[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______


                      HON. WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR.

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 21, 1996, the House of 
Representatives voted to repeal the 4.3-cent-per-gallon tax on 
gasoline. Although I was unable to vote on this measure, H.R. 3415, I 
would have cast an ``aye'' vote in favor of the repeal.
  While the history of excise taxes on motor fuel dates back to 1919, 
the 1993 gas tax increase was unprecedented. Part of the largest tax 
increase in U.S. history, it funneled dollars collected at the gas 
pumps not to help maintain and improve the safety and efficiency of our 
roads, but to fund the operations of the Federal Government.
  As I have stated time and time again, and demonstrated in my votes on 
the House floor, I am a strong supporter of balancing the budget and 
reducing the Federal deficit. At the same time, I strongly believe that 
user-generated taxes, like the 4.3-cent gas tax, should be utilized for 
long-term capital improvement through the highway trust fund. As far as 
our budgetary woes in the general fund are concerned, our problem is 
not that we tax too little, but that we spend too much.
  Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District is a sprawling terrain 
encompassing all or parts of 17 counties. It is the people who live in 
Warren, Renovo, and our other communities who are forced to pay higher 
prices at the pump. In the past few weeks, it has become more expensive 
for people to take their children to school; travel to and from work; 
or take a family vacation as summer travel begins. Especially now, they 
are in need of this relief.
  By repealing the 4.3-cent tax, we will cease breaking faith with the 
American people. Meanwhile, to reduce the deficit, there are many 
avenues to pursue in search of Government streamlining and increased 
efficiency of Federal operations. People in rural Pennsylvania and from 
coast to coast should not be penalized with higher gas prices because 
of taxes that fund Big Government instead of badly needed roadway 
improvements.

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