasons for opposing the gas tax holiday favored by McCain and Clinton. Obama has said the savings would not be significant for the average individual, and Bloomberg agreed.

"The 30 bucks is not going to change anybody's lifestyle," he said. "The billions of dollars that we would otherwise have in tax revenues can make a big difference as to what kind of a world we leave our children."

The billionaire mayor said in February that he had decided not to run for president but has dangled the possibility of his endorsement. The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent has ties to all three candidates.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/01/bloomberg-slams-clintons_n_99698.html

Goes right back up? Or even worse, goes up MORE than before?

This is trying to treat the effect and not the cause.

I always pay attention when he speaks. One of the few republicans worth listening to.

Another indication he doesn't pander.

by implementing a 'windfall' tax against the oil companies. What happens if that doesn't receive support? How many jobs would be lost?

Bloomberg is right, and many financial analysts and experts have expressed the same opinion.

She'd say, "OK, I tried"

I just hate these so.called.tax.cutters. :mad:



and I still havn't decided about Nov. :hide:

Cut prices, of course. The ultimate pander.

... that a windfall profits tax on energy companies is a better method to raise revenue for highways and alternative energy R&D.

Is it a great way to lower prices at the pump? Probably not - the only good solution for that problem is to stop the falling dollar.