[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE FUEL TAX COST REDUCTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2000

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, with a fill-up at the gas pump draining 
more and more of a worker's wallet, it is time for Congress to provide 
relief to consumers. Congress has the power to help offset the rapidly 
increasing costs that are being imposed on working Americans, and we 
must act now.
  Today I rise to introduce the Fuel Tax Cost Reduction Act--a bill to 
repeal a 4.3 cents per gallon tax on gasoline. This bill expands on 
legislation I have introduced in the past by repealing the 1993 deficit 
reduction fuel tax as it applies to all modes of transportation.
  Mr. Speaker, this tax was included in the massive 1993 tax-hike. The 
purpose of this tax increase was to ``reduce the deficit'' during the 
time period when the old Congressional majority was regularly passing 
deficit-driven budgets that far outspent each year's tax receipts. 
Since that time, the Republican majority has taken action to balance 
the budget so that today the Federal government is running a positive 
cash flow. The end of annual deficits should mean the end of ``deficit-
reduction'' taxes.
  Today, world oil prices are climbing, and experts now predict that 
the price of gasoline will rise to at least $2 a gallon. American 
families need help and this is the kind of tax relief that will help 
working families the most.

                          ____________________