[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 75 (Friday, May 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5651-S5652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DEMOCRATS BLOCKING REPEAL OF THE GAS TAX

 Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I am disappointed that again today, 
my colleagues on the other side of the aisle blocked efforts to start 
to relieve the tax burden on the American people by repealing the 1993 
Clinton gas tax increase. I wish we would have been able to repeal this 
tax today before the American people set off to enjoy the Memorial Day 
weekend and the beginning of the summer driving season.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle had agreed to pass the 
gas tax repeal if the House passed the minimum wage bill in a form 
acceptable to them. Well, Mr. President, the House did pass a clean 
minimum wage bill. Yet, rather than keep their promise and pass the gas 
tax repeal, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have again 
blocked its passage. Time and again we have tried to accommodate them 
and time and again they have backed away from their promises. How are 
we to help the American people if my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle continue to renege on their promises?
  I would like to remind my colleagues, that when President Clinton 
raised taxes $268 billion in 1993, he said he was raising them on the 
rich. We knew then that that was not true. Now there is no doubt. 
President Clinton has raised taxes not only on the middle class but 
also on low-income families, and now my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle are denying these low-income families tax relief. The truth 
is, Mr. President, that every person who drives a car, who buys 
groceries, who takes the bus, the train, or a plane has to pay this 
tax. These aren't all rich Americans. In fact, Americans who are hit 
the hardest by this regressive tax are people at the lowest income 
levels,

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those making less than $10,000 a year. Repeal of this regressive tax, 
therefore, would benefit all Americans, especially those with modest 
incomes.
  It is a well-known fact that the 4.3-cents-per-gallon motor fuels tax 
not only disproportionately affects low-income people, but it also hits 
people in rural areas harder than it does those in more metropolitan 
areas. President Clinton knows this. In February 1993, just months 
before he signed into law the largest tax increase in history, said, 
and I quote, ``For years there have been those who say we ought to 
reduce the deficit by raising the gas tax a whole lot. That's fine if 
you live in the city and ride mass transit to work. It's not so good if 
you live in the country and drive yourself to work.'' Despite this 
statement, the 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax increase was enacted. I agree 
with President Clinton's 1993 statement. People in rural areas should 
not be penalized because they live in areas that require them to use 
their cars and travel longer distances. For example, in my home State 
of Delaware, which contains many rural areas, the average family pays 
$463 in gas taxes per year. This figure includes both State and Federal 
gas taxes. When the 4.3-cents-per-gallon motor fuels tax is repealed, 
the average Delaware family's tax burden will be reduced by $48--a good 
first step.
  The Clinton gas tax increase did not get a single Republican vote 
because Republicans believe in cutting wasteful Government spending, 
rather than increasing taxes to pay for more Government spending. So 
while in the scheme of Government programs the 4.3-cents-per-gallon gas 
tax may not seem to be a paramount issue, it represents what separates 
Republicans from the big Government spenders. While the President 
purports to favor balancing the budget, at best he would do so by 
matching big spending with high taxes. Our belief is that we should cut 
spending and lower taxes.
  Mr. President, it is time to give Americans a break from taxes and 
big Government. I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to 
allow the Senate to move forward, and stop blocking tax relief for 
working Americans.

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