[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 59 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4571-S4572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AMERICA ON MY MIND--THE GAS TAX

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, 3 years ago, President Clinton raised 
America's taxes in the misguided effort to reduce the Federal budget 
deficit. He claimed that it was time for the rich to ``pay their fair 
share,'' but as usual, the middle class felt the brunt of his tax 
hikes.
  Mr. President, with the gas prices soaring to record levels, I rise 
today with America on my mind to call for the immediate repeal of the 
punitive and regressive gas tax hikes that you put in place and the 
Democratic Congress in 1993 forced on America in the name of 
``fairness.''

  You see, I do not believe that it is fair to force families, and 
especially families that have to have a certain product or item for 
agriculture, who are in charge of producing the food and fiber, the 
very necessity of America, to get the taxes hiked on them around 30 
percent just to pay for programs like AmeriCorps while ignoring the 
real problems like welfare reform, saving Medicare, or our criminal 
justice system.
  Since 1992, his 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax increase has generated over 
$11 billion for the Federal Government. It has come directly out of the 
pockets of America's families. I believe it is time to put that money 
back.
  President Clinton is inconsistent. In 1993, he raised America's taxes 
claiming he cared about the deficit, but

[[Page S4572]]

when it came around to 1995, he vetoed a budget that would have 
balanced the budget. The President's plan is more taxing, more 
spending, more rhetoric. It is time to stop taxing, time to stop 
spending, and it is time to stop the rhetoric and help America's 
families keep more of their take-home pay in their back pocket.
  In the State of Montana, we have quite a lot of dirt between light 
bulbs in that part of the world--148,000 square miles, 850,000 people. 
People rely on their automobiles in Montana as much as those who live 
in a big city, maybe more so. We also have a very healthy tourist 
industry that thrives there. That is based on fuels and the 
availability of fuels. So families and agriculture suffer from the high 
gas tax, and so do businesses. The price of processing, the price of 
transportation for all the products that are produced in rural America, 
significantly adds to the expenses. They cannot always be passed on to 
the consumer. America's families and businesses are hurt by this tax.
  The truth is that President Clinton raised the gas tax for purely 
political reasons. He had a choice of cutting spending, but he chose 
not to do it. He had an opportunity to forgo a regressive and punitive 
tax on the middle and lower class, but he chose not to do it. I believe 
it is time to fix this political mistake by not only eliminating the 
4.3-cents-per-gallon gas tax, but also increasing the family's take-
home pay with a $500 per child bonus. We need other tax cuts for 
families.
  We are in a time when the cattle market is really low. We have 
farmers suffering. And, of course, yes, the grain market is very high. 
But if you want to do something for agriculture and take out the sort 
of ``pockets of pain,'' we should look at income averaging again, allow 
agriculture at the production level to keep some of their money in 
their pockets during the time when it is profitable so they can ride 
out the rough years that will come--always come--in agriculture.

  We promised to do that for the middle class. That was vetoed. All 
rhetoric. It is time to lessen that tax burden, not only to working 
families, but all Americans. In an era when he proclaimed big 
Government is over, Government keeps on growing.
  So with America on my mind this morning, I call upon all of us to 
take a look at this gas tax, to cut Government spending, and to get our 
country back on a budget that will keep us fiscally responsible and 
fiscally solid. I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.
  Mr. GRASSLEY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Mr. Grassley is recognized for 5 minutes.
  (The remarks of Mr. Grassley pertaining to the introduction of S. 
1721 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from New 
Mexico has 5 minutes.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. I am pleased to yield to my friend for any statement he 
has and take my 5 minutes after that.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank the Senator from New Mexico for his 
graciousness.
  (The remarks of Mr. Wellstone pertaining to the introduction of S. 
1722 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. BINGAMAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to speak for up to 8 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Bingaman pertaining to the introduction of S. 
1723 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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