Big

No federal tax cuts in the World will bring down gas prices to what they were 5-10 years ago. His proposals are just a scam for a few months while he tries to get elected.


PITTSBURGH — Senator John McCain offered the broadest look yet at his economic policies in a speech here Tuesday, calling for tax cuts, a freeze of discretionary spending for a year, higher premiums for better-off Medicare recipients and elimination of federal gas taxes this summer to reinvigorate the sagging economy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/us...hp&oref=slogin

Big

One of Mr. McCain’s tax proposals would take effect even before the Republican Convention: he called on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent a gallon federal gas tax from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Mr. McCain said that doing so would provide “an immediate economic stimulus,” but some environmentalists said that the change might encourage more people to use their cars, while Mr. McCain has made combating global warming central to his campaign.



PITIFUL!

FloggingSully

Did someone claim it would bring gas prices down to what they were 5-10 years ago?

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matclone

Calling for tax cuts, is like red meat to Republicans. It's also very poor policy where spending is not controlled (see arguments of conservative Peter Peterson in Running on Empty).

I know he is trying to score political points, but I see McCain doesn't address any of the major budget items such as defense, and healthcare except to raise Medicare premiums, and take military spending off the cutting board--in short to spend more.

His plan to do a review of all the agencies and cut fat is just what Reagan proposed with his Grace Commission, in the 80s. Result? Our deficit increased several times under Reagan's helm--because of the tax cuts in combination with an inability to control spending.

Big

No but even after all the tax cuts the price is still way too high and climbing.

Zapp Brannigan

I know you're big, Big, but I don't know if you're "planet-sized" big. Don't be so hard on yourself, fella.

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Flop The Nuts

The gas tax is a piddly-a$$ tax that doesn't impact much of anything. He should concentrate on cutting spending and cutting (or at least maintaining the current level of) taxes. Nothing worse than raising taxes during a slowdown.

RYou

The New York State Fuel Tax is triple the federal take per gallon.

UGLY

I agree but as some have said before it is hard to control spending with the war costing so much.

RYou

He's an interesting comparison. NJ is sucking wind right now and is about $6 billion shy of balancing the budget for 08. So in order to get the budget in line, our dear democratic goivernor wanted to increase road tolls (like we don't have enough those already) 800%. 800 freaking percent. Obvioslu the populus strenuously objected (yea we hired Demi Moore to make the confrontation). The old Gov backs off.

Now he's announcing the budget cuts he wants to make. First off is eliminating the state department of agriculture to save $4 million. Well, we ain't Iowa, but we do produce a good deal of fruits and veggies (a/k/a the Rutgers Tomato ) and we the country's largest producer of Cranberries (thank me next Thanksgiving).

Next in line, he wants to close 6 state parks including one that contains the largest freshwater lake and best fishing in the state. It's obvious ploy to piss off the residents. That will save another $4 mil. What he ignores though is the $87 million he leavfes in the budget for constructing a new state park right behind the Statehouse in Trenton. $87 freakin million to plant the trees (it's a parking lot) and add park benches in one of the worst crime zones in the state. A park that no one is going to use. A little investigation reveals the contract for construction was already bid and awarded and the largest contributor to his campaign was awarded the deal. Cancellation costs the state $0, but Nooooooooooooooooooo. He's keeping it in the budget. So we lose 6 existing state parks and he adds a new one that costs an added $87,000,000.00000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000. What are these politicians thinking?